cadaverous	like a corpse, pale
cacophonous	discordant, inharmonious
a cache	a hiding place
a cabal	a small group of people secretly united to promote their own interests
buxom	plump, vigorous, jolly
to buttress	to support, to prop up
to bustle	to move about energetically, to teem
to come about	to happen
in a quandary	having doubts
to refuse point blank	completely and in a rude manner
inasmuch as	since/ because/ to the extent that
the rough with the smooth	difficulties and periods of peace and quiet
on an even keel	equally good
a stoppage	an interruption of work because of a strike
thick-skinned	insensitive
cold-blooded	extremely cruel ex. a murderer
top-heavy	likely to fall because you've drunk too much
off-hand	without thinking about it first
far-reaching	having long-term consequences
a sliver	a long piece cut out of a longer piece
a coat	a layer