tenement
A single-family apartment in a larger building, usually occupied by the working-class
aggravate
To annoy or irritate
sparse
In short supply
divulge
To reveal, especially the truth
squabble
Fight or argue
recourse
An act or the action of resorting or turning to a person or thing for help, advice, protection, etc.
snitch
To tell on someone; often refers to telling the police that someone has broken a law
longshoreman
A person who works on the piers and docks, loading and unloading ships
piazza
an open public area surrounded by buildings; a town square
arias
songs in operas sung by one person
bel canto
operatic singing originating in 17th century and 18th century Italy and stressing ease, purity, and evenness of tone production and an agile and precise vocal technique
racket
a fraudulent scheme
imperious
acting in a powerful or proud way
deference
a quality of showing respect for someone or something
razzes
teases
transfixed
in a state of not being able to look away
pugnaciously
in a manner showing a willingness to fight or quarrel
degraded
talked down to, made small, broken down
perversely
done in a wrongheaded, stubborn, or inappropriate fashion
formality
an official rule that has to be complied with
