affable
friendly or pleasant
alacrity
cheerful promptness
amnesty
a pardon, often for political offenses
anecdote
a brief account of an interesting, entertaining, or biographical event
annalist
an individual who chronicles events; historian
aphasia
an inability to speak or understand words, usually due to an injury of the brain
aphrodisiac
a food or drug that arouses sexual desire
Apollo
in mythology, the Roman god of music and light
archaic
ancient; pertaining to an earlier historical time
arduous
difficult or strenuous
Artemis
in mythology, the Roman goddess of the moon
auxiliary
an individual that provides support or aid
avaricious
greedy
bedizen
to dress in an extravagant manner
besmirch
discredit
boudoir
a woman's dressing room
breach
a break or violation, often of a law
chafe
to irritate by rubbing
chaplet
a wreath for the head
chastity
a state of purity or chasteness; virginity
chattel
a slave
cipher
a key used for creating or revealing a coded message
clemency
an inclination for showing mercy or forgiveness
colitis
inflammation of the colon
connoisseur
a critical expert
conscientious
meticulous or careful
consummate
complete or fulfill a contract; in marriage, sexual intercourse must be performed in order for the marriage contract to be "consummated"
contention
a point in an argument or a debate
contumely
insulting or rude treatment
cosset
to treat as a pet
crab apple
a small and sour fruit
Daedalus
in mythology, the architect of the Cretean labyrinth who constructs wings for himself and his son to escape
debauchery
indulgence in sensual pleasures and vice
declaim
to recite
deify
to glorify as a god
deprecation
to belittle
depredation
to plunder or ravage
deputation
the act of appointing a deputy or individual to act for others
despatch
British spelling of the term "dispatch," meaning to send away with promptness
diffidence
a lack of self-confidence
disillusion
freedom from illusion and idealism
dissolute
lacking any moral restraints
distillation
a pure concentration of a substance, making its essence more potent
diviner
an individual who can prophesize the future
docile
obedient
dropsy
disease characterized by a surplus of fluid in the connective tissue of the body
effeminacy
possessing feminine characteristics
eke out
to support through difficulty; supplement
elegiac
written in poetic couplets
elocution
a style of public speaking
enmity
hostility or ill will
epigram
a witty, often satirical, poem with a single thought
epileptic
having the characteristics of epilepsy, a disease characterized by convulsions
erysipelas
an infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the skin
exculpate
to free from blame
execrate
to despise completely
exemplar
an individual that serves as a model or ideal
faction
a subversive group, often in politics
feint
a mock blow meant to distract one's opponent from the actual angle of attack
flog
to beat with a rod
folly
lack of sense; a foolish act
frieze
in architecture, a decorative band on a wall
Fury
in mythology,a female deity who would punish and torment individuals
futile
useless or ineffective
gallant
a suitor
gangrene
a decay of tissue
gestation
conception and development of an embryo
goad
to urge into action
golden predicament
the phrase that Claudius uses to describe his position as Emperor
grovel
to humble or abase oneself
guffaw
to laugh uproariously
halberd
an ax-like weapon
harp (on)
to discuss a subject persistently and tediously
hellebore
a poisonous herb
hindrance
an impediment or obstacle
homage
an expression of respect or tribute
ibis
a bird with a long, slender bill; related to the heron
impiety
lacking proper respect; irreverence
incendiary
a person who incites political factions or turmoil; a person who commits arson
incongruous
inharmonious
indefatigable
untiring
indiscriminate
random, not selected carefully
ingenious
clever
insolent
to be contemptuous or disrespectful
intrigue
a secret plot or affair
inviolable
incorruptible
irreverence
a lack of respect
javelin
a small thrown spear
jobbery
corruption in public office
laurel
a small evergreen tree used in the form of a wreath as a mark distinction or honor
lewd
obscene
libation
an alcoholic beverage, often drunk during a ceremony
libel
a statement of defamation against an individual, often published in written form
lyre
a stringed instrument similar to a harp
magnaminous
generous
malignity
the state of pure evil
mangonel
a military contraption used to throw missiles
manifesto
a public declaration of the beliefs or motives or a certain individual or group
marmoset
a type of soft-furred monkey
mausoleum
a large tomb
meagreness
the British spelling of the term "meagerness," meaning "lacking in quantity"
mercenary
a professional soldier hired to fight in a foreign army
metamorphosis
a physical transformation
mimicry
close imitation
minx
a flirtatious or vulgar woman
muleteer
an individual who drives mules
nepotism
favoritism based on a family connection
obeissance
a bow or movement of homage
obsequious
displaying overt deference or attention
officious
meddlesome
oracle
a priest or priestess who speaks for a deity
orator
a public speaker
pacify
to calm or soothe
pander
to cater to the desires of others
paragon
a model of excellence
parley
a discussion with an enemy during an unofficial truce
parry
to avert the thrust of a weapon during a battle
parsimonious
stingy
pastoral
anything relating to sheep, shepherds, and the countryside
pedantic
to emphasize unimportant details, often in learning
penance
a punishment undergone to make up for a sin
periphrasis
using a longer phrase than necessary
petulance
characterized by varying moods and ill temper
phial
a small vial
poignant
touching or sentimental
pontiff
a high priest
portent
an omen of the future
portico
in architecture, a structure built on columns
posterity
future generations
precipice
a steep cliff; dangerous situation
propitiatory
serving to appease or regain the good will of an individual
proscription
a restriction
querulous
complaining or whining
rabble
the lowest social class of people
raucous
rowdy and disorderly
raze
demolish
rectitude
moral righteousness
redoubtable
formidable; commanding of respect
republican
an individual in favor of a republican government
saffron
an orange-yellow color; also an herb used in food
scapegoat
an individual who is blamed for the actions of another
scruple
a moral principle that inhibits a certain action
scurrilous
offensive and vulgar
sedan-chair
an enclosed chair supported on poles and carried by two individuals
sententiously
marked by self-righteousness
skinflint
an individual who is extremely stingy
skirmish
a minor fight or struggle
solicitude
an attitude of protectiveness
speculative
thoughtful; often matched with curiosity
sprucely
in a smart or neat manner
stagnation
inactivity
stipulation
condition
subjugate
to conquer or subdue
subservience
acting in a servile manner
succubi
a female demon that has sexual intercourse with men while they are asleep
superlative
supreme
supplant
to overthrow an individual through scheming or force
throttle
strangle
tribune
a Roman official
truncheon
a bludgeon or club
tumult
a disorderly commotion
tutelary
an individual with the position of guardian over another
tyranny
a government in which complete power lies with a sole individual
unfilial
a violation of the relationship between a child and its parents
unremitting
constant
vapid
tedious or dull
veneration
respect or reverence for an individual
veracious
truthful
vexatious
troubling
yeoman
an attendant
