poised

adj. and part.

balanced, suspended, calm controlled, ready for action

s: collected, self-confident, ready

a: nervous, tense

homicide

n.

the killing of one person by another

s: manslaughter, murder

available

adj.

ready for use, at hand

s: obtainable, on hand

a unobtainable, not to be had

firebrand

n.

a piece of burning wood, a troublemaker, an extremely energetic or emotional person

s: hathead, agitator, rabble-rouser

a: peacemaker, pacifier, concilliator

pelt

v.

to throw a stream of things, to strike successively, to hurry

s: bambard, shower, pepper

mutual

adj

shared, felt or shown equally by two or more

s: two-sided, joint, shared, reciprocal

a: one-sided, unilateral

lubricate

v.

to apply oil or grease, to make smooth, slippery or easier to use

s: grease or oil

cater

v.

to staisfy the needs of, to try and make things easy and pleasant, to supplu food and service

s: pawper, induldge, gratify, provide

a: frustrate, deny, refuse

dissuade

v.

to persuade not to do something

s: discourage, talk out of

a: persuade, talk into

entrepreneur

n.

a person who starts up and takes on the risk of a business

s: buisnessperson, impresario

unscathed

adj.

wholly unharmed, not injured

s: unhurt, sound, intact, unimpaired

a: injured, damaged, harmed, hurt

customary

adj.

usual, expected, routine

s: regular, normal, traditional

a: strange, odd,unusual, untraditional

indispensable

adj.

absolutely, necessary, not to be negleted

s: essential, crucial, vital

a: unnecessary, nonessential

plague

n. and v.

n. an easily spread disease causing a large number of deaths, a widespread evil
v. to annoy or bother

s: n.epidemic, pestilence

s: v. pester, vex

a: n. boon, blessing

hazard

n. and v.

n. risk, peril

v. to expose to danger or harm, to gamble.

s: n. danger

s: v. venture

indignant

adj.

filled with resentment or anger over something unjust, unworthy or mean

s: offended, resentful,outraged or exasperated

a: pleased, delighted, overjoyed, elated

indifference

n.

a lack of interest or concern

s: apathy, unconcern

a: interest, concern, enthusiasm

regime

n.

a government in power, a form or system of rule or management, a period of rule

s: administration, rule

retard

v.

to make slow, deadly, holdback

s: slow down, restrain, impede

a: hasten, speed up

transparent

adj.

allowing light to pass through, easily recognized or understood, easily seen through or detected

s: clear, traqnslucent, obvious

a: frosted, sooty, smoky, unclear, indistinct