render: cause to be or become; make.

fidelity: faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.

A duplex house plan has two living units attached to each other, either next to each other as townhouses, condominiums or above each other like apartments.

sweep down: to clean or clear something by brushing its surface very lightly and quickly, as with a broom or brush.

shag: a carpet or rug with a long, rough pile.

poodle: a dog of a breed (of which there are several varieties) with a curly coat that is often ornamentally clipped.

yap: give a sharp, shrill bark.

scoop up: to lift something or someone with your hands or arms in a quick movement.

tweak: to adjust or fine-tune.

ascend: to go or move up.

bedspread: a decorative cloth used to cover a bed.

clutter: a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass.

A tournament is a competition involving at least three competitors, all participating in a sport or game.

dress to the nines: dressed to the highest degree, to perfection.

expository: intended to explain or describe something.

haul: to pull or draw with force; move by drawing; drag. 

contention: an assertion (claim or belief), especially one maintained in argument.

riotous: characterized by wild and uncontrolled behavior.

lavish: sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.

crate: vehicle.

A pulpless fruit would be a fruit someone has already eaten. Pulpless, peeled oranges and lemons.

rind: the tough outer skin of certain fruit, especially citrus fruit.

To wring out is to squeeze liquid from something by pressing or twisting it — or to extract information from someone using a similar kind of force.

trample: to step heavily on someone or something so that you crush or harm them/it with your feet trample somebody/something.

lethargy: a lack of energy and enthusiasm.

teetering on the edge: be very close to a difficult or dangerous situation.

teeter: move or balance unsteadily; sway back and forth.

outline: a general plan of the material that is to be presented in a speech or a paper. 

hammer out: work out, bring about.

marshal: arrange or assemble (a group of people, especially soldiers) in order.

muster: to produce or encourage something such as an emotion or support. She musters a failt smile.

elate: to fill with joy or pride.

lucrative: producing a great deal of profit.

fullfilling: making someone satisfied or happy because of fully developing their character or abilities.

result in something lucrative and fulfilling.

circuitous: winding; (of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way.

deem: regard or consider in a specified way.

hence: as a consequence; for this reason.

essentially: used to emphasize the basic, fundamental, or intrinsic nature of a person, thing, or situation.

grad: a person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university).

unravel: solve, explain (something complicated or puzzling).

altruism: disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others.

dissertation: a long essay on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree or diploma.

subsistence income: a level of income that provides only enough money for basic needs.

so far: (of a trend that seems likely to continue) up to this time.

scrape by: to live with barely enough money.

gig economy: short-time contracts or freelance.

gig: a part time job.

sophomore: a second-year university or high-school student.

ecstatic: feeling or expressing overwhelming (very great amount) happiness or joyful excitement.

cheat off: to deceive or practise deceit, esp. for one’s own gain.

transcendence: existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level.

sedate: calm, dignified.

lurking: remaining hidden so as to wait in ambush (a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position).

rocket up: to make very rapid progress in something.

hot commodity: someone or something that is highly valued or in much demand.

neurosis (pl: neuroses): poor ability to adapt to one’s environment, an inability to change one’s life patterns, and the inability to develop a richer, more complex, more satisfying personality.

rival: a person, group, or organization competing with others for the same thing or in the same area.

cringe: so embarrassing, awkward.

Endowed with a tender heart and an ill-timed tendency to choke on pre-calc tests and in high-stakes squash tournaments, she is at the mercy of the viciousness of her private-school girls’ clique and the relentlessness of her squash schedule.

endow with: If you endow something with a particular feature or quality, you provide it with that feature or quality.

tendency: likelihood; an inclination toward a particular characteristic or type of behavior.

pre-calc: Precalculus; a course in mathematics that prepares a student for calculus.

squash: a racket-and-ball sport played by two or four players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow, rubber ball. 

at the mercy of: completely in the power or under the control of.

viciousness: aggressive, angry behavior.

clique: a small, closed off group of people. 

relentlessness: mercilessness characterized by an unwillingness to relent or let up.

half wishing: to want to do something, but not quite enough to do it, in fact.

dash: to go somewhere quickly.

excursion: a short journey or trip, especially one engaged in as a leisure activity.

My only excursion was to the shaved-ice vendor on our corner.

A vendor is a general term for anyone who buys and sells goods or services.

traipsing: to walk or go aimlessly or idly or without finding or reaching one’s goal.

work to be at home

work to be: to follow a particular schedule, plan, or procedure while working. 

rent out: grant the services of or the temporary use of, for a fee.

sleazy: (of a person or situation) sordid, corrupt, or immoral.

admission: ticket; or entrance.

vernacular: an expression or mode of expression that occurs in ordinary speech rather than formal writing.

steep: (of a price or demand) not reasonable; excessive; costly.

derision: actions or statements showing that you think someone or something is ridiculous or of no value.

bodega: a small grocery store, especially in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood.

irate: feeling or characterized by great anger.

in one piece: unharmed or undamaged, especially after a dangerous experience.

turn out: develop or end in particular way.

tony: fashionable among wealthy or stylish people.

roam around: to walk, go, or travel without a fixed purpose or direction.

Bubble tea is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s.

gourmand: a person who takes great pleasure and interest in consuming good food and drink.

vend: offer (small items, especially food) for sale, especially either from a stall or from a slot machine.

A vape shop is a retail outlet specializing in the selling of electronic cigarette products.

A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. 

‘The T’ is another term for ‘the Truth.’ 

dingy: dark and gloomy.

in hock: in debt.

bookie: bookmaker; a person who takes bets (especially on horse races), calculates odds, and pays out winnings.

no matter: it is of no importance.

fret (for): to be nervous or worried.

menacing: suggesting the presence of danger; threatening.

burn through money: to spend money quickly.

tote in: carry, wield, or convey (something heavy or substantial).

no-nonsense: simple and straightforward; practical and serious, and only interested in doing what is necessary or achieving what is intended, without silly ideas or methods.

momentarily: for a very short time.

plump: chubby; having a full rounded shape.

stagger: arranged so that things happen at different times.

rip: tear or pull (something) quickly or forcibly away from something or someone.

reveal: make (previously unknown or secret information) known to others.

leopard-print

plummet: to drop sharply and abruptly.

chic kind: smart elegance and sophistication especially of dress or manner; style.

raid: to enter a place illegally and usually violently, and steal from it. raid her mother’s closet
pasticceria: (especially in Italy) a shop selling pastries and cakes.

besty: a best friend.

the women she sweats in Pilates with

flatter: make (someone) feel honored and pleased.

messiah: a leader who is believed to have the power to solve the world’s problems.

tutoring messiah

lacerate: to cause someone great emotional pain.

lark: a merry, carefree adventure.

credential: a qualification, achievement, personal quality, or aspect of a person’s background, typically when used to indicate that they are suitable for something.

haul off: withdraw a little before doing something, especially making a violent action.

a sliding scale: a scale of fees, taxes, wages, etc., that varies in accordance with variation of some standard.

go up on my rates: raise the rates; becomes more costly.

comprise: consist of; be made up of.

resort: a frequently visited place.

holdout: a person or organization who resists something or refuses to accept an offer.

glossy: superficially attractive and stylish, and suggesting wealth or expense.

Taurean-stubborn streak: an often unpleasant characteristic that is very different from other characteristics

überrich: very rich; superrich.

astounding: surprisingly impressive or notable.

a follow-up email

oblivious: not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one.

no awareness of: the state of having no knowledge of something.

gentrification: the transformation of a city neighborhood from low value to high value.

amorphous: without a clearly defined shape or form.

elusive: mysterious.

peg: to recognize or discover what something is; identify.

marinated in the juices of fashion

marinate: soak (meat, fish, or other food) in a marinade.

Mom jeans are high-waisted, opening up at the hips and then tightening slightly at the thighs, creating a slim cut until the higher ankle.

semi-ironed button-down shirt with khakis woman

boutique: a small store selling fashionable clothes or accessories.

flummoxed: completely unable to understand.

camisole: a woman’s loose-fitting undergarment for the upper body, typically held up by shoulder straps and having decorative trimming.

fashionista: a designer, promoter, or follower of the latest fashions.

A trust fund is an estate planning tool that allows a person to put aside money and/or other assets that will later be distributed to the beneficiaries named on the trust.

look in: to check briefly on someone or something. 

assiduously: showing great care, attention, and effort.

charge for: to establish a set price for something.

mull over: think about it for a long time before deciding what to do.

guidepost: a rule or principle that provides guidance to appropriate behavior.

recast: to change the form of something.

tentative: not fully worked out or developed.

inferiority: a basic feeling of inadequacy and insecurity, deriving from actual or imagined physical or psychological deficiency.

aboveboard: legitimate, honest, and open.

fathom: understand (a difficult problem or an enigmatic person) after much thought.

patchy: marked by, consisting of, or diversified with patches.

wheezing: a high-pitched whistling sound made while breathing.

intrigue: to interest someone a lot, especially by being strange, unusual, or mysterious.

I was intrigued by his slow, deliberate way of talking and the serious look in his eyes.

The puzzle is in part what intrigues me.

kaleidoscope: to create beautiful and fascinating patterns for pleasure.

lethargic: causes you to feel sleepy or fatigued and sluggish.

replicate: make an exact copy of; reproduce; duplicate.

upbringing: the treatment and instruction received by a child from its parents throughout its childhood. Your upbringing is how you were raised as a child.

bracket: a group with fixed upper and lower limits.

in the span of: in the length of something(usually a period of time)

muster: a formal gathering of troops, especially for inspection, display, or exercise.

haze: to force people new to a group, esp. a sports team or college social group, to take part in activities that are silly, embarrassing, and sometimes harmful in order to be accepted as a member.

I am hazed by

shun: to ignore someone and not speak to that person because you cannot accept their behaviour, beliefs, etc.

faculty: the people who teach in a university, college, or US high school, or in one of its departments.

A rite of passage is defined as a ritual or experience that marks a major milestone or change in a person’s life, and they can be particularly important for children.

screed: a long piece of writing, especially one that is boring or expresses an unreasonably strong opinion.

I’m in a hall of fun-house mirrors.

deprive: deny (a person or place) the possession or use of something.

vituperative: bitter and abusive.

gravitas: dignity, seriousness, or solemnity of manner.

I do not command much gravitas.

adversarial: involving people opposing or disagreeing with each other.

striver: someone who works as hard as a slave.

acne: a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells.

kvell: feel happy and proud.

uncharacteristically present

descend: move or fall downward.

usher: show or guide (someone) somewhere.

blasé: unimpressed or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before.

vicariously: in a way that is experienced in the imagination through the actions of another person.

Entering this world means being vicariously connected to a life of seeming ease and beauty when my own life is rushed and panicky.

steal away: sneak away; to leave secretively.

marvel at: express your great surprise, wonder, or admiration.

stroll around: to walk slowly and leisurely around (some place).

hairdo: hairstyle.

prestigious: inspiring respect and admiration; having high status.

moxie: courage, determination.

prototypically: relating to a particular type of person or thing that is seen as very typical.

ornate: made in an intricate (very complicated or detailed) shape or decorated with complex patterns.

embroider: (of cloth) decorated with patterns sewn on with thread.