A Word A Day Keeps the Editor Away

hypocritical - pretending to be virtuous; deceiving; N. hypocrisy: profession of beliefs one does not possess; CF. hypocrite

prestige - respect or admiration; impression produced by achievements or reputation; ADJ: causing admiration; ADJ. prestigious: having prestige

vortex - whirlwind; whirlpool; center of turbulence; predicament into which one is inexorably plunged

determinate - having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final

corrosive - eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce

incessant - uninterrupted; unceasing

sloth - slow moving tree-dwelling mammal; laziness; ADJ. slothful: lazy; indolent

figurative - not literal but metaphorical; using a figure(impression) of speech

impartial - not biased; fair; N. impartiality

prelude - introduction; introductory performance or event; forerunner