| A | B |
|---|
| venal | associated with corrupt bribery |
| mercenary | serving merely for pay |
| derogation: acting beneath | one's position or character |
| hiatus: a break | either physical or temporal |
| simony | the buying or selling of a church office |
| iconoclastic: one who attacks | established beliefs |
| bellicose | warlike |
| importunate: overly persistent | in request or demand |
| resonant: sound vibration | of large amplitude |
| grisly | inspiring horror or fear |
| nether: situated beneath | the earth's surface |
| dessicated | dried |
| stimulant | opposite of a sedative |
| lambent | softly bright or radiant |
| tenebrous | shut off from the light |
| vapid | lacking liveliness |
| nadir | the lowest point |
| propound: to offer for | discussion or consideration |
| offal | rubbish |
| moiety | one of two equal parts |
| contumely | rude language |
| pertinacious: adhering | resolutely to an opinion |
| tentative | hesitant or uncertain |
| cupidity | avarice, greed |
| cognate | of similar nature |
| tumbrel | a farm tipcart |
| in lieu of | instead of |
| baroque: art marked by | extravagent forms |
| opulent | revealing extreme wealth |
| overt | open as opposed to covert |
| jejune | lacking nutritive value |
| demagogue | a radical political leader |
| faction: a rebel group | within government |
| volute | a marine gastropod mollusk |
| grebe: a bird related to | the loon |
| sententious | full of meaning |
| sunder | to break apart or in two |
| mephitic | foul smelling |
| palpable | easily perceptible |
| apogee | the farthest or highest point |
| prolific: causing abundant | growth, generation or reproduction |
| glabrous: having a surface | without hairs or projection |
| mandibular | adjective form for lower jaw |
| congeries | aggregation, collection |
| dissolute: marked by lack of | restraint, indulgence in vices |
| pedantic | unsophisticated learning |
| animosity | enmity |
| rodomantade | vain boasting or bluster |
| obviate | to make unnecessary |
| erudite | learned |
| probity: adherence to the | highest principles and ideals |
| cabal: persons secretly united | to overthrow the government |
| oligarchy | rule by the few |
| esoteric: knowledge | restricted to a privileged few |
| aneurism: permanent dilation | of a blood vessel |
| temporize: acting to suit | the time or occasion |
| propriety | the state of being proper |
| supplicatory: expressing | a prayer |
| puerile | childish |
| tumid | marked by swelling |
| haven | a place of safety |
| hurtle | to move with a rushing sound |
| scalded | to be injured by hot water |
| threshold: place or point | of entering or beginning |
| lurch | a jerking or swaying movement |
| midge | a tiny two winged fly |
| beckon | to summon or signal |
| surge | a sudden move forward |
| veer | to shift in a clockwise direction |
| derision | scorn |
| diminish | to make less |
| pudgy | short and plump |
| shimmering: a wavering | sometimes distorted image |
| pilgrims: those who took part | in a religious journey |
| deluded | being misled by the mind |
| torment | extreme pain or anguish |
| nocturnal | having to do with the night |
| bewildered | confused |
| scuttle | to sink or destroy |
| fissure: | a crack of considerable length |
| plunge | acting with reckless haste |
| linger | to be slow in parting |
| loiter | to hang around idly |
| conduit | a pipe or a tube |
| wistful | full of unfulfilled desire |
| shudder | to shake, tremble, quiver |
| laminae | layers |
| Sea of Tranquillity | on the Moon |
| opulence | wealth |
| nacreous | pearly |
| horoscope: interpreting our | future heavenly positions |
| prom: end of school year | dance |
| tranquil | calm |
| retrospective | looking back |
| luminous | shiny |
