retinue
a group of assistants and companions accompanying an important person
Vocabulary directory
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skittish
easily frightened or nervous
sluice
a channel or gate that controls the flow of water
squeamish
easily upset by blood, injury, or unpleasant sights
stockade
a fence of upright posts built for defense
tussle
a brief struggle or fight
unaided
done without help
uproot
to pull a plant out of the ground or force someone from a home
alcove
a small recessed space in a room or wall
aspirant
a person who hopes to achieve a particular position
assertiveness
confidence in stating needs and opinions without aggression
autocracy
government by one person with unlimited power
broach
to raise a sensitive subject for discussion
cognate
a word related by origin to a word in another language
contrition
sincere regret for doing something wrong
counterclockwise
in the opposite direction from the movement of a clock's hands
dregs
the least desirable remains of something
extrinsic
coming from outside rather than being an essential part
gymnastic
relating to gymnastics or physical agility
interlock
to fit together or become connected securely
loam
fertile soil containing a balanced mix of sand, clay, and organic matter
mirth
amusement shown through laughter
prohibitively
to a degree that prevents something from happening
queasy
feeling slightly sick or uneasy
rapprochement
the restoration of friendly relations
recompense
money or another benefit given in return for loss or effort
remiss
careless in performing a duty
resuscitate
to revive someone who has stopped breathing or become unconscious
reverie
a pleasant state of being lost in thought
slippage
a failure to meet a target or keep something in place
smattering
a small, incomplete amount of knowledge or a few scattered examples
ticklish
sensitive to being touched or difficult to handle
wallop
to hit someone or something with great force
whet
to sharpen an appetite or interest
wile
a clever trick used to persuade or deceive
cacophony
a harsh mixture of many loud sounds
customarily
according to usual practice
deflate
to let air out of something or reduce confidence
drawbridge
a bridge that can be raised or moved to allow passage or protect a castle
exonerate
to officially clear someone from blame or wrongdoing
expediency
the choice of what is convenient rather than what is right
fittingly
in a way that is suitable or appropriate
grimace
a facial expression showing pain, disgust, or displeasure
histology
the study of tissues under a microscope
homogeneity
the quality of being uniform or alike throughout
infirm
physically weak, especially because of age
obverse
the front side of a coin or medal
offstage
away from the area visible to an audience
palatial
large and splendid like a palace
parley
a discussion between opposing sides
phenomenally
to an extraordinary degree
pithy
short but full of meaning
pittance
a very small amount of money, especially pay
repulsion
a strong feeling of disgust or a force pushing things apart
rubbery
having the texture or flexibility of rubber
seditious
encouraging rebellion against established authority
unrepentant
not sorry for having done something wrong
adherent
a person who supports a belief or movement
asunder
into separate parts or pieces
clamour
a loud demand or confused noise; British spelling of clamor
convalescent
recovering from illness or medical treatment
disavow
to deny responsibility for or connection with something
garbled
so distorted or confused that it is hard to understand
jaunt
a short trip made for pleasure
malfeasance
illegal or dishonest conduct by someone in authority
nipping
sharp and cold, especially of weather
nontraditional
different from long-established practice
plinth
a heavy base supporting a statue or column
prosaic
ordinary and lacking imagination or excitement
rebut
to argue or show that a claim is false
reticence
a tendency not to speak much about one's thoughts or feelings
reversion
a return to an earlier state or practice
seafaring
connected with travel or work at sea
sheaf
a bundle of papers or stalks tied together
squalid
extremely dirty and unpleasant
sweltering
uncomfortably hot
vicarious
experienced through the actions or feelings of another person
whimsy
playful, fanciful humor
acoustical
relating to sound or the way sound travels
amateurish
lacking professional skill or polish
appetizing
looking or smelling good enough to eat
callus
a thickened area of skin caused by repeated rubbing
courtly
polite and elegant in an old-fashioned way
denigrate
to criticize unfairly or damage someone's reputation
douse
to pour liquid over something or extinguish a fire
extradite
to send a person accused of a crime to another country for trial
fidget
to make small restless movements
flippant
not showing proper seriousness
gingerly
with great care to avoid damage or pain
grouchy
easily annoyed and complaining
gusty
marked by sudden strong bursts of wind
hedonism
the belief that pleasure is life's main aim
immemorial
existing for longer than anyone can remember
inequity
a lack of fairness in treatment or opportunity
knell
the solemn sound of a bell, often marking death
leer
to look at someone in an unpleasantly suggestive way
legume
a plant such as a bean or pea, or its seed
moiety
one of two equal parts of something
morsel
a small piece of food
paleolithic
relating to the early Stone Age