| A | B |
|---|
| 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 a 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 |
| coaliton | 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 (in 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 relingquish, usually claim, right, or privilege; to defer or delay |
| heinous | adj. abominable; grossly wicked and hateful; vile |
