| A | B |
|---|
| cynical | distrustful |
| quagmire | difficult situation |
| blight | something that impairs or destroys, frustrates |
| conjecture | hypothesis, idea, theory; little hard evidence |
| effusive | unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression |
| diatribes | tear apart (in words) |
| decree | judicial decision/order |
| insofar | to the degree |
| mitigating | make less severe, serious or painful. |
| gleaned | gather; collect bit by bit |
| debunk | to expose or ridicule the falseness, sham or exaggerated claims of. |
| bas relief | stone sculpture made by chipping away at a slab of rock to make a picture that stands out. |
| fecund | producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile. |
| paeans | fervent expressions of joy or praise. |
| replete | well supplied |
| impugned | call into question; challenge |
| mollified | reduce the severity of; soften |
| filibuster | Informal term for any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length |
| sectarian | violent conflict between groups |
| insurgents | rising and rebelling against |
| redolent | suggestive |
| enclave | surround and isolate; distinctly bounded area |
| ballistic | extremely and usually suddenly excited, upset or angry; projectiles or their flight |
| demarcation | dividing line |
| shrapnel | Fragments of a bomb, shell, or other object thrown out by an explosion. |
| liaison | Co-operation, working together |
| cordoned off | divide by means of a rope |
| franchise | A form of business organization in which a firm which already has a successful product or service |
| superlative | of the highest kind, quality, or order |
| emanating | Issue or spread out from |
| archipelago | is a chain or cluster of islands |
| polarized | To cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions. |
| avert | to turn away or aside in avoidance. |
| didactic | instructive |
| euphemism | a mild, indirect, or vague term substituting for a harsh, blunt, or offensive term |
| rhetoric | the art of using language effectively and persuasively |
| acumen | quickness, accuracy, and keenness of judgment or insight |
| staid | unemotional; serious |
| reticent | inclined to keep silent; reserved |
| pedantic | excessively concerned with book learning and formal rules |
| indignant | Feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment. |
| objectivity | not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. |
| capricious | Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior. |
| assiduous | Showing great care and perseverance |
| clairvoyant | able to see beyond the range of ordinary perception |
| provident | Providing for future needs or events; Frugal; saving |
| fallible | Capable of making mistakes or being erroneous. |
| allegation | assertion without proof |
| laconic | using very few words |
| mercurial | subject to sudden or unpredictable changes: volatile |
| iconoclastic | one who attacks and seeks to attack traditional or cherished beliefs |
| robust | strong and healthy |
| amalgamate | to combine into a unified or integrated whole |
| salient | most noticeable and important |
| science fiction | stories of technology and science of the future |
| contraptions | a mechanical device or gadget |
| causality | a cause and effect relationship |
| physics | the science of matter and energy |
| violate | to break or disregard like a law or promise |
| postulate | to assume as an axiom or premise |
| wormholes | a theoretical distortion of space-time in a region of the universe that would link one location or time with another |
| warp drives | traveling faster than light |
| unconvincing | implausable |
| conundrum | an intricate and difficult problem |
| flaw | a feature that mars the perfection o something |
| infancy | earliest period of childhood |
| innovation | a new idea, method, or device : novelty |
| inevitable | Impossible to avoid or prevent |
| descendants | off·spring (ôf spr ng ). n. 1. The progeny or descendants of a person |
| hordes | 1. A large group or crowd; a swarm |
| skepticism | A doubting or questioning attitude or state of mind |
| formidable | Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable |
| dubious | Hesitating or doubting |
| awash | filled, covered, or completely overrun |
| dismissive | Showing indifference or disregard: a dismissive shrug |
| noncommittal | Refusing commitment to a particular opinion or course of action |
| optimistic | Hopeful and confident about the future. |
| circulating | Move or cause to move continuously or freely through a closed system or area |
| controversial | Giving rise or likely to give rise to public disagreement |
| adherents | A supporter, as of a cause |
