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benevolent adj having a kindly good nature (ben = good and vol = will) The benevolent kindness of the old priest put us all at ease and made us feel welcome.
canny adj shrewd and clever, wise in dealing One should never go to Egypt in hopes of out-bargaining the traders in the marketplace; they are canny and unscrupulous, and you will lose your shirt to them.
gratuitous adj 1) given for free Many clothing stores provide gratuitous services such as fittings and alterations in order to get more of your business. 2) unnecessary and added in merely for effect The gratuitous sex and violence in the movie was not needed for the storyline; it was added merely to get the "R" rating.
ideology n a system or collection of beliefs We cannot begin to comprehend the politics of the Middle East until we start to understand the ideology that motivates them.
imbue v to inspire, permeate, or invade His entire body of work is imbued with the revolutionary spirit, and we can hear the call to rebellion in every word.
malady n a sickness or ailment I cannot cure the malady you suffer from; you are a hypochondriac, and you will always be "dying" of something.
ostensible adj according to appearances only, pretended but not real Her ostensible reason for staying after class was to get extra help, but she really wanted to talk about a friend's problem with the teacher.
pedagogy n the art and science of teaching (pedagogue) Filbert had perfected his pedagogy over a period of thirty years in the classroom.
plaintive adj sorrowful and complaining, mournful and melancholy The plaintive cries of the orphans on Christmas Eve just broke my heart. (not to be confused with "plaintiff," which is the person bringing the complaint in a court)
secular
adj of
an belonging to the world as opposed to the church Delmer originally wanted
to be a priest, but the pleasures of the secular life--marriage and
family--called to him more powerfully.