| alchemy |
an ancient exploration and practice of chemistry which flourished particularly during medieval times. Practitioners used chemical processes in the hope of, for example, producing gold from base metals, finding the key to eternal life, and uncovering a single cure for all disease. |
| avail |
to be useful or profitable to; be of value to. |
| balk |
to stop suddenly and refuse to go on. |
| census |
an official count of the people who live in a country or other area. A census is also used to collect information about these people, such as their job, age, or sex. |
| citadel |
a fortress built on a high place in or near a city. |
| clammy |
unpleasantly moist, cool, and sticky. |
| corruption |
activity that is not honest, especially secret, illegal activity. |
| daub |
to smear or cover with something soft and sticky, such as paint. |
| dismantle |
to tear down; take apart. |
| mosaic |
a picture or design made with many small colored pieces of glass, tile, or stone. These pieces are fitted together and cemented into place. |
| mourn |
to feel or act very sad because of a death or great loss; grieve. |
| mull1 |
to think something over; ponder. |
| outrage |
an act that causes a strong feeling of anger because of its violence or cruelty. |
| technician |
a person whose work requires special skills. |
| variation |
the act or process of changing, or the condition of being changeable. |