| Term | Definition |
|---|
| abbot | the superior of an abbey of monks |
| contention | assertion in an argument; a dispute or disagreement; rivalry |
| deride | treat or speak of with contempt; ridicule |
| dispossess | take away possession from somebody |
| disquisition | an elaborate analytical or explanatory essay or discussion |
| efficacy | capacity or power to produce a desired effect; effectiveness |
| embellish | to add details to; make more attractive by adding ornament; be beautiful to look at |
| hitherto | to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time |
| husbandry | the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock |
| indigence | a state of extreme poverty or destitution |
| leprous | white and scaly; relating to or resembling or having leprosy |
| lest | in case; for fear that |
| litigious | inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits |
| parson | a person authorized to conduct religious worship |
| penury | poverty |
| remit | send payment; cancel something; reduce intensity of something; restore something; defer something; pardon something; forgive |
| remonstrance | the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest |
| rudiment | the elementary stages of any subject; the remains of a body part that was functional at an earlier stage of life |
| servile | too obedient; relating to slavery |
| smitten | struck as with a hard blow; grievously or disastrously stricken or afflicted; very much in love |
| subsistence | a means of surviving; the state of existing in reality; having substance |
| temperance | abstaining from excess; restraint |
| travail | work hard; labor |
| troth | a solemn pledge of fidelity; a mutual promise to marry |
| unfettered | not bound by shackles and chains; not restricted |
| abhor | to regard w/ extreme repugnance or aversion; to detest utterly |
| abstemious | sparing or moderate in eating and drinking; characterized by abstinence |
| benignity | kindness; a good deed or favor; an instance of kindness |
| brazen | shameless or impudent; made of brass; to make bold; to face boldly |
| bulwark | any protection against external danger or injury; any person or thing giving strong support or encouragement in a time of need; to fortify, secure, or protect |
| cabal | a small group of secret plotters as against a government or person in authority; intrigues and plots; to conspire |
| cowl | a hooded garment worn by monks; to cover with; to make a monk of |
| deem | to form or have an opinion; judge; to think |
| disseminate | to spread or scatter widely; broadcast; disperse |
| fecundity | fruitfulness or fertility; the capacity of abundant production |
| imperious | domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing; urgent |
| licentious | sexually unrestrained; going beyond customary or proper bounds or limits |
| memorial | something designed to preserve the memory of a person, event; a written statement of facts presented to a legislative body in the form of a petition; the memory |
| patrimony | an estate inherited from one's father or ancestors; any quality or characteristic that is inherited |
| profligacy | shameless self-gratification; reckless extravagance; great abundance |
| progeny | a descendant of offspring; something that originates or results from something else; outcome |
| proselyte | a person who has changed from one opinion, belief, sect, or the like to another; convert |
| pyre | a pile or heap of wood or other combustible material |
| rapacity | given to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed; subsisting by the capture of living prey; predacious |
| rivet | a metal pin to hold together plates; to clinch; to fasten or fix or hold firmly |
| shod | to provide or fit w/ a shoe; to protect or arm at the point, edge, or face w/ a metal plate |
| spurn | to reject w/ disdain; scorn, despise, treat w/ contempt; to kick or trample with the foot |
| suffuse | to overspread with or as w/ a liquid, color, etc; to diffuse, flood, bathe |
| tempest | a violent windstorm; a violent commotion, disturbance, or tumult; to disturb violently |
| valetudinarian | a person who is excessively concerned about his or her poor health or ailments; in poor health, sickly, invalid |
| aborigine | an indigenous person who was born in a particular place |
| beset | annoy continually or chronically; decorate or cover lavishly |
| deliberate | think about carefully; discuss the pros and cons of an issue; unhurried and with care and dignity |
| edict | a formal or authoritative proclamation; a legally binding command or decision entered on the court record |
| emigration | migration from a place |
| erroneous | containing or characterized by error |
| immemorial | long past; beyond the limits of memory or tradition or recorded history |
| incontrovertible | impossible to deny or disprove; necessarily or demonstrably true |
| induce | cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; cause to arise or occur rapidly |
| magnanimity | liberality in bestowing gifts; extremely liberal and generous in spirit |
| notwithstanding | despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession) |
| paramount | having superior power and influence |
| plenipotentiary | a diplomat who is fully authorized to represent his or her government |
| plight | give to in marriage; promise solemnly and formally |
| potentate | a ruler who is unconstrained by law |
| precedent | preceding in time, order, or significance; a subject mentioned earlier |
| quietude | a state of peace and quiet |
| relinquish | part w/ a possession or right; do without; turn away from; give up; release from one's grip |
| renown | a state or quality or being widely honored and acclaimed |
| subsequent | following in time or order |
| suppliant | one praying humbly for something; humbly entreating |
| to wit | that is to say; namely; to know |
| unfounded | without a basis in reason or fact |
| vest | provide with power and authority; authority, property, or rights; clothe formally, esp in ecclesiastical garments |
| void | lacking any legal or binding force; containing nothing |
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