| oration | a formal speech |
| avert | to prevent |
| craven | cowardly |
| humility | meekness or a lack of pride |
| exhort | spur on |
| impediment | obstruction |
| embellish | decorate |
| pith | sponge-like inside of flower |
| luminous | bright or glowing |
| subside | sink to a lower level |
| homage | to pay respect |
| rebuke | to reprimand |
| wiles | tricks |
| rant | emotional speech |
| snare | a trap |