| abdicate |
to officially give up a position of power or a right. |
| codicil |
an addition or appendix, especially one modifying the terms of a will. |
| duplicity |
deceitful speech or action. |
| fraudulent |
characterized by or based on the use of deceit or trickery. |
| guise |
external appearance or semblance, especially if deceptive. |
| meritorious |
having worth or high quality; deserving of praise or reward. |
| pallor |
unnatural lack of color, especially of the face. |
| paltry |
small, trifling, or worthless. |
| prototype |
an original model on which later stages or forms are based or developed. |
| quizzical |
expressing doubt, confusion, or questioning; puzzled. |
| recrimination |
an accusation made in response to being accused by another, or the act of countering one accusation with another. |
| sheaf |
a bound bundle of cut grain. |
| soluble |
able to be dissolved. |
| sophistry |
a subtle, deceptive method of reasoning or arguing, involving statements that sound plausible but are actually false or fallacious. |
| symposium |
a conference or meeting on a single topic, usually involving several speakers. |