abscond
to run away (usually taking something you shouldn't)
acrid
harsh or corrosive in tone
alacrity
liveliness and eagerness
anesthetic
a drug that causes temporary loss of bodily sensations
annihilate
to completely destroy or defeat
apparition
a ghostlike figure or its appearance
atoll
an island consisting of a circular coral reef surrounding a lagoon
atrophy
to wither or weaken -- especially from lack of use
brevity
the use of just a few words; or lasting a short time
catatonic
a tendency to remain in a fixed stuporous state for long periods; may give way to short periods of extreme excitement; often associated with schizophrenia
cessation
a stopping
charlatan
one who pretends to have capabilities or knowledge they lack
cogent
powerfully persuasive
conscript
draft (force someone by law) into military service; or the person drafted
conversant
well informed about or knowing thoroughly
coquette
a flirtatious woman -- especially one who uses her sex appeal to exploit men
curmudgeon
a bad-tempered person -- typically an old man
debase
to degrade (decrease) the purity, quality, or status of something -- often morality or metals
dejected
affected by low spirits (sad, disappointed, without hope)
emaciated
very thin -- especially from disease or hunger or cold
enraptured
to fill with rapture (overwhelming bliss); or to completely fascinate
equanimity
steadiness of mind under stress
ersatz
an artificial or inferior substitute or imitation
expiate
atone (demonstrate sorrow for a wrong either by doing something good to make up for the wrong, or accepting punishment)
feral
previously domesticated, but now living in the wild
fetid
having a bad odor
flippant
showing an inappropriate lack of seriousness
garrulous
talkative -- especially about trivial matters
gaunt
very thin and bony -- often from hunger or as though having been worn to the bone
grovel
to show submission or fear -- sometimes by crawling or lying face down
harangue
to try to persuade, or to criticize in an impassioned and often annoying manner; or a speech with such an intent
honorarium
a fee paid for a service that has no official charge -- such as for performing a wedding ceremony
impertinent
rude or improperly bold -- especially toward someone more respected
incipient
beginning to come into existence
incognito
with identity hidden -- such as via a disguise or false name
incorrigible
unresponsive to correction (even by punishment)
indoctrination
the teaching of doctrines in a manner that gets them accepted without critical question
indolent
lazy; disinclined to work
infernal
very bad; or very annoying; or characteristic of hell
infirmary
a small facility where patients receive treatment
intelligible
capable of being understood
inure
cause to accept or become hardened to something unpleasant
kleptomaniac
someone with an irrational urge to steal in the absence of an economic motive
morsel
a small quantity -- usually of food
obsequious
excessively eager to flatter or serve
officious
intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
pacify
calm someone who is angry; or establish peace
penultimate
next to the last
petulant
unreasonably annoyed or upset
placid
calm and not easily excited
purloin
to steal -- especially in violation of trust
putrid
rotting (an advanced state of decomposition) with a foul odor; or anything that is disgusting
rancid
bad -- most directly referring to the smell of oils or fats that have decomposed because they are not fresh enough, but metaphorically the word can refer to anything considered bad
regale
to entertain -- especially with amusing stories
revelry
a party -- especially a noisy one
scribe
in the days before printing presses and related technology; someone employed to write copies of documents or write what someone said
sentry
a person who stands guard
servile
submissive -- often so submissive or eager to serve and please that one seems to have no self-respect
solicitous
showing great care or concern for someone
squall
sudden violent winds -- usually accompanied by precipitation
stupor
a state in which there is little ability to think -- as from being very sleepy, drunk, or stunned
subsist
to survive
transcendent
surpassing usual limits of excellence or; beyond the ordinary range of human experience
vertigo
a dizzy sensation or a feeling that you are about to fall
wane
a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number) -- especially the part of the moon that is visible
yoke
an oppressive burden