| captious |
inclined to petty criticism; faultfinding. |
| carouse |
to revel in a boisterous and drunken manner. |
| charismatic |
having unusually strong personal allure or appeal. |
| compulsive |
driven by an obsession or compulsion. |
| escalation |
increase in amount, scope, or intensity. |
| flippant |
disrespectful or indifferent to someone or something worthy of respect; shallowly humorous. |
| gentry |
people who come from families of high social standing. |
| infringe |
to cross established limits; encroach; trespass (usually followed by "on" or "upon"). |
| momentous |
very important. |
| potentate |
a person of great power, such as a ruler. |
| predecessor |
a person who holds a position or job before another person. |
| redouble |
to make twice as great; renew more vigorously; intensify. |
| touchstone |
a test or standard by which to evaluate the worth of something. |
| venial |
able to be excused, pardoned, or forgiven, as a minor error, offense, or sin. (Cf. mortal.) |
| verisimilitude |
the appearance or semblance of truth or reality. |