to surmise	to espouse/ to guess
rung	one of the bars in a ladder
executioner	a public official whose job is to execute criminals
heckler	sb who asks vexing questions
hirsute	hairy
gauntness	an instance of being weak and very thin
steadfastness	loyalty
stronghold	a place that has been fortified
hospice	a hospital for dying people
mildew	a kind of fungus that grows in wet conditions
dampness	an instance of being wet
canker	a disease that destroys the wood of trees
callow	inexperienced
fallow	not used for growing crops so as to improve its fertility
crusty	having a hard outer shell
incivility	impoliteness, rudeness
enigma	mystery, puzzle
defiant	disobedient, recalcitrant
compelling	so interesting that you cannot put it down
flabby	self-loose / having soft, loose flesh
to hobble	to walk uneasy because of problems with legs
to amble	to ramble aimlessly
undemonstrative	not showing feelings openly
parsimonious	frugal, economical
to hobnob with sb	to mix socially
plotter	conspirator
to kowtow to sb	to show sb in authority too much respect and be too willing to obey
inadvertment	unintentional, not deliberate
gauche	lacking social polish, rough
to waddle	to walk like a duck