| A | B |
|---|
| incoherent | adj. impossible to explain or understand |
| provocation | n. something that stirs up anger or excitement |
| plebian | n. one of the most common people of ancient Rome; a vulgar person; adj. common; vulgar; crude |
| incredulous | adj. showing disbelief or doubt; skeptical; disbelieving |
| query | n. a question; v. to question; to inquire into |
| exonerate | v. to clear completely of a charge or accusation; to prove blameless |
| secular | adj. worldly or temporal rather than religious or sacred; not belonging to a religious order |
| expedite | v. to make easier or quicker; to hasten |
| shibboleth | n. any use of language, habit, or custom that distinguishes a class; a password; a distinctive slogan used by members of a group |
| forgo | v. to refrain or abstain from; to go without |
| filial | adj. of or expected from a son or daughter; of a parent’s or parents’ offspring |
| chagrin | n. a feeling of disappointment, distress, or embarrassment |
| cede | v. to yield or give up; to transfer or render title to |
| proficient | adj. advanced in a particular art or science; skilled; expert; qualified |
| precipitate | v. to cause something to happen; to bring about quickly or suddenly; adj. reckless; rash; acting hastily or impulsively |
| remission | n. a release from a debt or duty; a lessening of intensity; a diminishing |
| interpose | v. to put between; to insert between parts; to interject during a conversation; to intervene |
| debonair | adj. graceful, charming, and smooth; seemingly carefree |
| blithe | adj. happy; joyful; carefree |
| intrinsic | adj. belonging to a thing by its essential nature; inherent |
| palliate | v. to ease without curing; to alleviate; to make (a crime or offense) appear less serious; to lessen the intensity of something |
| assail | v. to attack violently; to assault; to attack with arguments, words, or questions |
| altercation | n. an angry argument |
| phalanx | n. a formation of massed soldiers; a closely united group |
| predecessor | n. a person who precedes another in an office or position |
| acquiesce | v. to give in to or consent to without protest and without enthusiasm |
| deprecate | v. to express strong disapproval of something; to plead against; to belittle |
| beleaguer | v. to besiege or surround with troops; to beset; to harass |
| brunt | n. the main shock or force of a blow or attack; the heaviest part of an accusation or attack |
| redress | n. a correction; a reparation; a relief; v. to set something right; to remedy |
| 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 |
| repression | n. the holding back or subduing; suppression; pushing painful ideas or memories into the subconscious (psychiatry) |
| peripheral | adj. away from the central part; on the edge; only slightly concerned with the important part; unessential |
| 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 |
