Government as a Necessary Evil

(of a monarch or ruler) to step down from a position of power

The king chose to abdicate the throne in favor of his successor.

to apply oil, ointment, or a similar substance in a religious or ceremonial act

The priest anoints the sick with holy oil during the sacrament of anointing.

to claim a right, title, or authority to something, often without proper justification

In the absence of the manager, he arrogated the responsibility of making the final decision on the project.

to surrender after negotiation or when facing overwhelming pressure

The army finally capitulated after weeks of intense fighting.

to hand over power, land, or a position to another, particularly due to being forced

The king was pressured to cede his crown in exchange for his family's safety.

to reluctantly admit that something is true after denying it first

After a heated debate, he finally conceded that he might have been wrong.

*** throw (someone) out of a window

to disregard something as unimportant or unworthy of consideration

She regularly dismisses suggestions that deviate from the established plan.

an act of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor a particular political party

The court ruled the gerrymander unconstitutional due to its blatant partisan bias.

a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission

to secretly make plans, particularly to gain an advantage

The rival factions often machinate behind the scenes to outmaneuver each other.

to appoint a person or thing to a lower status, position, or rank

After the poor performance, the manager decided to relegate the employee to a lower position.

to officially cancel a law, decision, agreement, etc.

The board is currently rescinding the previous decision due to new evidence.

to gradually drain or deplete someone's power or strength

Constant stress can sap one's mental resilience.

to be the person who leads something like an attack, campaign, movement, etc.

The general chose to spearhead the military offensive personally.

to gradually decrease the effectiveness, confidence, or power of something or someone

Skipping maintenance checks might undermine the long-term reliability of the equipment.

simple and free from cunning

Her artless charm won over even the harshest critics.

(of a person) able to do things and make decisions independently

displaying a willingness to start an argument, fight, or war

The bellicose behavior of the rival gangs led to frequent clashes in the neighborhood.

willingly obeying rules or doing what other people demand

The compliant student always completes assignments on time and follows classroom rules.

related to a judge or authority figure

People awaited the magisterial decision that would impact the community.

excessively flattering and obeying a person, particularly in order to gain their approval or favor

She found his obsequious manner off-putting, as he always agreed with her, no matter what she said.

a type of polearm used in the 16th and 17th centuries, featuring a long tapering double-edged blade with lateral projections, designed for thrusting and slashing in infantry combat

The museum displayed a partisan alongside other Renaissance-era weapons.

ill-tempered and ready to start an argument or fight

His truculent attitude made it difficult for his teammates to work with him.

a clever action or behavior that is intended to trick and deceive others

It was later revealed that the company's reported financial figures were artifices meant to inflate stock values.

a damaging attack on a person's character or reputation

His political career was plagued by calumny.

the act or process of separating a whole into its individual components or elements

The scientist studied the dissolution of compounds under heat.

a morally or legally wrong act, usually bribery, done to gain an advantage or support

The politician was arrested for graft after accepting bribes in exchange for government contracts.

someone who very strongly believes that their country is far more superior than other countries

The jingoist politician's campaign was based on aggressive national pride and a promise to show military might.

a crude idol of Krishna

a government of politicians or military officers that forcefully obtained power

Protests erupted across the nation, demanding an end to the junta’s authoritarian rule.

an individual who possesses an extreme amount of wealth or a high social standing

The nabob’s mansion, with its sprawling gardens and opulent interiors, was the talk of the town.

someone who rules over people and possesses absolute control and power

The ancient empire was ruled by a potentate who had control over every aspect of daily life.

an individual who betrays their country by assisting the enemy occupying or controlling it

Historical accounts often highlight the role of quislings in aiding enemy regimes during times of war.

equal in meaning, importance, extent, etc.

The two organizations' missions were coterminous, leading to a strong partnership and shared objectives.

a neutral area free of the conflict and danger that is between opposing powers

The peace agreement included creating a buffer zone around the disputed territory.

the act of accusing a person who has accused one

an individual who excessively flatters someone of importance to gain a favor or advantage

The CEO’s office was filled with sycophants eager to win his favor with constant flattery.