avarice

(noun)

excessive greed; desire for wealth

He became a doctor not to save lives,

but to appease his avarice.

avid

(adjective)

eager; extremely interested

He was such an avid moviegoer that the theater gave him a half-priced, lifetime pass.

bacchanalian

(adjective)

wild with drunkenness

The student flunked out of college because of the bacchanalian life he had lived.

balk

(verb)

to stop short and refuse to continue; to obstruct

Although he desperately needed the money,

he balked at the idea

of working for less than minimum wage.

banter

(noun)

teasing; good natured joking

As she sat at the table, Ruth enjoyed listening to the banter of her husband and his old college roommate.

barrister

(noun)

lawyer

In England, a lawyer or attorney who argues a case in court is called a barrister

bask

(verb)

to lie in or be exposed to warmth

While in Florida on vacation, all she did was bask in the sun

bastion

(noun)

a strong defense; a fort

During critical times in the history of the world, the US has been called the bastion of democracy

bawdy

(adj)

indecent; humorously obscene

Because some people called it a bawdy show, the car manufacturer withdew as a sponser for the program

befuddle

(verb)

to confuse; to perplex

Did he try to befuddle you with his fast talk?