acolyte
A follower of a leader or movement; an assistant or participant during a religious ceremony
admonish
To strongly reprimand or criticize someone for their behavior
angelus
A Christian prayer, also called the "Hail Mary"
annihilate
Completely destroy
brigand
A member of a group of highwaymen or robbers
chagrin
To feel distressed or humiliated
colloquy
A meeting to discuss theology and religion
colporteur
A book or newspaper seller
crofter
A person who farms an arable plot of land
dalecarlian
A group of runic Scandinavian languages spoken primarily in Dalarna County, Sweden
delirious
An uncomprehending or disturbed state of mind, often from drunkenness or illness
diffident
Modesty due to low self-esteem
disparaging
Having an overly critical or unkind view of someone or something
dissension
Disagreements that cause disharmony in relationships or community
droll
Provoking dry amusement
envinced
Indicated or gave evidence for
firmament
The sky or heavens
forecastle
A crew's living quarters on a ship below the deck
germinating
Growing during a period of dormancy
harangue
To lecture someone in an aggressive manner
heretic
A person holding or practicing beliefs opposed to orthodox and mainstream religion
Holy of Holies
In the Hebrew Bible, the Holy of Holies is the inner sanctuary of a temple where God's presence dwells; in colloquial language, the most sacred part of a space
ingratiating
Attempting to join a group or community to gain approval or favor
kroner
Norweigan currency
obtrusiveness
Being overly conspicuous and noticeable
parson
A member of the religious clergy
Providence
God's plan or will for humanity and the world
Raising the Deuce
Intentionally causing mischief or strife
rebuke
Express strong disapproval or criticism
ribald
Referring to sexuality in a coarse or irreverent way
rostrum
A raised platform used for public speeches or ceremonies
Sabbath
A holy day observed on Saturday in the Jewish tradition and Sunday in the Christian tradition
salutary
Beneficial or producing good effects, especially from something unwelcome, unpleasant, or painful
slander
To spread false, damaging information to damage another's reputation
sect
A branch of a larger movement
sluice
The act of rinsing with water
stupor
A state of insensibility, often caused by drunkenness
succor
Assistance or support during difficult periods or in distressing situations
surplice and cassock
Ceremonial garments worn during religious ceremonies, particularly by priests, deacons, and altar servers
taciturn
Reserved or uncommunicative, especially in an offputting way
temerity
Audacity; excessive or unearned confidence
temperance
Moderation or restraint of indulging in appetites and passions
The Banns
A formal declaration of betrothal
The Salvation Army
A Protestant Christian church and charitable organization aligned with the 19th-century Wesleyan-Holiness movement
trepidation
Tension, unease
unction
The act of anointing during a religious ceremony
vestry
A room in a church used for administrative tasks or changing into ritual vestments
Zion
A hill in Jerusalem; colloquially used to refer to a holy place