to scrounge: to obtain things, especially money or food, by asking for them instead of buying them or working for them

to ostracise s.o.: to avoid someone intentionally or to prevent them from taking part in the activities of a group

pre-eminent: more important or better than others

gregarious: (of people) liking to be with other people, or (especially of animals) living in groups

haphazard: not having an obvious order or plan

fastidious: giving too much attention to small details and wanting everything to be correct and perfect

diatribe: an angry speech or piece of writing which severely criticizes something or someone

repartee: quick and usually amusing answers and remarks in conversation

ribald (old-fashioned): describes language that refers to sex in a rude but humorous way

shrewd: possessing or based on a clear understanding and good judgment of a situation, resulting in an advantage

to pillory s.o.: to severely criticize someone, especially in a public way

lambast: to criticize someone or something severely

tryst: a meeting between two lovers, especially a secret one

footloose: free to do what you like and go where you like because you have no responsibilities

malleable: describes a substance that is easily changed into a new shape, or easily influenced, trained or controlled

glib: speaking or spoken in a confident and persuasive way but without honesty or careful consideration

the gloaming (Scottish / literary English): the part of the day after the sun has gone down and before the sky is completely dark

verisimilitude: the quality of seeming true or of having the appearance of reality

to piddle (old-fashioned informal): to urinate

to harangue: to speak to someone or a group of people, often for a long time, in a forceful and sometimes angry way, especially to persuade them

protuberant: sticking out from a surface

snigger: to laugh at someone or something childishly and often unkindly

to betroth: to cause someone to promise formally to marry someone

voracious: very eager for something, especially a lot of food