induce
to make something begin
poppet
literally, a doll; used here as an endearing nickname
gobsmacked
utterly shocked
assonance
from m-w.com: the use of words that have the same or very similar vowel sounds near one another (as in “summer fun” and “rise high in the bright sky”)
geriatric
old, ancient, elderly
malarkey
nonsense
patina
a layer of shine that forms on things over time
censorious
criticizing someone
partisan
firmly adhering to one side or point of view
louse
literally, an insect that lives on the body of people; here, a cruel and insensitive person
inherent
part of the essential makeup of something
errant
poorly behaved
amateur
non-professional
warped
altered, changed, usually because of something bad
aversion
a deep dislike or fear of
germinate
to grow
sabbatical
a paid period of leave
rostrum
the platform from where a person makes a speech
irrelevant
not important or germane to what is at hand
pyrotechnical
relating to fire or fireworks
