| luminous | bright |
| trotted | slowly jogged |
| metropolis | city |
| anxious | nervous |
| podium | box that people stand behind when giving speeches |
| gaunt | weak |
| frantically | hurriedly, in a panicked way |
| din | loud, annoying noise |
| vast | great, large |
| flourished | grew a lot; did very well |
| abolish | get rid of |
| parlor | a living-room type of space |
| crestfallen | disappointed |
| obstinate | stubborn |
| impractical | not reasonable; wouldn't make sense to do; not useful |