| bleak |
bare, cold, or not protected from the weather. |
| cipher |
a system that substitutes letters and symbols for the letters and symbols contained in a written message in order to conceal its meaning; code. |
| escalate |
to increase in intensity, scope, or size. |
| esteem |
to have a high opinion of; respect; honor. |
| export |
the act of sending goods to another country to sell. |
| hoax |
an act meant to trick or deceive. |
| inquiry |
a question or request for information. |
| instinct |
natural behavior in an animal that is not taught by parents or experience but is simply part of what an animal is born with. |
| moderate |
not too much or too little; within limits. |
| probation |
a period of time for testing a person's ability, character, or behavior. |
| recede |
to move away or back; become more distant. |
| ritual |
a set of actions always done in the same way, often because of custom or tradition. |
| secede |
to withdraw from a group or a political union. |
| shun |
to keep away from or avoid on purpose. |
| similarly |
in the same way or in the same amount. |