acclaim

(v) To praise strongly or applaud loudly. (n) Strong praise or loud applause; approval.

bigot

(n) One who is not tolerant of those people who are different in some way; a prejudiced person.

covet

(v) To have a strong and envious desire for, especially for something belonging to another.

deceased

(adj) Dead, with regard to a person. The man's thoughts often turned to his deceased wife. (n) (with "the") One who has died recently.

formidable

(adj) 1. Causing fear or apprehension. 2. Difficult.

ghetto

(n) A section of a city occupied by a minority group of people, usually because of poverty or social pressure.

momentous

(adj) Very important.

oppress

(v) 1. To weigh down with worry. 2. To keep down by severe and unjust use of force.

overwhelm

(v) 1. To defeat utterly and completely. 2. To deeply affect the mind or emotions of. 3. To upset; to turn over.

perceive

(v) 1. To become aware of through the senses, especially the sense of sight. 2. To take in information through the mind.

premiere

(n) The first showing of a play, film, etc.

prospective

(adj) Expected or likely to happen or become.

spurn

(v) To refuse in a scornful way.

staunch

(adj) Faithful; true; strong.

theme

(n) 1. A dominant idea, as in art, literature, or music; a topic or subject. 2. A short essay on a single subject. 3. A series of musical notes on which variations are made; a melody that is associated with a film or television show.