Vocabulary and Synonyms

An awl is a small pointed tool used for piercing holes, especially in leather.

An anesthetic is a substance that induces insensitivity to pain.

Alchemy was a medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy aiming to achieve the transmutation of the base metals into gold.

Catharsis is the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions. The option 'purging of bowels' is a literal medical definition of catharsis, though it is often used metaphorically for emotions.

Atavism refers to the reappearance in an individual of characteristics of some remote ancestor that have been absent in intervening generations. It is a biological term related to evolutionary reversion.

Conjecture means predicting from incomplete or uncertain evidence, which is similar to guesswork.

 'Rejuvenate' means 'a renewal of youth'.

A bandit is defined as a robber or an outlaw, especially one who belongs to a gang and operates in an isolated or lawless area.

Abreast means side by side and facing in the same direction, or keeping up to date with information.

If people feel hate because of things that happened in the past, we say there is bad blood between them.

' To deploy ' in the military sense, means to unfold or scatter.

'Lax morals' means loose morals or unrestrained morals. 'Licentious' also means morally unrestrained.

(1) harden        (to be not easily broken)            (Verb) (2) hard            (solid)                                       (Adjective) (3) hardly         (with difficulty)                           (Adverb) (4) hardness     (the quality of being solid)          (Noun)

In fact is used to emphasize a statement or provide additional evidence, which is synonymous with actually.

In order to indicates the purpose or goal of an action, which matches for the purpose of.