moribund

mor·i·bund [mawr-uh-buhnd, mor-]
–adjective

1.	in a dying state; near death.

2.	on the verge of extinction or termination.

3.	not progressing or advancing; stagnant: a moribund political party.

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propound

pro·pound (prə-pound')
To put forward for consideration; set forth.

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ablution

ab·lu·tion /əˈbluʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[uh-bloo-shuhn]
–noun

1.	a cleansing with water or other liquid, esp. as a religious ritual.

2.	the liquid thus used.

3.	a washing of the hands, body, etc.

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sinecure

si·ne·cure /ˈsaɪnɪˌkyʊr, ˈsɪnɪ-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunc[sahy-ni-kyoor, sin-i-]
–noun

1.	an office or position requiring little or no work, esp. one yielding profitable returns.

2.	an ecclesiastical benefice without cure of souls.

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[Origin: 1655–65; beneficium) sine cūrā (benefice) without care; see cure]

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noisome

noi·some /ˈnɔɪsəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[noi-suhm]
–adjective

1.	offensive or disgusting, as an odor.

2.	harmful or injurious to health; noxious.

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[Origin: 1350–1400; ME noy (aph. var. of annoy) + -some¹]

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profligate

prof·li·gate /ˈprɒflɪgɪt, -ˌgeɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[prof-li-git, -geyt]
–adjective

1.	utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.

2.	recklessly prodigal or extravagant.

–noun

3.	a profligate person.

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[Origin: 1525–35; <>prōflīgātus broken down in character, degraded, orig. ptp. of prōflīgāre to shatter, debase, equiv. to prō- pro-¹ + -flīgāre, deriv. of flīgere to strike; see inflict, -ate¹]

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lede

lede
noun: the introductory section of a story; "it was an amusing lead-in to a very serious matter" [syn: lead]

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