The adjective provincial means connected with the parts of a country away from the capital city.

Synonyms are bucolic, country, local, or rural.

The word origins from Old French (13th century) provincial meaning “belonging to a particular province”, and from Latin provincialis meaning “of a province”, from provincia meaning “province”.

The local government collects the provincial loans in selected provinces.

The law promised to provide for the formation of the central body with provincial commissions under it.

Provincial authorities and hospitals received financial support by the help of the president.

The adjective censorious means someone who often criticizes other people.

Synonyms are accusatory, critical, complaining, or condemning.

The word origins from Latin (1530s) censorius meaning “pertaining to a censor”, also “rigid, severe”. It also comes from censor meaning “magistrate” plus –ious.

The students feel awkward in a solemn and censorious class setting.

Molly rolled her eyes at the censorious tone of his voice.

The senator has a censorious attitude to those who don’t share the same opinion as his.

The verb refute means to prove that an argument, accusation, or theory is wrong or untrue.

Synonyms are discredit, contradict, disprove, or counter.

The word origins from Middle French réfuter (16^th century) and directly from Latin refutare meaning “drive back, rebut, disprove, repress, repel, resist, oppose”. It comes from re– meaning “back” plus *futare meaning “to beat’’.

They strongly refuted her claims.

The defendant refuted the charges.

He utterly refutes any allegation from his former boss.

The adjective gregarious means someone who enjoys being with other people.

Synonyms are friendly, affable, sociable, or outgoing.

The word origins from Latin (1660s) gregarius meaning “pertaining to a flock, of the herd, of the common sort, common”, and grex meaning “flock, herd”.

The gregarious dolphins followed their boat.

Gregarious animals typically live in large groups.

She’s gregarious at heart so it’s not surprising many people like her.

The verb vilify means to say or write very unpleasant things about someone so that other people will have a bad opinion of them.

Synonyms are assail, berate, defame, or malign.

The word origins from Late Latin (mid 15^th century) vilificare meaning “to make cheap or base, to lower in worth or value” and from Latin vilis meaning “cheap, base” plus combining form of facere meaning “to make”.

She’s known to always vilify those who speak out to disagree with her.

He didn’t really care when the press vilified him as a monster.

Betty claimed she was vilified unfairly by those girls who are envious of her success.

The adjective terse means concise and direct words that may seem harsh. It is often seen as a rude and unfriendly way of speaking.

Synonyms are brief, concise, blunt or laconic.

The word origins from French (1590s) ters meaning “clean” and directly from Latin tersus meaning “wiped off, clean, neat” and past participle of tergere meaning “to rub, polish, wipe” which is of uncertain origin.

Shiela’s terse words make a good rebuttal.

The teacher’s terse instructions was clear to the students.

Mel wrote a terse rebuttal against his opponent’s statement.

The noun rancor is the bitterness, ill will, hatred or unfriendly feelings towards a person or a thing.

Synonyms are hostility, enmity, spite, or malice.

The word origins from the Old French (1200) rancor meaning “bitterness, resentment, grief, affliction” borrowed from Late Latin rancorem (nominative rancor) meaning “rancidness, a stinking smell” (Palladius). It also means “to stink” deriving from Latin rancere.

I expected her to speak with rancor but she didn’t. She must have forgiven him already.

Her expression screams nothing but rancor.

Is it possible to settle without rancor? Let’s calm ourselves first, please.

The verb abate means to reduce, cease, or nullify the intensity, degree or force.

Synonyms are decrease, weaken, subside or decline.

The word origins from Middle English abaten, borrowed from the Old French (early 14th century) abatre meaning “beat down, cast down, strike down, fell, destroy, abolish, reduce, lower”.

As the storm abated, Larry went to check on his farm and fed his cows.

After three days of suffering, the pain on his left foot finally abated.

The advocates will never give up until the government takes an action to abate greenhouse-gas emissions.