abdication

ab·di·cate (bd-kt)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun	1.	abdication – a formal resignation and renunciation of powers stepping down resignation – the act of giving up (a claim or office or possession etc.)
	2.	abdication – the act of abdicating stepping down resignation – a formal document giving notice of your intention to resign; “he submitted his resignation as of next month”

carnal

car·nal (kärnl)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Adj.	1.	carnal – marked by the appetites and passions of the body; “animal instincts”; “carnal knowledge”; “fleshly desire”; “a sensual delight in eating”; “music is the only sensual pleasure without vice” animal, fleshly, sensual physical – involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit; “physical exercise”; “physical suffering”; “was sloppy about everything but her physical appearance”
	2.	carnal – of or relating to the body or flesh; “carnal remains”

truculent

truc·u·lent (trky-lnt)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

troglodyte

trog·lo·dyte (trgl-dt)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

bacchanal

bac·cha·nal (bk-nl, -näl, bk-nl)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun	1.	bacchanal – someone who engages in drinking bouts bacchant, drunken reveler, drunken reveller imbiber, juicer, toper, drinker – a person who drinks alcoholic beverages (especially to excess)
	2.	bacchanal – a drunken reveller; a devotee of Bacchus bacchant buff, devotee, lover, fan – an ardent follower and admirer
	3.	bacchanal – a wild gathering involving excessive drinking and promiscuity debauch, debauchery, drunken revelry, bacchanalia, saturnalia, orgy, riot revel, revelry – unrestrained merrymaking
Adj.	1.	bacchanal – used of riotously drunken merrymaking; “a night of bacchanalian revelry”; “carousing bands of drunken soldiers”; “orgiastic festivity” bacchanalian, bacchic, carousing, orgiastic drunk, inebriated, intoxicated – stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol); “a noisy crowd of intoxicated sailors”; “helplessly inebriated”

absquatulate

ab·squat·u·late (b-skwch-lt)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Verb

1.

absquatulate – run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along; “The thief made off with our silver”; “the accountant absconded with the cash from the safe” abscond, go off, make off, run off, decamp, bolt levant – run off without paying a debt flee, take flight, fly – run away quickly; “He threw down his gun and fled”

macerate

mac·er·ate (ms-rt)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Verb	1.	macerate – separate into constituents by soaking macerate – become soft or separate and disintegrate as a result of excessive soaking; “the tissue macerated in the water” separate – divide into components or constituents; “Separate the wheat from the chaff”
	2.	macerate – become soft or separate and disintegrate as a result of excessive soaking; “the tissue macerated in the water” soften – become soft or softer; “The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it” macerate – separate into constituents by soaking
	3.	macerate – soften, usually by steeping in liquid, and cause to disintegrate as a result; “macerate peaches”; “the gizzards macerates the food in the digestive system” soften – make soft or softer; “This liquid will soften your laundry”
	4.	macerate – cause to grow thin or weak; “The treatment emaciated him” emaciate, waste debilitate, enfeeble, drain – make weak; “Life in the camp drained him”

proclivity

pro·cliv·i·ty (pr-klv-t)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Noun

1.

proclivity – a natural inclination; “he has a proclivity for exaggeration” leaning, propensity inclination, tendency, disposition – an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others; “he had an inclination to give up too easily”; “a tendency to be too strict”

pernicious

per·ni·cious (pr-nshs)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Adj.	1.	pernicious – exceedingly harmful baneful, pestilent, deadly noxious – injurious to physical or mental health; “noxious chemical wastes”; “noxious ideas”
	2.	pernicious – working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way; “glaucoma is an insidious disease”; “a subtle poison” insidious, subtle harmful – causing or capable of causing harm; “too much sun is harmful to the skin”; “harmful effects of smoking”