abatement
reduction or termination.
austerity
sternness or severity of manner or attitude.
benevolence
desire to do good to others.
calamitous
catastrophic; disastrous.
craven
cowardly.
desperado
a desperate or reckless person, especially a criminal.
erstwhile
former.
escalation
a rapid increase; a rise.
exhort
strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.
invective
insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.
jounce
to jolt or bounce.
meerschaum
a soft, white, claylike material, usually used for smoking pipes.
melancholy
a feeling of pensive sadness.
preen
to devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one's appearance.
prescient
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.
salient
important or noticeable.
sough
make a moaning, whistling, or rushing sound.
supine
lying face-upward.
supplication
the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.
unrakish
unstylish.
