| apostate |
a person who abandons his or her religious faith, principles, cause, or the like. |
| condole |
to express sympathy or sorrow for one suffering misfortune or pain. |
| consecrate |
to commit or devote to some goal or service. |
| detachment |
a feeling or condition of being impartial or uninvolved. |
| grapple |
to grasp, twist, or wrestle in close combat. |
| moderation |
the avoidance of excesses or extremes, especially in behavior. |
| modulate |
to vary the loudness, pitch, intensity, or tone of; especially soften or tone down. |
| partake |
to take part; participate (usually followed by "in"). |
| patronize |
to act in an offensively superior manner toward. |
| specious |
apparently true, genuine, or plausible, but actually worthless, as an argument or evidence. |
| touchstone |
a test or standard by which to evaluate the worth of something. |
| usurp |
to take and hold (a right, position, office, or the like) illegally, wrongfully, or by force. |
| venerable |
deserving honor, respect, or reverence because of advanced age, noble character, or dignified position. |
| vignette |
a brief written or musical sketch, or brief film scene, that describes or characterizes a person, incident, situation, or the like. |
| whimsy |
an odd, fanciful, or capricious notion, or such notions collectively. |