ADUMBRATE

He had an amazing power of adumbration bordering on the supernatural; he somehow always knew when something very good or very bad was about to happen.

Something that assuages or allays pain or comforts

Relieving or lessening pain; soothing

ANATHEMA

His strong views in favor of abortion rights are an anathema to the pro-life lobby in the senate

1) A formal curse imposed by authority 2) Cursed or detested thing

ASSEVERATE

Even though the doctor asseverated that the illness was minor, I decided to go for a second opinion

To affirm or declare positively or emphatically

Augury

The fortune teller sat in his throne of augury

BELLICOSE

The tribals in the western part of this state are known for their bellicosity and ferociousness, so it is not advisable to make this trip by night.

CAPTIOUS

Upset at the captious and constantly complaining nature of his wife, he decided to consult a lawyer for a divorce.

CAVIL

Ms. Noggin caviled at almost everything that the decorators had done to adorn the ballroom for the party, asking them to redo most of the work.

CHIMERA

CONTUMACIOUS

The stable-hand complained that for the last few days, the horse was being unreasonably contumacious - it refused to eat anything and also not let anyone ride it.

Exceedingly stubborn

Insubordinate, rebellious

Recalcitrant

DEBACLE

As if the 5-0 debacle that the school hockey team suffered in the match against the Riverdale team was not humiliating enough, they were subjected to another defeat by an unknown team in the next match they played.

Final development of the plot of a play

An outcome or solution

DESUETUDE

After years of desuetude, my french skills were finally put to use

DESULTORY

I went to him hoping to get a lot of knowledge on the subject of his specialization; however, he disappointed me by just making a desultory conversation of hardly any relevance.

DIAPHANOUS

I caught a glimpse of the girl through her diaphanous veil, and what I saw was a picture of exquisite beauty.

DIFFIDENT

Surprisingly, the CEO of the corporation had been a diffident youth

DIRGE

We listened to the slow, funeral dirge

ENCOMIUM

Mother Teresa was worthy of the worldwide recognition and all the encomium she received for her charitable deeds.

Expression of high praise

Synonyms: eulogy, tribute

ESCHEW

Rodney has been eschewed from attending the club meetings after he misbehaved with the president.

To shun or avoid

Abstain from

EXCORIATE

Critics excoriated Isabel for her bad performance in the play.

Criticize severely, Express a very bad opinion of a book, play etc.

To censure, to upbraid

EXPIATE

She is now feeling guilty and would like to expiate for the entire harm she has done to her friends.

To make amends for an offense, failure, sin etc., do penance for

FATUOUS

Ted's fatuous comments always embarrassed his keen-witted wife at parties

Stupid, foolishly-satisfied

Asurd; ludicrous; preposterous; ridiculous, silly

Unruly; rebellious

Synonyms: contentious, crankly, peevish, quarrelsome

Gaudy; falsely attractive

Synonyms: flashy, insincere, loud, specious, tawdry

Lowest point

Synonyms: bottom, depth, pit

Baffled, bewildered, at a loss for what to do or to think

Synonyms: confuse

Cheap, miserly

A parsimonious person parses out his money with great difficulty

Elaborate praise, formal hymn of praise

Synonyms: compliment, homage

Pounding, thundering, resounding

Lustful, lascivious, bawdy

Appealing to or stimulating sexual desire; lascivious