Definitions
Contingency - future event which is possible but cant be predicted with certainty "a detailed
contract which attempts to provide for all possible contingencies"
Heathen - A person who does not belong to a widely held religions "my brother and I were raised, as
my grandma puts it, as heathens"
Abstinence - Restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically sex. "I started drinking again
after six years of abstinence"
Overbearing - Unpleasantly overpowering
Infidel - Person with no religion or one of which isn't of the majority
Crusade - A vigorous campaign for political, social or religious change "A crusade against crime"
Aberrant - Departing from an accepted standard "This somewhat abberant behaviour requires an
explanation"
Lobotomy: A surgical opperation involving incision into the brain to treat mental illness "There was
talk of performing a lobotomy"
Meticulous: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise "These designs are hand-
glazed with meticulous care"
Vocation: A strong feeling for suitability for a particular career "Not all of us have a vocation to be
nurses or doctors"
Contempt: The feeling that a person or a thing is worthless and beneath consideration "Pam stared
at the girl with total contempt"
Disdain: The feeling that someone or something is unworthy of respect "Her upper lip curled in
disdain"
Reverence: Deep respect for someone or something "Rituals showed honour and reverence for the
dead"
Ominously: In a way that suggests that something bad is going to happen. "thunderclouds loomed
ominously overhead"
Militarism: the belief that a country should mantain a strong military capability and be prepared to
use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests. "the need for liberal ddemocratic
reforms to avoid a revival militarism"
Condemnation: the expression of very strong disapproval; censure. "there was strong internationa;
condemnation of the attack"
mortality: the state of being subject to death
subvert: undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).
privy: sharing in the knowledge of (something secret or private).
"he was no longer privy to her innermost thoughts"
- hidden; secret.
"a privy place"
spectacle: a visually striking performance or display. "the acrobatic feats make a good spectacle"
malaise: a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify.
"a general air of malaise"
temporal: relating to time.
"the spatial and temporal dimensions of human interference in complex ecosystems"
repressive: inhibiting or restraining personal freedom.
"a repressive regime"
avowal: is an affirmation of the truth of what you believe. It's an honest admission. An avowal is a
way of owning up to or declaring
something. To avow is to acknowledge
ominous: giving the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen.
"there were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead"
dichotomy: division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or
entirely different.
"a rigid dichotomy between science and mysticism"
mortality: the state of being subject to death. "the work is increasingly haunted by thoughts of
mortality"
transience: the state or fact of lasting only for a short time. "the transience of life and happiness"
Dense lexical chains: string of words - deep shit
eponymous: (of a person) giving their name to something.
"the eponymous hero of the novel"
evade: escape or avoid: "friends helped him to evade capture for a time"
rapture: a feeling of intense pleasure or joy. "Leonora listened with rapture"
or claim something
