1.

adulation

(n.) praise or flattery that is excessive

2.

evanescent

(adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

3.

dilatory

(adj.) not on time, not prompt; tending to delay

4.

abate

(v.) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less; to nullify; to deduct, omit

5.

irresolute

(adj.) unable to make up one’s mind, hesitating

6.

astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

7.

avarice

(n.)  a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

8.

egregious

(adj.) conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense)

9.

culpable

(adj.) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

10.

anathema

(n.) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article)

11.

equivocate

(v.) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous

12.

slovenly

(adj.) untidy, dirty, careless

13.

supposition

(n.) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

14.

succinct

(adj.) expressed briefly and clearly; (clothing) lacking in fullness of cut

15.

recapitulate

(v.) to review a series of facts; to sum up

16.

nebulous

(adj.) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct

17.

resuscitate

(v.) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

18.

torpid

(adj.) inactive, sluggish, dull

19.

novice

(n.) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience

20.

penury

(n.) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

21.

modicum

(n.) a small or moderate amount

22.

pretentious

(adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; making demands on one’s skill or abilities, ambitious