| bereft |
deprived or stripped of something. |
| coddle |
to simmer in water that is almost at the boiling point. |
| collateral |
property or other security put forward to guarantee repayment of a loan. |
| denigrate |
to deny the worth of; sneer at; belittle. |
| despoil |
to forcefully take belongings or goods from; plunder. |
| equipoise |
a state of balance or equal weight, importance, or the like; equilibrium. |
| exceptionable |
likely to be objected to; objectionable. |
| flout |
to show scorn or contempt for, especially by openly or deliberately disobeying. |
| fracas |
a noisy disturbance or quarrel. |
| harbinger |
someone or something that signals or foreshadows a later arrival or occurrence; herald; forerunner. |
| magnum opus |
a great work of art, literature, or music, especially a particular person's masterpiece. |
| neologism |
a new word, phrase, or usage. |
| opiate |
something that induces relaxation, calm, or stupor. |
| plaudit |
(often plural) an enthusiastic show of approval, such as a round of applause or a very favorable review. |
| repine |
to express or feel unhappiness; complain; fret. |