| A | B |
|---|
| acumen | mental sharpness |
| allegory | symbolical narrative; treatment of one subject under the guise of another |
| autocrat | a person with unlimited influence and authority (usually a negative word) |
| conjecture | an inference or conclusion drawn or deduced by surmise or guesswork |
| conspicuous | obvious, noticeable, attracting attention |
| domicile | home or residence, abode |
| excoriate | to strongly denounce or to censure |
| gaunt | very thin, emaciated, angular |
| incapacitate | to make incapable or unfit; to deprive of capacity |
| iridescence | uns the quality of exhibiting rainbow-like colors, brilliant appearance |
| licentious | lacking moral or sexual restraint, wanton |
| menagerie | a collection of live wild animals on exhibition, a varied mixture |
| nihilist | one who believes in total rejection of established laws and institutions |
| pastiche | a hodgepodge |
| plausible | seemingly acceptable, believable, or possible |
| profundity | profound knowledge, intellectual depth |
| refuge | shelter or place of protection |
| rivulet | a small stream, brook |
| serpentine | resembling a serpent, wily or tempting; diabolical |
| stoke | to stir up, to amply feed |
| stooped | bent forward from the middle of the back |
| temperate | exercising self-control |
| trowel | flat bladed hand tool used to work with mortar or to dig holes for plants |
| unwieldy | difficult to manage due to size |
| vivify | to make more lively |
