| A | B |
|---|
| coalition | n. an alliance, usually of nations, political parties, or factions; a temporary union |
| insidious | adj. sly; treacherous; working in a hidden but dangerous way |
| carnage | n. slaughter; the bloody killing of a great many people, as in war |
| holocaust | n. great or total destruction of life or property, especially by fire |
| martyr | n. one who is persecuted, tortured, or killed for refusing to renounce religious principles; one who sacrifices for the sake of a belief or cause; v. to torture or put to death for refusing to deny a belief or faith |
| bulwark | n. a wall of earth used for defense; a person or thing that gives support or protection |
| exodus | n. a departure, usually of a great number of people |
| invidious | adj. likely to cause ill will or envy; hateful |
| waive | v. to relinquish, usually a claim, right or privilege; to defer or delay |
| heinous | adj. abominable; grossly wicked and hateful; vile |
| derogatory | adj. disparaging; belittling; meant to show an unfavorable opinion |
| convivial | adj. fond of eating and drinking with friends; festive; social |
| deign | v. to grant or agree condescendingly to do something; stoop |
| affinity | n. a natural attraction or liking for a person or thing; a close relationship |
| fastidious | adj. hard to please; easily disgusted; overly dainty |
| oscillate | v. to move back and forth like a pendulum; to vary between two or more opinions, thoughts, or actions; to vacillate |
| audacious | adj. fearlessly daring; bold; insolent; contemptuous of decorum |
| epicure | n. a person who has refined tastes in eating and drinking |
| ingratiate | v. to bring oneself into someone's good graces or favor |
| arrayed | n. an orderly arrangement of persons or objects; splendid dress; v. to set in proper order (especially soldiers); to dress or adorn |
| flay | (v) to strip off the skin, as by whipping; to scold or criticize severely |
| felony | (n) a crime of such seriousness (such as murder, kidnapping, burglary) that it is punishable by a severe sentence |
| efficacious | (adj) producing the desired effect; effective |
| rationalize | (v) to decline in physical, mental, or moral qualities; (n) a person having low moral standards; (adj) having grown worse or deteriorated |
| degenerate | (v) to decline in physical, mental, or moral qualities; (n) a person having low moral standards; (adj) having grown worse or deteriorated |
| imperious | (adj) domineering; overbearing; arrogant |
| relent | (v) to give in or yield to something; to become less harsh |
| malevolent | (adj) wishing harm or evil to others; showing or having ill will toward others; spiteful |
| equestrian | (n) a horseback rider; (adj) pertaining to horses or the riding of horses |
| bandy | (v) to toss back and forth; to exchange, to discuss lightly |
| purport | (v) to claim to be or do something; (n) the apparent purpose or main idea of something |
| demeanor | (n) outward behavior; manner of conduct; bearing |
| syndicate | (n) a group of persons or companies united to carry out some enterprise or business; (v) to form an association to carry out a common enterprise |
| abashed | (v) to make uneasy or ashamed; to embarrass |
| guise | (n) outward appearance; a costume; a style of dress |
| occult | (adj) relating to matters beyond ordinary knowledge or understanding; secret; (n) the supernatural |
| auspicious | (adj) marked by signs of success or good fortune; favorable |
| immemorial | (adj) reaching beyond the bounds of memory; extremely old |
| deference | (n) a yielding in judgment, opinion, or wishes to another; courteous respect or regard |
| sartorial | (adj) relating to tailors or their work; pertaining to men's clothing or dress |
| contraband | (n) smuggled goods |
| politic | (adj) wise in looking out for one's own interests; prudent; shrewd |
| inane | (adj) senseless; pointless; stupid |
| proxy | (n) a person who is given the authority to act or stand in for another; written proof of such authority |
| bureaucracy | (n) the collection of departments of appointed officials through which a government is run; any administration whose complicated procedures block effective action |
| arbitrary | (adj) based only on one's own wishes or whims; not guided by rules or law |
| transient | (adj) lasting or used for a short time only; not permanent; fleeting; (n) a person or thing that has no settled place |
| premeditated | (adj) planned or plotted; closely considered beforehand; deliberate |
| browbeat | (v) to frighten with a stern manner of harsh words; to bully |
| scapegoat | (n) a person who takes the blame for the mistakes or crimes of others |
