| alchemy |
an ancient exploration and practice of chemistry which flourished particularly during medieval times. Practitioners used chemical processes in the hope of, for example, producing gold from base metals, finding the key to eternal life, and uncovering a single cure for all disease. |
| arbitrary |
resulting from personal opinions, wishes, or feelings instead of from a rule or reason. |
| assumption |
something that is supposed or believed without questioning. For example, if you ask someone whether she is allowed to watch TV during dinner, you have made an assumption that there is a TV in her house. Assumptions are ideas people have that are not based on proven facts. An assumption can be correct or incorrect. |
| avenge |
to inflict punishment or cause suffering as retribution for. |
| berserk |
violently enraged; wildly destructive. |
| 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. |
| diva |
a renowned female opera singer; prima donna. |
| fathom |
to get to the bottom of or understand completely. |
| formerly |
in the past; in a time before now. |
| informal |
relaxed in style or feeling; casual. |
| mitigate |
to lessen the force, severity, or impact of. |
| momentum |
strength of movement. |
| sparse |
not thick or dense; scattered in thin amounts. |
| thrifty |
prudent in the management and spending of money; economical. |
| waver1 |
to move back and forth in a fluttering motion; sway. |