felicitous  agreeable, appropriate, admirably suited

filigree  fine wire worked into delicate, intricate designs

abdication  to give up formally, to surrender

lassitude  a state of exhaustion or torpor, weakness

vicissitudes  any change or variation, mutability

paroxysm  sudden outburst of emotion; spasm or fit

imponderable that which cannot be precisely measured or described

alchemy  the medieval study of chemistry, linked with metaphysics

immolation  death by sacrifice

conciliatory  settling differences, friendly or agreeable

amalgam  mixture or blend, alloy

admonition  advise against something

megalomania insanity marked by delusions of grandeur

androgynous having both female and male characteristics