| adulation |
extreme or excessive praise. |
| caucus |
a private meeting of leaders of a political party to choose candidates or determine policy, or such a group itself. |
| coterie |
a small, exclusive group of friends or associates with similar interest or activities; clique. |
| curtail |
to make shorter; cut off part of. |
| demagogue |
a leader, especially a speaker or politician, who attempts to persuade and to gain a following by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the public, rather than by rational argument. |
| elixir |
a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water used as a vehicle for medicines. |
| gingerly |
in a careful or cautious manner; warily. |
| illicit |
not permitted by custom or law; illegitimate. |
| imbibe |
to take up or consume by drinking. |
| nemesis |
that which one cannot beat, conquer, or succeed at; cause or agent of one's often repeated downfall. |
| oracular |
of, like, pertaining to, of having the nature of divine wisdom; prophetic; wise. |
| ponderous |
heavily labored and dull. |
| schism |
a division into factions with opposing beliefs, especially in a Christian church. |
| tenuous |
having little substance, support, or significance; flimsy; weak. |
| vagary |
an erratic, unpredictable, or extravagant occurrence, action, or idea; whim. |