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hypocrisy
the pretense of having virtues or beliefs that one does not really have
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dispatch
to send off promptly; efficient speed; a message, esp. official or from a journalist
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jeremiad
an elaborate and lengthy take of sadness
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impetuous
characterized by sudden emotion, energy, etc.; impulsive and passionate
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devour
to eat up greedily
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fiat
an authoritative order; an arbitrary decree
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preserve
to remain constant despite obstacles
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camaraderie
loyalty; a warm, friendly feeling among members of a group
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innuendo
an indirect suggestion about someone or something, esp. of a negative nature
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fulcrum
the point on which a lever pivots; a crucial point or agent
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hirsute
having excessive body hair
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reproach
to express disapproval for fault, usu. out of a sense of disappointment
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cherish
to hold in great affection excessively interested in one's own appearance, comfort, importance, etc.
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narcissistic
excessively interested in one's own appearance, comfort, importance, etc.
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martyr
one who chooses to die rather than to give up religious beliefs, or who suffers greatly to further a cause
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venal
capable of being bribed or corrupted
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oppugn
to oppose with argument; to contradict or call into question
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congenial
suited to one's needs or nature; friendly; sympathetic
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prescribe
to set down as a rule
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patina
thin greenish layer that forms on a copper as a result of corrosion; the sheen on any surface produced by age or use
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pinnacle
the highest point; summit
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caliber
degree of worth or value
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lacuna
an empty space or missing portion
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meander
to follow a winding course; to wander without any fixed destination
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invective
language that abuses or denounces
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heyday
a time of success or popularity
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discrete
individually distinct or separate
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quaint
odd, especially in an old-fashioned way
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inchoate
at an early stage of development; not well developed
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poignant
sharply painful to the feelings
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malleable
able to be pounded; capable of being molded; adaptable
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imbecile
a stupid or silly person
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memento
a reminder or a souvenir
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figment
something that is created; something that is imagined
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infatuated
experiencing an unreasonable plassion or attraction
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tacit
unspoken but understood; silent
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attrition
gradual reduction
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compendium
a short, complete summary
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placate
to make less angry
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erratic
inconsistent, unpredictable
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obtuse
slow in understanding; dull; stupid
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firebrand
one who stirs up trouble or revolt
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berate
to scold severely and at length
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benign
kindly; creating a favorable influence; not dangerous to one's health
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fraternize
to associate in a friendly manner
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patronize
to sponsor or support; to be kind or helpful in a snobbish way, as if dealing with an inferior
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redolent
aromatic; fragrant; suggestive
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shear
to cut hair or wool from
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feign
to pretend; to fake
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melancholy
sad,esp. a lingering or habitual state of mind; persistent sadness
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mores
accepted rules of behavior
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dote
to show excessive love or fondness
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chic
smartly elegant in style and manner
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dissipate
to scatter; to spend wastefully
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lambent
flickering, e.g., of a flame or light reflected on a surface
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vain
not producing the desired outcome; worthless; pround or conceited
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unruly
difficult to control; disobedient
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garish
marked by unpleasantly bright colors or excessive ornamentation
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petty
having secondary rank or importance
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recidivist
one who returns to criminal habits
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dwindle
to decrease gradually until little remains
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autocracy
rule by one person with unlimited power
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nonchalant
seemingly unconcerned or indifferent
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succulent
full of juice; highly enjoyable
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imminent
impending; threatening; likely to happen
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sparse
thinly spread or distributed; not dense or crowded
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gesticulate
to make gestures, esp. while speaking
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largess
generosity in giving gifts
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filibuster
to use a prolonged speech to delay legislative action; a speech that delays legislative action
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privation
lack of basic necessities
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toady
a person who flatters others for self-serving reasons; a sycophant
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feral
existing in a wild or untamed state
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maudlin
excessively sentimental
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mercurial
easily changeable; erratic
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decor
a decorative style or scheme, as of a room
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manifold
of many kinds; numerous and varied
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pandemic
general, widespread; a very widespread disease
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foreboding
a sense of impending evil, esp. one without definite cause
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hysteria
a sudden outburst of uncontrolled emotion such as fear, excitement, etc.
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havoc
great destruction and devastation
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evanescent
fading from sight; transient
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flotsam
wreckage of a ship or its cargo found floating on the sea
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contempt
a feeling that something is low or disgusting
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metaphysical
highly abstract or theoretical; lacking physical form
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mellifluous
smooth and sweet; flowing with sweetness
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gamut
an entire range or series
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monolithic
massive, solid and uniform in appearance
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palliate
to lessen the pain or severity
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haggard
appearing tired and thin, as from anxiety, disease, hunger, etc.
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tentative
experimental; not sure
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implacable
unable to be pacified; relentless
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perfunctory
done without care or interest or merely as a form or routine
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solicitous
showing anxious concern
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iconic
an image; a symbol; a representation of a holy person, esp. in the Orthodox Christian churches
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fledgling
a young inexperienced person; a young bird just growing feathers
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sanctuary
a holy place; a place of refuge
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decree
to order with the force of law; an official order
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deprive
to take or keep something away from someone
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dispense
to administer; to distribute; to do without
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unscrutable
hard to understand; enigmatic
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convivial
sociable; festive
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obeisance
a gesture, such as a curtsy, that expresses respect or obedience
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civic
pertaining to a city or citizen
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raconteur
one who tells stories with skill
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pandemonium
a situation of great confusion, esp. because of fear or anger
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disheveled
disarranged; untidy; rumpled
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malediction
evil talk about someone; slander; a curse
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sumptuous
of a size or splendor suggesting great expense; lavish
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ephemeral
lasting for a short time; fleeting
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preponderance
superiority in weight, force, importance or influence
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analogy
a similarity between things that are otherwise dissimilar
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inaugurate
to formally bring into office at the beginning of a term
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opine
to express an opinion
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