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in • dict • ment n., state of being charged with a crime or offense. He was under indictment for breaking the law.

al • leged adj., accused but not proven or convicted. Robert lost his job for his alleged theft of merchandise.

pre • am • ble n., introductory statement. The statute contained a preamble that declared its intent.

pos • ter • i • ty n., all future generations. A nuclear war could threaten the posterity of the human race.

mock • er • y n., insulting or ridiculing action or speech. The negative news article made a mockery of the incident.

dis • fran • chise • ment n., depriving of a legal right or privilege. A driver with several citations for drunk driving may experience the disfranchisement of his or her driver’s license.

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de • rive vt., take, receive, or make, usually from a specified source. Juan’s sense of responsibility, derived from the lessons of his parents, made him a good employee.

o • di • ous adj., exciting or deserving hatred. During war, soldiers are forced to commit odious acts.

ar • is • toc • ra • cy n., government ruled by a small privileged class. A government that is not democratic might be considered an aristocracy.

ol • i • gar • chy n., government in which a small group exercises control, especially for corrupt and selfish purposes. The corrupt government of the revolutionaries was thought to be an oligarchy.

a • bridge vt., reduce in scope. Attempts to abridge the right of free speech have usually failed.

im • mu • ni • ties n., pl., rights that are protected. The defendants were granted certain immunities for testifying.