| 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. |
| barricade |
a structure that is put up quickly for protection or to block the way. |
| conditional |
depending on certain circumstances or events. |
| devastate |
to destroy or ruin. |
| jaunty |
having a light manner; lively and confident. |
| nocturnal |
happening in the night. |
| offend |
to cause to be angry, annoyed, or insulted. |
| off-key |
not on the right musical note or pitch; flat or sharp. |
| optimism |
the belief that things will turn out well or that there is always hope for something good to happen. |
| pension |
money paid at regular times by a former employer to a person who has retired, or by the government to a person who is not able to work. |
| relevance |
connection or importance to the matter in question; pertinence. |
| revisit |
to visit or go to again, especially with the intent to examine something or to relive an important experience. |
| shareholder |
a person who owns stock in a business organization. |
| signify |
to serve as a sign of; mean. |
| snob |
a person who admires and imitates people of a high social or intellectual class. Snobs act or feel superior to anyone of a lower class. |