| Term | Definition |
| arid | lacking water or rainfall; very dry |
| compatible | capable of existing or working together |
| deplore | to condemn; to regret |
| fraught | filled with; laden; emotionally distressed or distressing |
| incontrovertible | impossible to dispute or disprove |
| loquacious | very talkative |
| microcosm | a small part of a system that represents the whole |
| ornate | richly and elaborately decorated |
| petulant | easily annoyed; peevish |
| quip | a witty remark, sometimes sarcastic; to make a witty or clever remark |
| scoff | to mock with contempt |
| tantalize | to excite by flaunting a desired thing and keeping it just out of reach |
| urbane | polite and refined in manner, as from vast social experience |
| volatile | tending to change suddenly; explosively unstable |
| wanton | wastefully excessive; reckless and indifferent toward morality, decency, or justice |