| A | B |
|---|
| puny | (adj) of less than normal strength or size; weak, sickly; of no importance |
| vital | (adj) having life, living; necessary for life; essential; key, crucial |
| quibble | (v) to evade or belittle a point by twisting words or raising minor objections; (n) a petty objection |
| stifle | (v) to smother, prevent from breathing; to hold back or choke off |
| ratify | (v) to approve, give formal approval of, confirm |
| regal | (v) royal, kinglike; fit for a king |
| erode | (v) to wear away gradually, eat away |
| persist | (v) to continue steadily in a course of action, refuse to stop or be changed; to last, remain |
| accelerate | (v) to speed up, cause to move faster; to bring about more quickly |
| flounder | (v) to thrash about in a clumsy or ineffective way |
| bystander | (n) one who looks on or observes, a person present but not taking part |
| parch | (v) to make dry or thirsty; to shrivel with heat |
| canvass | (v) to go through an area in order to prcure votes, sales, or opinions; to go over in detail; to discuss |
| ordeal | (n) a difficult or painful experience, a trial |
| casual | (adj) happening by chance or on an irregular basis; showing little concern; informal |
| melancholy | (adj) sad, gloomy, unhappy; (n) sadness, gloominess |
| gruesome | (adj) horrible, revolting, ghastly |
| graphic | (adj) lifelike, vivid: relating to the pictorial arts |
| downtrodden | (adj) treated unfairly and cruelly, opressed |
| entice | (v) to attract, tempt |
