WORDMASTERS MEET 2

DEARTH (N.)

• an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack
• scarcity and dearness of food; famine

GRATIFY (V.)

• to give pleasure to (a person or persons) by satisfying desires or humoring inclinations or feelings
• to satisfy; indulge; humor, as one's desires or appetites
• reward; remunerate

CHOLERIC (ADJ.)

• extremely irritable or easily angered

THRESHOLD (N.)

• the sill of a doorway
• the entrance to a house or building
• any place or point of entering or beginning

WREAK (V.)

• to inflict or execute (punishment, vengeance, etc.)
• to carry out the promptings of (one's rage, ill humor, will, desire, etc.), as on a victim or object

STOIC (ADJ.)/(N.)

• of or pertaining to the school of philosophy founded by Zeno
• a member or adherent of the Stoic school of philosophy
• a person who maintains or affects the mental attitude advocated by the Stoics

VENDETTA (N.)

• a private feud in which the members of the family of a murdered person seek to avenge the murder
• any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, contention, or the like

CONDONE (V.)

• to disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like)
• to give tacit approval to
• to pardon or forgive (an offense); excuse
• to forgive or act so as to imply forgiveness of

ROBUST (ADJ.)

• strong and healthy; hardy; vigorous
• strongly or stoutly built
• suited to or requiring bodily strength or endurance
• rough, rude, or boisterous
• rich and full-bodied

PANOPLY (N.)

• a wide-ranging and impressive array or display
• a complete suit of armor
• a protective covering
• full ceremonial attire or paraphernalia; special dress and equipment

CONFER (V.)

• to consult together; compare opinions; carry on a discussion or deliberation
• to bestow upon as a gift, favor, honor, etc.
• to compare

POIGNANT (ADJ.)

• keenly distressing to the feelings
• keen or strong in mental appeal
• affecting or moving the emotions
• pungent to the smell

METTLE (N.)

• courage and fortitude
• disposition or temperament

WITHHOLD (V.)

• to hold back; restrain or check
• to refrain from giving or granting
• to collect (taxes) at the source of income
• to deduct (withholding tax) from an employee's salary or wages
• to hold back; refrain

VINDICTIVE (ADJ.)

• disposed or inclined to revenge; vengeful
• proceding from or showing a revengeful spirit

TRAVESTY (N.)/(V.)

• a literary or artistic burlesque of a serious work or subject, characterized by grotesque or ludicrous style
• a literary or artistic composition so inferior in quality as to be merely a grotesque imitation of its model
• any grotesque or debased likeness or imitation
• to make a travesty on; turn (a serious work or subject) to ridicule by burlesquing
• to imitate grotesquely or absurdly

IMPOSE (V.)

• to lay on or set as something to be borne, endured, obeyed, fulfilled, paid, etc.
• to put or set by or as if by authority
• to obtrude or thrust (oneself, one's company, etc.) upon others
• to pass or palm off fraudulently or deceptively
• to lay on or inflict, as a penalty

PIQUANT (ADJ.)

• agreeably pungent or sharp in taste or flavor; pleasantly biting or tart
• agreeably stimulating, interesting, or attractive
• of an interestingly provocative or lively character
• sharp or stinging, especially to the feelings

DIATRIBE (N.)

• a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism

APPEASE (V.)

• to bring to a state of peace, quiet, ease, calm, or contentment; pacify; soothe
• to satisfy, allay, or relieve; assuage
• to yield or concede to the belligerent demands of (a nation, group, person, etc.) in a conciliatory effort

SUMPTUOUS (ADJ.)

• entailing great expense, as from choice materials, fine work, etc.; costly
• luxuriously fine or large; lavish; splendid

HEDONIST (N.)/(ADJ.)

• a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification
• of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a hedonist or hedonism

CASTIGATE (V.)

• to criticize or reprimand severely
• to punish in order to correct

OROTUND (ADJ.)

• (of the voice or speech) characterized by strength, fullness, richness, and clearness
• (of a style of speaking) pompous or bombastic

BRINK (N.)

• the edge or margin of a steep place or of land bordering water
• any extreme edge; verge
• a crucial or critical point, especially of a situation or state beyond which success or catastrophe occurs