Silence

Silence Glossary

apostatize

renounce a religious or political belief or principle.

ardent

having, expressive of, or characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent.

arduous

requiring great exertion; laborious; difficult.

atrocious

extremely or shockingly wicked, cruel, or brutal.

avaricious

characterized by avarice; greedy; covetous.

baleful

full of menacing or malign influences; pernicious.

beguile

to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.; mislead; delude.

calumny

a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something.

catacomb

an underground passageway, especially one full of twists and turns.

catechism

an elementary book containing a summary of the principles of the Christian religion, especially as maintained by a particular church, in the form of questions and answers.

censure

strong or vehement expression of disapproval.

Clergy

the group or body of ordained persons in a religion, as distinguished from the laity.

countenance

appearance, especially the look or expression of the face.

destitute

without means of subsistence; lacking food, clothing, and shelter.

diabolical

having the qualities of a devil; devilish; fiendish; outrageously wicked.

distort

to twist awry or out of shape; make crooked or deformed.

extremity

the extreme or terminal point, limit, or part of something.

faux pas

a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.

fervent

having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm, etc.; ardent.

importunity

persistence in solicitation.

indefatigable

incapable of being tired out; not yielding to fatigue; untiring.

infidel

a person who does not accept a particular faith, especially Christianity.

insurrection

an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance against civil authority or an established government.

languid

lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow.

Martyr

a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.

monotonous

lacking in variety; tediously unvarying.

obsequious

characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning.

peril

exposure to injury, loss, or destruction; grave risk; jeopardy; danger.

proffer

to put before a person for acceptance; offer.

rancour/rancor

bitter, rankling resentment or ill will; hatred; malice.

seminary

a special school providing education in theology, religious history, etc., primarily to prepare students for the priesthood, ministry, or rabbinate.

seraph (pl. seraphim)

a member of the highest order of angels, often represented as a child's head with wings above, below, and on each side.

sophistry

an argument that turns on equivocal wordplay or rhetoric, rather than valid logic.

thwart

to oppose successfully; prevent from accomplishing a purpose.