holding one's attention completely as though by magic; fascinating

adverse in tendency or effect; unfavorable; harmful

characterized by long words

to dispense in dollops

to understand thoroughly and intuitively

to denounce or berate severely; flay verbally

distinct in kind; essentially different; dissimilar

easily crumbled or reduced to powder; crumbly

a small piece or quantity; a bit

a threat of punishment or vengeance

calculated to create ill will or resentment or give offense; hateful

to work, write, or study laboriously, especially at night and by lamplight

known or understood by very few; mysterious; secret; obscure; esoteric

making a hypocritical show of religious devotion, piety, righteousness

the market condition that exists when there are few sellers, as a result of which they can greatly influence price and other market factors

without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid