equilibrium	a state of being balanced
interlude	interval, break
to cut back on	to reduce
unassuming	modest, not drawing attention to oneself
flagging	weakening/ getting tired
to envisage	to form a picture in one's mind
grass-roots	ordinary people
to render	to cause sth/sb to be in a particular state or situation
outmoded	no longer fashionable
to disperse	to cause people to go in different directions
pervasive	present and perceived everywhere
sycophant	one who flatters for self gain
to embezzle	to steal money by falsifying records
maverick	non-conformist
innate	inborn
deferential to sb	showing respect for another's authority
impeccable	spotlessly clean/ excellent
circumspect	cautious, wary
avarice	excessive greed (for money)
to chide	to scold, to rebuke
clandestine	done secretly, surreptitious
oblivious to sth	unaware of sth
complacency	self-satisfaction
to deride	to mock, to ridicule
to debase	to lower the quality of sth, to deprecate
amiable	friendly
candour	honesty, frankness
perusal	an action of reading sth carefully
rife	widespread/ full of sth
knell	funeral ... - the solemn sound of sth that is about to end forever
gluttony	overindulgence