phonograph
a machine used to produce sound from a record, usually music
adverse
preventing success, unfavorable
laborious
requiring great effort, difficult with regard to time and energy
odious
repulsively unpleasant, eliciting hatred
duplicity
deceitfulness, deception in a manner considered "two-faced"
archipelago
a cluster of islands in a body of water
irradiate
to expose to radiation; (in this context) to give off light as if by radiation
lacquer
a hard, protective, decorative coating for wood structures and furniture, derived from or inspired by the sap of the lacquer tree
ocher
(as a color) pale brown with traces of yellow, with occasional tints of orange and/or red
munitions
military weapons, equipment, and ammunition
equilibrium
a state in which oppositional forces are equal and opposite, creating balance and stability
burnished
giving the appearance of having been rubbed and polished to a shine
prenatal
before birth
whet
to excite or stimulate (origin: to sharpen an object by striking it against something else)
benign
kind, gentle and well-intentioned