adj. critical

Censorious people delight in casting blame. 

n. a set of bells capable of being played

The carillon in the bell tower of the World's Fair was nice. 

n. gradual decrease in numbers

There was an attrition in the plant's work force, people were moving on to jobs with better pay. 

adj. daring, bold

Audiences cheered as Luke made his audacious, death-defying leap to freedom. 

n. omen, prophecy

He interpreted the departure of the birds as an augury of evil. 

adj. having absolute, unchecked power; dictatorial

Dictators by definition are autocrats. 

n. smthg fit to be eaten

The roast turkey and other comestibles were wonderful. 

adj. attractive, agreeable

ant. homely 

I would rather have a poor and comely wife than a rich and homely one. 

adj. suffering from indigestion, irritable

His bilious temperament was apparent to all. 

n. large group

The movie actor was surrounded by a bevy of starlets. 

n. hostile feeling or intent

The animus of the speaker became obvious to all when he began to indulge in sarcastic and insulting remarks.

n. animosity

v. to examine in order to verify authenticity

They collated the newly found manuscripts to determine their age. 

adj. serving as an aid or accessory; auxiliary

In an ancillary capacity, Dr. Watson, was helpful; however Holmes could not trust the doctor to solve it on his own. 

n. aversion, dislike

Tom's extreme antipathy for disputes heeps him from getting into arguments. 

n. loss of speech due to injury or illness.

Due to his strep throat, George had a short bout of aphasia. 

n. a light meal

Tea sandwiches and cookies were offered at the collation. 

adj. difficult to please; squeamish

Bobby was such a fastidious eater that he would eat a sandwich only if his mother cut off the crusts. 

n. drug that relieves pain; opiate

His pain was so great, no anodyne could reduce it. 

n. one who abandons his religious faith or political beliefs

Because he switched from one party to another, his former friends shunned him as an apostate. 

v. reduce brittleness and improve toughness by heating and cooling

After the glass is annealed, it will be less subject to chipping and cracking. 

adj. obscure, profound, difficult to understand

Baffled by the abstruse, philisophical texts assigned in class, he went to the professor for help. 

adj. slightly sour; sharp; caustic

James was unpopular because of his sarcastic and acidulous remarks. 

v. loathe, hate

He abominated the barberous custom. 

n. renunciation, self-sacrifice

Their act of abnegation was necessary to save the kingdom. 

v. renounce upon oath

He abjured his allegiance to the king. 

n. being in debt

He was in arrears with his car payments. 

adj. deadly, having a malign influence; ominous

The fortune teller made baleful predictions of terrible things to come. 

v. state confidently

I wish to aver that I am certain of success. 

adj. disobedient, resisting authority

The contumacious mob shouted defiantly at the police.

n. contumacy 

v. talk at length

At this time, please give us a brief resume of your work; we shall permit you to expatiate later.