MEANING

1. Bastion = support, defender, mainstay, stronghold, citadel

2. Paradox = inconsistency (discrepancy – divergence, disagreement, incongruity – absurdity, unease, inaptness), irony

3. Crusade = campaign, movement, cause, struggle

4. Flank = side, edge, line, border

5. Loath = (A – Eager) unwilling, reluctant (unenthusiastic, disinclined, hesitant, averse), not keen, chary (shy of , mindful, suspicious, cautious, wary)

6. Vengeance = revenge, retribution, reprisal (pay back, act of vengeance), retaliation, settling of scores

7. Bevy = mass, mob, horde (gang, group), flock, multitude, pack

8. Perpetuate = be responsible for, effect, bring about, complete

9. Fabulous = wonderful, tremendous, magnificent, marvelous ,great, remarkable, amazing

10. Epoch = era, period, age, time, eon

11. Medieval practice of selling indulgences

12. Accretion = (A – Erosion – wearing away, corrosion, attrition – erosion, slow destruction, abrasion (scrape, scratch, scuff, graze, cut), gnawing away, wearing away) accumulation, buildup, increase, enlargement, addition, growth

13. Gnaw = chew, bite, nibble, ‘worry, trouble, bother’

1. Embattle

2. Trek = hike, walk, ramble (saunter), slog.

3. Denigrate = malign (criticize, slander, damaging, hurtful) , belittle, put down, degrade, disparage (mock, ridicule).

4. But, lo and behold!

5. Tranquillity = calm, stillness, silence.

6. Forfeit = surrender, sacrifice, give up, part with, pay.

7. Chide = reproach (reproof, criticism), scold, rebuke, blame, reprimand (warning, chastise), take to task.

8. Squabble = quarrel, argue, have words, tiff, wrangle.

MEANING

1. Fraught = burdened, loaded.

2. Moot = arguable, unsettled, unresolved.

3. Mull = think over, consider.

4. Revamp = refurbish (renovate, renew, fix up), do up, restore, gave a face-lift.

5. Contentious = controversial, touchy, arguable.

6. Hamper = hinder, obstruct, slow down, weigh down, impede (hold back, delay).

7. Shuttered

8. Compound = multiple, complex, multifaceted, multifarious (diverse, mixed, assorted, difference).