The Soul of a Soulless World

to make one feel isolated or hostile toward a person or group

His rude comments began to alienate him from his colleagues.

to part and move in different directions

As the school bell rang, students began to disperse from the courtyard to their respective classrooms.

to ask or request humbly and earnestly, typically in a religious or devotional context

She supplicated for guidance before making her decision.

to feel or display a great amount of respect toward something or someone

The community venerated the wise elder for her wisdom and guidance.

the act of elevating a person's rank to that of a god

The emperor’s apotheosis was celebrated with grand ceremonies and rituals.

an ancestral or ancient trait, feeling, outlook, activity, etc. that modern humans revert to

The sudden aggression he displayed seemed like an atavism from a primal past.

a person who displays excessive and aggressive patriotism, often marked by fanatical devotion to their nation and hostility toward others

The chauvinist refused to acknowledge any faults in his country's policies.

the event of manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Magi

Christians celebrate Epiphany on January 6th, commemorating the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus.

an interpretation and thorough explanation of a piece of writing, particularly a religious one

The professor’s exegesis of the ancient text provided new insights into its meaning.

an individual who acts according to the belief that pursuing pleasure is of the highest importance in life

The hedonist lived each day seeking out new experiences and pleasures.

a person who challenges or rejects established beliefs, customs, or values, often with the intent to provoke change or expose flaws

The philosopher was an iconoclast, questioning every moral assumption of his time.

an individual who is not concerned with morality and overindulges in pleasure, particularly sexual pleasure

The novel’s main character was a notorious libertine, living a life of excess and indulgence.

a religious service that consists of the leading person saying some prayers followed by set responses from the people who are participating

The priest led the congregation in a solemn litany of prayers and responses.

the customs and values of a society that characterize it

The mores of a traditional society often dictate strict gender roles and expectations for behavior.

relating to knowledge, meanings, or truths that are hidden from normal perception and difficult to understand without special insight

The manuscript contained occult symbols no one could decipher.

a statement meaning to predict or guess the events of the future

The weather forecast was a form of prognostication about the upcoming storm.

an individual who lives by themselves and avoids all sorts of contact with other people

Deep in the forest, the hermit lived as a recluse for decades in a small cabin he built with his own hands.

an act that is considered to be impolite or unacceptable

The actor’s solecism of interrupting the director was noted as unprofessional.

a disposition or behavior that is extremely immoral or wicked

The scandal revealed the turpitude of the politician's actions.

requiring specialized or secret knowledge to comprehend fully

The arcane nature of the formula made it difficult for outsiders to grasp.

lacking in intellect, culture, knowledge, or morals

The isolated village was considered benighted due to its lack of modern education.

expressing or experiencing deep regret or guilt because of a wrong act that one has committed

She wrote a contrite letter to apologize for her mistakes.

tremendously wicked or evil, just like the Devil

The villain’s diabolical plan aimed to cause chaos and suffering.

not connected in an orderly or coherent way

His disjointed speech made it difficult to understand his main point.

extremely enthusiastic or obsessed about something

The town was wary of the group's fanatical teachings and their intense recruitment efforts.

(of people) delighted by the company of others

Sarah is known for her gregarious nature, always making friends wherever she goes.

not showing any concern in one's attitude or actions toward a particular person, situation, or outcome

She remained indifferent to the outcome of the game since she wasn't a fan of either team.

following established beliefs, traditions, or accepted standards

The school required students to adhere to orthodox dress codes, including uniforms and modest attire.

having strong faith in a religion and living according to it

The pious man donated a significant portion of his income to support religious causes.

behaving in a manner that shows one's high moral standards

She is known for her principled stance on environmental issues, always advocating for sustainable practices.

to cause light or other electromagnetic waves to vibrate in a specific direction or plane

The filter polarizes sunlight, reducing glare from reflective surfaces.

extremely important, to the point that it is not allowed to be condemned or changed

The family ritual was sacrosanct to her, holding deep personal and cultural significance.

not concerned or connected with religion

The school is secular, meaning it does not promote any specific religious beliefs.

behaving in a manner that is impolite and not in accordance with the situation

The unseemly comments made during the meeting caused discomfort among the team members.