abject

adj

miserable, wretched, lacking self-respect, degraded

acquisitive

adj

eager to acquire, good at getting and holding wealth, grasping

construe

v

interpret, infer or deduce

contrite

adj

feeling deep sorrow or remorse from having sinned or done wrong, penitent, showing guilt

conflagration

n

a big, destructive fire

dissemble

v

disguise, feign, to conceal under a false appearance, behave hypocritically

elation

n

a feeling of exultant joy or pride, high spirits

ineffable

adj

inexpressible, too overwhelming to describe in words

galvanize

v

excite, startle, to stimulate as if by electric shock

juxtapose

v

to put side by side or close together

meticulous

adj

extremely or excessively careful about details, scrupulous or finicky

plethora

n

excess, overabundance, the state of being too full

phlegmatic

adj

sluggish, dull, apathetic

quotidian

adj

daily, recurring everyday, usual or ordinary

sophomoric

adj

immature

secular

adj

of or relating to worldly things as distinguished from things relating to church and religion

turpitude

n

baseness, vileness, depravity

thwart

v

hinder, obstruct, frustrate or defeat

acrophobia

n

an abnormal fear of being in high places

verdant

adj

green, covered with green vegetation, inexperienced, immature