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brazen adj Marked by shameless boldness in attitude. We had all been standing in line for at least an hour, and the brazen way he shoved his way to the front left everyone speechless.
clandestine adj
Secretive and hidden. The clandestine meeting between the two
lovers had nothing to do with romance; they were enemy spies.
dire adj 1) Warning of or having dreadful or terrible consequences, calamitous: The mob guys made dire threats against our families and us if we didn't pay them the 200% interest on the loan. 2) Urgent; desperate: The poverty-stricken people were in dire need of aid; otherwise they would starve.
elixir n A drink or potion believed to have magical restorative powers. In "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," the old people took the elixir of youth and found themselves just as great fools as they were when young.
erstwhile adj Formerly or previously. Governor Ventura, the erstwhile wrestler, seems to be a success in Minnesota.
impudence n Offensively bold behavior, usu. "impudent," an adj. The little first-grader's impudence in calling the principal by her first name warranted a phone call to Mom.
mendicant n A beggar. Odysseus, disguised as a mendicant, went among the suitors to beg for food in his own house.
qualm n A hesitation of the mind, a misgiving. Though Antinoos had no qualms about treating the beggar cruelly, he should have hesitated more; his impudence was about to bring about his death.
stalwart
adj
Brave and valiant, sturdy. Give me a stalwart band of hardy
warriors, and I can defeat an army ten times as large.
august
adj
Extremely dignified and important, serious and of great moment. On
this august occasion of your being made President, let me congratulate you on a
lifetime of hard work.