decrepit	made weak by age or hard use
derelict	ruined
to trickle	to flow in weak stream
redeeming	compensating
to connive	to plot, to scheme
to acquiesce	to agree without protesting
flabbergasted	astounded
quaint	charmingly old-fashioned
incisive	clear, sharp, direct
enmity	ill will, hatred, hostility
insular	separated and narrow-minded, avoiding contact
truculent	ready to fight, cruel, sanguinary
plethora	an abundance, excess
staid	sedate, serious, self-restrained, conservative
lurid	ghasty, sensational
serendipity	luck, finding good things without looking for them
obtuse	lacking quickeness, sensibility or intellect
fractious	irritable
salient	significant, conspicuous
lithe	graceful, flexible
taciturn	not inclined to talk
penchant	a tendency, partiality, preference
obsequious	excessively compliant, submissive
indolent	lazy