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abortive adj. failing to accomplish an intended aim or purpose; only partially or imperfectly developed. bruit v. to spread news, reports, or unsubstantiated rumors contumelious adj. insolent or rude in speech or behavior; insultingly abusive; humiliating. dictum n. a short saying; an authoritative statement. ensconce v. to settle comfortably and firmly into position; to put or hide in a safe place. iconoclastic adj. attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional beliefs, ideas, or institutions in medias res adv. in or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things internecine adj. mutually destructive; characterized by great slaughter and bloodshed maladroit adj. lacking skill or dexterity; lacking tact, perception, or judgment maudlin adj. excessively or effusively sentimental modulate v. to change or vary the intensity or pitch; to temper or soften; to regulate, adjust portentous adj. foreshadowing an event to come;causing wonder or awe; self consciously weighty, pompous prescience n. knowledge of events of actions before they happen; foresight quid pro quo n. something given in exchange or return for something else. salubrious adj. conducive to health or well being; wholesome saturnalian adj. characterized by riotous or unrestrained revelry or licentiousness touchstone n. a means of testing worth or genuineness traumatic adj. so shocking to the emotions as to cause lasting and substantial psychological damage vitiate v. to weaken, debase, or corrupt; to impair the quality or value of waggish adj. fond of making jokes; characteristic of a joker; playfully humorous or droll