A CHRISTMAS MEMORY Vocabulary INAUGURATE (V) to make a formal beginning of; initiate; commence; begin MUSE (V) to think or meditate in silence, as on some subject. PARAPHERNALIA (N) equipment, apparatus, or furnishing used in or necessary for a particular activity: ERMINE (N) the lustrous, white, winter fur of the ermine, often having fur from the animal's black tail tip inserted at intervals for contrast. CARNAGE (N) the slaughter of a great number of people, as in battle; butchery; massacre. FESTOONED (N) a fabric suspended, draped, and bound at intervals to form graceful loops or scalloped folds. BURNISH (V) to polish (a surface) by friction. CONSPIRACY (N) a combination of persons for a secret, unlawful, or evil purpose: an agreement by two or more persons to commit a crime, fraud, or other wrongful act. Ex: He joined the conspiracy to overthrow the government. NONCOMMITTAL (ADJ.) not committing oneself, or not involving committal, to a particular view, course, or the like DISTEMPER (N) a deranged condition of mind or body; a disorder or disease: SACRILEGIOUS (N) Speaking against something holy or held sacred PROSAIC (ADJ.) commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative: ROLLICK (V) to move or act in a carefree, frolicsome manner; behave in a free, hearty, or jovial way. POTENT (ADJ.) powerful; mighty: CAVORT (V) to prance or caper about; to behave in a high-spirited, festive manner; make merry. SKINFLINT (N) a person who spends as little money as possible, miser; penny-pincher DECEASE (V) the act of dying; departure from life; death. REVEILLE (N) a signal, as of a drum or bugle, sounded early in the morning to awaken military personnel and to alert them for assembly; a signal to arise. RIME (N) an opaque coating of tiny, white, granular ice particles, caused by the rapid freezing of supercooled water droplets on impact with an object