integument
an outer protective covering such as the skin of an animal or a cuticle or seed coat or rind or shell
succinct
briefly giving the gist of something
rendition
a performance of a musical composition or a dramatic role etc.
mortify
cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
embryonic
of an organism prior to birth or hatching
antebellum
belonging to a period before a war especially the American Civil War
rampart
an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
sling
a simple weapon consisting of a looped strap in which a projectile is whirled and then released
lintel
horizontal beam used as a finishing piece over a door or window
opulent
rich and superior in quality
marauder
someone who attacks in search of booty
providential
peculiarly fortunate or appropriate; as if by divine intervention
enormity
the quality of extreme wickedness
extirpate
destroy completely, as if down to the roots
tamarisk
any shrub or small tree of the genus Tamarix having small scalelike or needle-shaped leaves and feathery racemes of small white or pinkish flowers; of mostly coastal areas with saline soil
rejoinder
a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
clamber
climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
shale
a sedimentary rock formed by the deposition of successive layers of clay
effete
marked by excessive self-indulgence and moral decay
shebang
an entire system; used in the phrase `the whole shebang'
insurrection
organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another
bier
a stand to support a corpse or a coffin prior to burial
craven
lacking even the rudiments of courage; abjectly fearful
iniquitous
characterized by iniquity; wicked because it is believed to be a sin
litchee
Chinese fruit having a thin brittle shell enclosing a sweet jellylike pulp and a single seed; often dried
upend
become turned or set on end
ochre
any of various earths containing silica and alumina and ferric oxide; used as a pigment
rapt
feeling great rapture or delight
poppy
annual or biennial or perennial herbs having showy flowers
frond
compound leaf of a fern or palm or cycad
revetment
a facing (usually masonry) that supports an embankment
sputter
spit up in an explosive manner
prosaic
lacking wit or imagination
latrine
a public toilet in a military area
venal
capable of being corrupted
prelate
a senior clergyman and dignitary
coven
an assembly of witches; usually 13 witches
swarthy
naturally having skin of a dark color
pontificate
administer a pontifical office
sclerosis
any pathological hardening or thickening of tissue
fount
a plumbing fixture that provides a flow of water
crag
a steep rugged rock or cliff
fuselage
the central body of an airplane that is designed to accommodate the crew and passengers (or cargo)
camaraderie
the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability
garland
flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes
