acedia
spiritual inactivity or boredom
aggrandizement
elevation; increase of scope of power or wealth
aldermanic
seeming to be of high rank or political authority
annulment
legal invalidation of a marriage
arcana
specialized knowledge of something generally considered a mystery or a secret
armory
a storage building for arms and military equipment
assignation
allocation or apportionment according to a design or plan
astrakhan
the wavy wool of young lambs from the city of Astrakhan in southwest Russia
bestial
like a beast; brute; subhuman
burro
a small donkey used to carry supplies
cadet
a student training at a military academy to become an officer
Caligula
A.D. 12-41; Emperor of Rome A.D. 37-41; noted for his cruelty and megalomania
capitulate
to surrender or yield; to acquiesce
cistern
a storage tank holding rainwater
clement
mild; lenient
coif
to dress or arrange one's hair
columnar
in the shape of a column
conjugality
having to do with a marriage or spouses
consummation
fulfillment of a goal; fruition
copious
ample; abundant
degenerate
in a state of decline or corruption
derby
a round, black, hard hat; a bowler hat
discord
conflict; tension
dispensary
a public institution that distributes medical aid and treatments
ecclesiastical
associated with a church
effigy
a statue; a likeness (usually of a person)
effrontery
bold and presumptuous behavior
endive
crisp salad green with irregular, curled, frilly leaves
excelsior
thin, curling wood shavings used in packing boxes
fantail
fan-like overhang of the deck at the stern of a ship
feint
deceptive action intended to divert attention away from the real purpose or target
flophouse
a cheap boarding house
foulard
a lightweight silk or silk-like scarf or necktie, usually printed with a small pattern
galliard
lively; a popular French dance from the 16th and 17th centuries
galluses
suspenders
geode
a hollow cavity in rock lined with crystals along the inside wall
gypsy
nomadic, unconventional
hash-houses
slang for inexpensive restaurants
homage
public honor; ceremonial show of respect or deference
impresario
a promoter, manager, or director of public entertainment
involutional
entangled in or involved
jocular
humorous; joking
kinesis
motion induced in response to a stimulus
kinkajou
fruit-eating mammal in Central and South America with brown fur and a long tail
lateen
a triangular sail, usually used in the Mediterranean Sea
lepidopterous
of or seeming like a butterfly or moth, with membranous wings
loam
rich soil mixture of clay and sand and decaying matter, often used to make bricks
Machiavelli
1469-1527; Italian political thinker who theorized that power and position could be maintained by excluding moral considerations
margrave
German military governor
mesmeric
hypnotic; fascinating
millenarian
believing in a coming age or millenium of peace, great prosperity, and happiness
mobcap
a woman's cap adorned with frill and puffery, worn indoors during the eighteenth and nineteenth century
palaver
charming or flattering talk
parapet
low, fortifying wall on the edge of a balcony or roof, usually for added protection
pedantry
inappropriate display of learning
pellucid
transluscent or clear; admitting the shine of light
pinochle
card game involving a 48-card deck and two or four persons
pontiffs
popes; bishops
precipitating
occurring unexpectedly from a hasty act
pulque
a thick, alcoholic beverage made from the Mexican agave plant
racketeers
persons involved in illegal business activities
rambunctious
boisterous; ill-disciplined
rancor
deep bitterness and anger; a feeling of ill will
rickshaw
two-wheeled cart pulled by a human being, carrying one passenger
rout
to dig out and expose
rudiments
basic elements, principles, or facts
sepulcher
burial chamber; altar
spittoons
metal bowls with covers for the spit of tobacco-chewers
stalwart
resolute; hardy
temerarious
rashly daring
Trotsky
a Russian revolutionary and communist theoretician who opposed Stalin's rise to authoritarianism; banished and killed in Mexico while in exile
trundled
pushed on wheels; rolled along
tubercular
relating to the lesions associated with the infectious disease tuberculosis
turpitude
corrupt or depraved activity; baseness
ulterior
concealed, with the intent to deceive
utopia
a perfected, idealistic, and often impractical scheme of political and social reform
waywardness
marked by acting willfully, contrary to others' advice or wishes
