stealth

The cat stealthily crouched in the grass eyeing its intended victim and waiting for just the right moment to pounce.

malevolent

The malevolent spirit howled profanities through the night from the depths of the old basement.

assuage

It took about three years for my feelings of grief to assuage after the death of my father.

dictum

There is an old dictum which states, "Might makes right," but I disagree.

arbitrate

If your two best friends are fighting over the last piece of gum in the pack, you might arbitrate by telling them to split it.

nauseate

The first few weeks of her pregnancy were difficult because Katy woke up every morning feeling nauseated and dizzy.

melancholy

The one act play was so melancholy that I felt depressed even after I left the theater!

aloof

After meeting Jenine for the third time, Michael realized she wasn't shy, just aloof, because she hardly spoke and acted bored every time they went out.

benign

Until Jem and Dill excluded me from their plans, she was only another lady in the neighborhood, but a relatively benign presence.

acquiesce

We were accustomed to prompt, if not always cheerfully acquiescing to Atticus's instructions, but from the way he stood Jem was not thinking of budging.