chaff
material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
retract
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
feckless
generally incompetent and ineffectual
shroud
burial garment in which a corpse is wrapped
virulent
extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom
candor
the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
retaliate
make a counterattack and return like for like, especially evil for evil
bilious
relating to or containing bile
curmudgeon
a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas
parry
impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball)
credulous
showing a lack of judgment or experience
malice
feeling a need to see others suffer
eradicate
destroy completely, as if down to the roots
slipshod
marked by great carelessness
dross
worthless or dangerous material that should be removed
expunge
remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line
covert
secret or hidden; not openly practiced or engaged in or shown or avowed
pith
soft spongelike central cylinder of the stems of most flowering plants
divulge
make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
potent
having or wielding force or authority
improbable
having a probability too low to inspire belief
vengeance
the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life
