lucre \LOO-kuhr\ (noun) - Monetary gain; profit; riches; money; -- often in a bad sense.

"The need of lucre never looms so large
As when 'tis gotten in some devious way;
It mitigates the blackness of the ...Read More

imbue \im-BYOO\ (transitive verb) - 1 : To tinge or dye deeply; to cause to absorb thoroughly; as, "clothes thoroughly imbued with black." 2 : To instill profoundly; to cause to become impressed or penetrated.

"...I ...Read More

amity \AM-uh-tee\ (noun) - Friendship; friendly relations, especially between nations.

"This amity, begun at this time and place, was not an amity that polluted their souls; but an amity made up of a chain of suitable ...Read More

purdah \PUR-duh\ (noun) - 1 : A curtain, screen, or veil shielding women from the sight of men or strangers in Hindu and Muslim communities. 2 : A striped cotton cloth from which a curtain is made, often blue and white. 3 ...Read More

sycophant \SIK-uh-fuhnt\ (noun) - A person who seeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; a parasite; a toady.

"But many wiser than McGonagle succumb to the blandishments of the sycophant because, as is well...Read More

chimerical \ky-MER-ih-kuhl; -MIR-; kih-\ (adjective) - 1 : Merely imaginary; produced by or as if by a wildly fanciful imagination; fantastic; improbable or unrealistic. 2 : Given to or indulging in unrealistic fantasies ...Read More