benign - of a kind or gentle disposition or mild type or character

pensive - employed in serious reflection, expressing thoughtfulness with sadness

melancholy (adj) - depressed in spirits, favourable to meditation

capitulate - to settle or draw up the terms of an agreement or to surrender onsuch terms

peruse - observe and examine with care, read through carefully

auspicious - predicting success, prosperity or happiness

inexpedient - not tending to promote a purpose or the desired end, improper, inadvisable

vapid - having lost its life and spirit (e.g. of blood)

insipid - lacking in qualities which affect the tastebuds, tasteless

quaint - prudent, wise or characterised by ingenuity or art (e.g. of garments)

taciturn - habitually silent, not conversational

piety - reverance of the supreme being, loving obedience to the will of God oraffectionate reverence or service shown towards parents, relatives, country etc.

assuage - to soften, in a figurative sense; to ease as heat, pain or grief

allay - to make quiet or put at rest; to dimish in strength; abate; subside

accede - to approach, come forward or to agree or assent to a proposal

prolixity - great length, minute detail, as in discourses and writings

assiduity - constant or close attention to what one is doing

vitiate - spoil or impair the quality, efficiency or legal validity of

reticent - not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily

redolent - strongly reminiscent or suggestive of

puissant - having great power or influence

doggerel - derogatory term for verse considered of little literary value, e.g. cliche, over sentimental content, trivial subject, imprecise rhyming

vaunt - boast about or praise excessively

obfuscate - make obscure, unclear, or unintelligble to make the intended meaning difficutlt to interpret

moulder - to slowly decay or disintegrate, due to neglect

languid - having or showing a disinclination for physical exertion or effort, or arelaxed and restful period of time

deleterious - causing harm or damage

pecuniary - relating to or consisting of money (Latin - pecu/pecunia = money [16th C]

limpid - completely clear liquid or eyes, or clear sounding music

belligerent - hostile and aggressive (Latin - belligerant = waging war) [16th C]

prorogue - to delay business for a while, of a government or meeting (Latin - prorogare = to stretch out)

contravene - to offend against a law or code of conduct, or conflict with a principle or right

connote - to imply or suggest (an idea or feeling) in addition to the literal or primary meaning

nebulous - of a concept vague or ill-defined (Latin - nebula = mist)

inalienable - not subject to being taken away from the possessor; absolute; sacrosanct

esoteric - likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialised knowledge or interest