| allegory |
in art or literature, the use of concrete characters, events, or things, to represent abstract qualities or ideas, often to make a point about good and evil. |
| arduous |
entailing great difficulty, exertion, or endurance; laborious. |
| bogus |
not authentic; counterfeit. |
| clout |
(informal) influence or power to persuade. |
| financier |
a person skilled in or occupied in financial operations, usually on a large scale. |
| incisive |
marked by clear, penetrating thought; sharp. |
| morass |
something that hinders passage or engulfs an unwary person. |
| mystical |
spiritually powerful, significant, or symbolic. |
| presage |
to be a sign or warning of; portend or foretell. |
| redress |
compensation or reparation; amends. |
| scapegoat |
one made to bear the blame for the wrongs of others. |
| surreptitious |
made, performed, or achieved by stealth or in secret. |
| therapeutic |
of, pertaining to, or capable of healing; curative. |
| torrid |
parched or scorched by the sun, as a geographic area. |
| unnoticed |
not seen, perceived, or discovered. |