skirmish

a small fight, brief encounters

a bitter pill to swallow

a humiliating defeat

an ax to grind

having a selfish motive in the background

arbitrary

based on whim, dictatorial

cause celebre

a famous law case or controversy

cognizant

aware, conscious

effigy

a likeness (usually of a hated person)

exacerbate

aggravate, exasperate, to irritate, make worse, embitter

flout

show contempt, scoff, defy, insult, jeer, mock, sneer

forthwith

immediately, at once, instantly, promptly

fray

a fight

harass

harry, to trouble, torment, torture, molest

implacable

cannot be pacified, inexorable

indigent

poor, needy

jurisdiction

power, range of authority

~ (over sb/sth)

~ (of sb/sth) (to do sth)

monolithic

massive solid

one swallow does not make a summer

don't jump to conclusions based on incomplete evidence

oust

to drive out, eject

~ sb (from sth/ as sth)

paroxysm

a fit, sudden outburst

~ (of sth)

reprehensible

worthy of blame, deplorable

revert

return, recur, relapse

stymie

foil, impede, to hinder

terminate

to end, conclude, finish

turbulent

unruly, agitated