Vocab

ruinous-disastrous or destructive.

"a ruinous effect on the environment"

quavered-shake or tremble in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion.

"Farnam's voice quavered with emotion"

certitude-absolute certainty or conviction that something is the case.

"the question may never be answered with certitude"

notch-an indentation or incision on an edge or surface.

"there was a notch in the end of the arrow for the bowstring"

perspired-give out sweat through the pores of the skin as the result of heat, physical exertion, or stress.

"Will was perspiring heavily"

manifested-display or show (a quality or feeling) by one's acts or appearance; demonstrate.

"Ray manifested signs of severe depression"

latrine-a toilet or outhouse, especially a communal one in a camp or barracks.
"she went to use the latrine"
uttered-make (a sound) with one's voice.

"he uttered an exasperated snort"

parried-ward off (a weapon or attack), especially with a countermove.

"he parried the blow by holding his sword vertically"

oracle-a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity. "he was an oracle."
conscious-having knowledge of something; aware.

"we are conscious of the extent of the problem"

feigning-pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).

"she feigned nervousness"

leisurely-acting or done at leisure; unhurried or relaxed.

"a leisurely breakfast at our hotel"

conjure-make (something) appear unexpectedly or seemingly from nowhere as if by magic.

"Anne conjured up a most delicious homemade stew"

anesthetized-deprive of feeling or awareness.
"tragedy of a magnitude that anesthetizes the mind"
tyranny-cruel and oppressive government or rule.

"people who survive war and escape tyranny"

folly-lack of good sense; foolishness.

"an act of sheer folly"

dreary-dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing.

"the dreary routine of working, eating, and trying to sleep"

grotesque-comically or repulsively ugly or distorted.

"grotesque facial distortions"

reckoning-the action or process of calculating or estimating something.

"last year was not, by any reckoning, a particularly good one"