| A | B |
|---|
| accession | – n. the assumption of an important position, usually a position of power |
| aphorisms | – n. short, concise statements of principle; pointed sentences expressing wise or clever observations or truths. |
| austerity | – n. severity of discipline, regime, expression, or design |
| barbaric | – adj. cruel or uncivilized; unsophisticated when compared to highly developed civilizations or people. |
| decipher | – v. to make out what something says; to work out the meaning of something |
| discernible | adj. visible, noticeable |
| droll | adj. amusing in a ironic or odd way |
| effulgence | adj. brightness: brightness or a brilliant light radiating from something |
| eloquence | n. the ability to speak forcefully, expressively, and persuasively |
| encroaching | v. to intrude gradually or stealthily, often taking away somebody's authority, rights, or property |
| foreboding | n. a premonition or feeling that something bad is going to happen. |
| fratricide | n. the crime of killing a brother or sister |
| goaded | v. to cause or provoke someone into action |
| idiosyncratic | adj. a way of behaving, thinking, or feeling that is peculiar to an individual or group, especially an odd or unusual one |
| incarnate | adj. having a bodily form, especially a human form |
| incongruity | n. something that does not seem to fit in with or be appropriate to its context |
| inebriating | adj. intoxicating mentally or emotionally; exhilarating |
| infinitesimal | adj. very small in number, amount, or degree |
| infraction | n. failure to obey or fulfill a law, contract, or agreement, or an instance of this |
| innately | adj. coming directly from the mind rather than being acquired by experience or from external sources. |
| insidious | adj. slowly and subtly harmful or destructive |
| inured | adj. Become accustomed to something difficult or painful |
| inveigle | v. to persuade or obtain by persuasion |
| irresolutely | not being able to make up your mind; wavering in decision, purpose or opinion |
| ludicrous | adj. utterly ridiculous because of being absurd, incongruous, impractical, or unsuitable. |
| matriarchal | adj. motherly; acting like a woman who rules a family or a clan. |
| misbegotten | adj. from a bad source, badly thought out, or generally deplorable from start to finish |
| multifarious | adj. diverse; including parts, things, or people of many different kinds |
| opulent | adj. characterized by an obvious or lavish display of wealth or affluence |
| Pontiff | n. the Pope; the head of the Roman Catholic Church |
| preeminently | adj. standing out among all others because of superiority in a field or activity |
| presaged | n. a feeling that a particular thing, often something unpleasant, is about to happen |
| primevally | adj. at or from the ancient original stages in the development of something |
| querulous | adj. inclined to complain or find fault |
| recessional | n. in Christianity, a hymn sung as the clergy and choir withdraw from a church after a service |
| rejoinder | n. a reply to something said, especially one that is sharp, critical, angry, defensive, or clever |
| reticent | adj. unwilling to do something |
| scholasticism | n. the pursuit of academic studies |
| sinecure | n. a paid job requiring little work |
| tacit | adj. understood or implied without being stated openly |
| terminus | n. a town, city, or location at the end or beginning of a fixed transport route such as a railroad or bus route |
| torpidly | adj. lacking physical or mental energy |
| transfixed | v. to make or hold motionless with amazement, awe, terror, etc. |
| undulation | adj. a wavy, curving form or outline, especially one of a series |
| vagaries | n. an unpredictable or eccentric change, action, or idea |
| venerable | adj. worthy of respect as a result of great age, wisdom, remarkable achievements, or similar qualities |
| vindicate | n. avenge; absolve; To free from blame, guilt, or suspicion. |
| virtuoso | n. somebody who shows exceptional technique or ability in something |
| vulnerable | adj. without proper protection; open to attack; weak |
