Discourse

Formal and intense discussion or debate

Diminish

to make less or cause to appear less

Axiom

A statement or principle that is generally accepted to be true

Loiter

to wait around idly without apparent reason or purpose

Baritone

an adult male singing voice between tenor and bass

Gullible

easily persuaded to believe something

Translucent

allowing light to pass through but not completely transparent

Grimace

an ugly or twisted expression of pain or disgust

Converge

to tend or move toward one point

faction

a small dissenting group within a larger one

Descry

to catch sight of something by looking carefully

Torrent

a violent or forceful flow of something

Embark

to board a vessel for a journey

Contrive

to plan or scheme something with cleverness

Palisade

An enclosure of wooden stakes fixed into the ground

Coveted

greatly desired or envied

Complusion

the action of forcing or being forced to do something

Intercede

to defend or act on someone's behalf

Exhort

to urge or advise strongly

Clamor

a loud uproar, as from a crowd of people

Oration

a formal speech

Cower

to crouch down in fear

Quell

to put an end to

Wan

pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion

Escapade

an act or incident involving excitement, daring, or adventure

Fiasco

a thing that is a complete and embarrassing failure

Retract

to draw or pull back

Indentured

required by contract to work for another specified time

Decimate

to destroy or remove a large percentage of

Writhe

to make continual twisting contortions of the body