| allegory |
in art or literature, the use of concrete characters, events, or things, to represent abstract qualities or ideas, often to make a point about good and evil. |
| amalgam |
a mixture of diverse components. |
| certitude |
the state, condition, or feeling of freedom from uncertainty or doubt. |
| conscription |
compulsory enrollment in military service. |
| decadence |
a decline into immorality; loss of moral values. |
| demoralize |
to weaken or destroy the confidence, courage, spirit, or morale of. |
| detriment |
harm, injury, or loss. |
| mausoleum |
a large, elaborate tomb, or the structure that houses such a tomb. |
| meritorious |
having worth or high quality; deserving of praise or reward. |
| mimicry |
an act, instance, or the art of imitating or copying the speech, behavior, or expressions of others. |
| omnivorous |
living on a diet of both plant and animal food. |
| premonition |
an advance sign or warning; forewarning. |
| repudiate |
to reject completely as invalid or untrue. |
| sheathe |
to put in a tight, protective case. |
| stanza |
a group of related lines in a poem that make up one section within the poem. Stanzas often have a regular meter and rhyme pattern. |