acumen

n

shrewdness, keenness and quickness in dealing with a situation

adventitious

adj

added from outside, not inherent, accidental, occurring in unusual or abnormal places

bucolic

adj

pastoral, rustic, of country life or farms, of shepherds

corroborate

v

to confirm, make the validity of more certain, support

harbinger

n

a person or thing that comes before to announce or give an indication of what follows, a herald

draconian

adj

extremely severe or cruel

embellish

v

to improve or decorate by adding detail, adorn

ingenuous

adj

frank, open, candid, simple, artless, naive, without guile

harry

v

to torment or worry, harass

laud

v

to praise, extol

motley

adj

of many colors or patches of color, of many different or clashing elements, heterogeneous

predilection

n

a preconceived liking, partiality or preference

pontificate

v

to speak or act in a pompous or dogmatic way

repugnant

adj

distasteful, offensive, disagreeable

stalwart

adj

strong and well-built, sturdy, robust, brave and valiant, resolute, firm, unyielding

soporific

adj

causing or tending to cause sleep

vicarious

adj

living through another person; endured, suffered or performed by one person in place of another

turbid

adj

muddy or cloudy, confused, perplexed, muddled

compunction

n

a sharp feeling of uneasiness brought on by a sense of guilt, twinge of conscience, remorse

heresy

n

any opinion opposed to religious, official or established views or doctrines