Inherit The Wind Vocabulary

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unctuously

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adv.—characterized by excessive piousness (faithfulness, holiness, goodness) or moralistic fervor (passion, dedication, enthusiasm), especially in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave (polite), or smug.

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savoring

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v.—power to excite or interest; pleasing, attractive, or agreeable.

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assails

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v.—attacks vigorously or violently; use in Inherit the Wind: devour, eat greedily and quickly.

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agnostic

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n.—person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential natural of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.

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heretic

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n.--a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church.

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cynical

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adj.--like or characteristic of a cynic: distrusting or disparaging the motives of others; showing contempt (dislike, disrespect) for accepted standards of honesty or morality by one’s actions, especially by actions that exploit (utilize) the scruples (ethics) of others

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affable

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adj.—pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly polite; showing warmth and friendliness; pleasant.

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petulant

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adj.—moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some insignificant annoyance.

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superfluous

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adj.—being more than is sufficient or required; excessive; unnecessary or needless.

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preposterous

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adj.—completely contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; senseless; utterly foolish.

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pariah

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n.—outcast; any person that is generally despised or avoided.

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animosity

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n.—a feeling of strong dislike, ill will, or enmity that tends to display itself in action.

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biased

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v.—a particular tendency or inclination, especially one that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question; prejudice; to cause partiality or favoritism in something; an unfair influence or opinion on an idea.

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fervent

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adj.—having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm, etc.; ardent (passionate).

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benign

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having a kindly disposition; gracious; showing or expressing kindness or gentleness; favorable.

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effrontery

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n.—shameless or impudent (rude, impolite) boldness; barefaced audacity (bravery, courage)

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bewilder

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v.—to confuse or puzzle completely; perplex

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imbecilities

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n.—stupidity, silliness, absurdity; an instance or point of weakness, feebleness, incapability

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fatuity

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n.—complacent stupidity, foolishness; something foolish

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irrelevant

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adj.—not relevant, not applicable or pertinent

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incontrovertible

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adj.—not open to question or dispute

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unorthodox

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adj.—not conventional or traditional

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perdition

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n.—state of final spiritual ruin, loss of the soul, damnation

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precedent

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n.—a legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative rule or pattern in future similar or analogous cases

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reconvene

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v.—meet again; assemble again

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bulwark

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n.—wall; protection from danger, injury, or annoyance; use in book: protective barrier that has not allowed a certain change to occur

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transgressor

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n.—person violating a command, law, or moral code; offend; sin

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innocuously

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adv.—not harmful or injurious; harmlessly; not likely to hurt or offend

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atheist

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n.—a person who denies or disbelieves in the existence of a supreme being or beings.

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perfunctorily

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adv.—performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic