Page 712

vis • age n., a face. The monarch’s visage appears on British currency.

Page 714

pes • ti • lence n., virulent or infectious disease of epidemic proportions. In the Middle Ages, the Black Plague and other pestilences ravaged Europe.

Page 715

ze • nith n., the highest point in the sky. At twelve noon the sun will be at its zenith.

dirge n., funeral song. Bagpipes spread the mournful dirge across the cemetery.

sep • ul • chre or sep • ul • cher n., burial vault or tomb. Mourners laid flowers at the sepulcher’s entrance.

Page 716

chasm n., a crack in the surface of the earth. Chasms spread like veins across the canyon’s parched floor.

Page 717

tu • mult n., loud commotion. We awakened to a tumult of breaking glass as the earthquake hit.

im • pet • u • ous adj., acting on impulse. Although I prefer not to plan things, my impetuous actions sometimes get me into trouble.