pastry = paste of flour and water (eaten when baked)
betroth = become engaged to marry
valediction = saying farewell; expression of leave-taking
hygiene = science and practice of the promotion and preservation of health; ADJ. hygienic: showing careful attention to cleanness (to prevent disease); Ex. Hygienic condition
elaboration = addition of details; intricacy
homeostasis = tendency of a system or organism to
maintain relative stability or internal equilibrium; CF.
homeo-: constant; Ex. Homeotherm
hostage = person who is kept as a prisoner by an enemy
so that the other side will do what the enemy demands
resentment = indignation; bitterness; displeasure; V. resent:
feel anger about
palimpsest = parchment or piece of writing material used
for second time after original writing has been erased
vaporize = turn into vapor (steam, gas, fog, etc.)
lackadaisical = lacking interest or effort; lacking purpose
or zest; lazy; halfhearted; languid
casualty = serious or fatal accident; person killed or
wounded in an accident or battle
bulk = size or volume (esp. when very large); main part;
Ex. The bulk of the work has already been done; ADJ. bulky: having great size

tatter = torn piece of cloth; ADJ. tattered: (of clothes) old
and torn; (of a person) dressed in old torn clothes
discordant = not harmonious; conflicting
recidivism = habitual return to crime (even after being
punished); N. recidivist
commonplace = ordinary; N: something ordinary or common;
trite remark
pandemic = widespread; affecting the majority of people;
N: pandemic disease; CF. all people
prodigious = enormous; marvelous; extraordinary; Ex.
prodigious amount/memory
glib = fluent (with insincerity or superficiality); facile;
slick
effusion = pouring forth; unrestrained outpouring of
feeling; V. effuse: pour out; ADJ. effusive: pouring forth;
gushing
imprecation = curse; swearword
replicate = reproduce; duplicate
hibernal = wintry; wintery; of or like winter
unsullied = untarnished; CF. sully
figure = written symbols; number; amount represented
in numbers; outline or silhouette of a thing or human
body; person (well-known); impression; diagram; pattern;
group in a dance; Ex. figure of speech; V. calculate
with numbers; adorn with figures; appear; consider; Ex.
My name did not figure in the list.