animated

(adj.) full of life, lively, alive; (part.) moved to action

s:  energetic, vigorous

a:  dull, lifeless, dead, flat

brood

n. a family of young animals, especially birds; any group having the same nature and origin; v. to think over in a worried, unhappy way

s:  ponder, meditate, worry, agonize

culminate

v. to reach a high point of development; to end, climax

s:  conclude, terminate

a:  begin, initiate, kick-off, commence

downright

(adv.) thoroughly; (adj.) absolute, complete, frank, blunt

s:  total, out-and-out, unqualified

drone

(n.) a loafer, idler; a buzzing or humming sound; a remote-control device; a male bee (v.) to make a buzzing sound; to speak in a dull tone of voice.

s:  (n.) bum, do-nothing; (v.) hum, buzz, purr

a: hard worker, workaholic

goad

(v.) to drive or urge on; (n.) something used to drive or urge on

s:  prod, spur on, incite

a: curb, check, restrain

indulge

(v.) to give in to a wish or desire, give oneself up to

s: oblige, humor, coddle, pamper

a:  deny, refuse

ingredient

(n.) one of the materials in a mixture, recipe, or formula

s:  element, component, constituent, factor

literate

(adj.) able to read and write; showing an excellent educational background, having knowledge or training

s:  educated, trained

a:  unlettered, unschooled, ignorant

loom

(v.) to come into view; to appear in exaggerated form; (n.) a machine for weaving

s:  emerge, surface, hover, tower

luster

(n.)  the qualify of giving off light, brightness, glitter, brilliance

s:  gloss, sheen, shine

a:  tarnish, dullness

miscellaneous

(adj.) mixed, of different kinds

s:  varied, assorted, motley

a:  identical, uniform, homogeneous

oration

(n.) a public speech for a formal occasion

s:  address, harangue

peevish

(adj.) cross, complaining, irritable; contrary

s:  crabby, cranky, testy, stubborn

a:  agreeable, amiable, even-tempered, pleasant

seethe

(v.) to boil or foam, to be excited or disturbed

s:  churn, simmer, stew

singe

(v.) to burn slightly; (n.) a burn at the ends of edges

s:  scorch, char, sear

a:  incinerate

unique

(adj.) one of a kind; unequaled; unusual; found only in a given class, place, or situation

s:  unparalleled, distinctive, singular

a: ordinary, commonplace, run-of-the-mill

upright

(adj.) vertical, straight; good, honest; (adv.) in a vertical position

s:  perpendicular, virtuous

a:  horizontal, prone, dishonest, corrupt

verify

(v.) to establish the truth or accuracy of, confirm

s:  prove, validate, substantiate

a:  disprove, refute, discredit

yearn

(v.) to have a strong and earnest desire

s:  crave, long for, want