choreography = art of representing dances in written
symbols; arrangement of dances
furor = frenzy; great anger and excitement; CF. fury
obituary = death notice (esp. in a newspaper); ADJ.
dialectical = relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
oratorio = dramatic poem set to music; long musical work
with singing but without acting; CF. cantata
sloth = slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness;
ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent
simian = monkeylike; N: ape or monkey
inter = bury; N. interment
supersede = replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete;
N. supersession
coroner = public official who investigates any death
thought to be of other than natural causes
perspicuity = clearness of expression; freedom from ambiguity
succulent = juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N:
succulent plant such as a cactus

equinox = period of equal days and nights; the beginning
of spring and autumn; Ex. vernal/autumnal equinox; ADJ. equinoctial
vital = full of life; animated; vibrant and lively; critical; of
great importance; necessary to stay alive; of life; living;
breathing; N. vitality; V. vitalize
impugn = dispute or contradict (often in an insulting
way); attack as false or questionable; challenge; gainsay;
yen = strong desire; longing; urge; Ex. yen for travel
retrench = cut down; cut down expenses; economize
babble = chatter idly or foolishly; make continuous
sounds like water running gently over rounded stone;
gastronomy = art and science of preparing and serving
good food; CF. gastronome
ventriloquist = someone who can make his or her voice
seem to come from another person or thing (without moving lips or jaws); N. ventriloquism, ventriloquy
deplete = reduce; exhaust
necromancy = black magic; sorcery; dealings with the
dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits
of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer;
CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis
chasm = abyss; very deep crack
maternal = motherly; N. maternity: motherhood
daze = stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.
caste = one of the hereditary classes in Hindu society; social
stratification; prestige