ameliorate
to make better or more tolerable
aperture
opening
avarice
greed
balsam
an aromatic and usually oily substance flowing from a plant
chattel
an item of property; a slave
credulous
ready to believe, even on unreliable or scanty evidence
cupidity
avarice; greed; lust
deportment
behavior; demeanor; conduct
depredate
plunder or ravage
descanting
explaining or discussing a particular theme or subject
dissipated
vanished; dissolved
dower
money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage
epicure
a person with discriminating tastes in regard to food or wine
epithet
an abusive word or phrase
evince
show or demonstrate
facetious
joking in an inappropriate manner
factotum
a person with a multitude of responsibilities
festoon
a decorative chain hanging between two points
forbearance
patience; leniency
freshet
a stream
gimlet
a small tool used to bore holes
implored
begged for earnestly
imprecations
strong curses
inculcate
to teach and impress by frequent repetitions or admonitions
indefatigable
tireless; inexhaustible
injurious
abusive; defamatory
intercede
intervene; mediate
irascible
irritable; easily provoked to angry outbursts
joists
small beams laid out parallel from wall to wall
licentious
corrupt; amoral; lewd
lineament
a feature or contour of a face
loquacious
extremely talkative
malediction
curse
manumit
to release from slavery
miscreant
an infidel; someone who behaves badly
muster
a formal inspection
officiating
presiding over
palliate
to moderate the intensity of
pecuniary
relating to money
perfidy
faithlessness or disloyalty; treachery
pilfer
to steal from
politic
shrewdly tactful
prattle
childish talk
precept
a command or principle
quelled
reduced to submission; put down
rapacious
greedy
recompense
pay; remunerate
reprobate
a morally corrupt person
scourge
whip
scrupulous
having moral integrity
subterfuge
deceit used in order to achieve one's goal
supplicant
a person who asks humbly for a favor
veracity
truthfulness
vitiate
to make faulty or defective
vitiated
impaired; debased
vituperations
sustained and harsh criticism and insults