vignette

[vin-yet]

a decorative design or small illustration used on the title page of a book or at the beginning of a chapter

parboil

[pahr-boil]

to boil for a short amount of time; pre-cook

rowdy

[rou-dee]

slang; great; very enjoyable, often with boisterous fun

hostile

[hos-tl]

unfriendly or antagonistic; opposed to something

pitiable

[pit-ee-uh-buhl]

evoking or deserving pity; lamentable; miserable; contemptible

convey

[kuhn-vey]

to communicate; impart; make known

castigate

[kas-ti-geyt]

to reprimand someone severely

succulent

[suhk-yuh-luhnt]

(of food) tender, juicy, and tasty

hodgepodge

[hoj-poj]

a heterogeneous mixture; jumble

hurtle

[hur-tl]

to rush violently; move with great speed

aquiver

[uh-kwiv-er]

in a state of trepidation or vibrant agitation; trembling; quivering

brand

[brand]

a type of product manufactured by a company; to mark with a branding iron

debauched

[dih-bawcht]

morally corrupt or self-indulgent

amenable

[uh-mee-nuh-bul]

open to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled

natty

[nat-ee]

neatly or trimly smart in dress or appearance; spruce

core

[kor]

the central or most important part of something

belabor

[bih-ley-ber]

to argue or elaborate on something in excessive detail

lambaste

[lam-bast]

to criticize harshly

blossom

[blos-um]

to develop or flourish; a flower

manipulate

[muh-nip-yuh-leyt]

to handle or control something skillfully, often with deceit

clandestine

[klan-des-tin]

characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment, especially for purposes of subversion or deception; private or surreptitious

shocked

[shokt]

greatly surprised or disturbed

millefleur

[meel-flur]

having a background sprinkled with representations of flowers, as certain tapestries or pieces of glasswork

miscreant

[mis-kree-uhnt]

a vicious or depraved person; villain