| antecedent |
an event, circumstance, or thing coming before another. |
| clout |
(informal) influence or power to persuade. |
| conformist |
one who tends to act in accordance or compliance with established standards or norms. |
| degeneration |
the process of decline or decay. |
| distill |
to subject (a substance) to heat to the point of vaporization, and then to cooling to produce condensation. |
| mandatory |
ordered; required; obligatory. |
| pummel |
to strike heavily with or as if with the fists, a sword, a club, or the like; beat. |
| putrid |
of, concerning, or exhibiting rot or decomposition. |
| quandary |
a situation of uncertainty, puzzlement, or hesitation; dilemma. |
| receptive |
open and willing to accommodate new thoughts and ideas. |
| recompense |
payment or action to compensate for the expenditure or loss of time, money, property, or the like. |
| reformatory |
a corrective institution for disciplining and re-educating young offenders. |
| uncharacteristic |
not typical of a particular person, group, or thing, and therefore notable. |
| unsubstantiated |
lacking the evidence or verification needed to establish as true. |
| vituperate |
to condemn sharply; blame; berate. |