perch
To perch somewhere means to be on the top or edge of something.
...the vast slums that perch precariously on top of the hills around which the city was built.
scanty
You describe something as scanty when there is less of it than you think there should be.
So far, what scanty evidence we have points to two suspects.
outpost
An outpost is a small group of buildings used for trading or military purposes, either in a distant part of your own country or in a foreign country.
...a remote mountain outpost, linked to the outside world by the poorest of roads.
contend for
If you contend with someone for something such as power, you compete with them to try to get it.
...the two main groups contending for power.
...with 10 UK construction yards contending with rivals from Norway, Holland, Italy and Spain.
genealogy
Genealogy is the study of the history of families, especially through studying historical documents to discover the relationships between particular people and their families.
pay homage to
Homage is respect shown towards someone or something you admire, or to a person in authority.
Palace has released two marvellous films that pay homage to our literary heritage...
a scrap of
A scrap of something is a very small piece or amount of it.
A crumpled scrap of paper was found in her handbag...
They need every scrap of information they can get.
incredulous
If someone is incredulous, they are unable to believe something because it is very surprising or shocking.
etymological
Etymological means concerned with or relating to etymology. (FORMAL)
`Gratification' and `gratitude' have the same etymological root.
revolt
A revolt is an illegal and often violent attempt by a group of people to change their country's political system.
It was undeniably a revolt by ordinary people against their leaders...
obsidian
A usually black or banded, hard volcanic glass that displays shiny, curved surfaces when fractured and is formed by rapid cooling of lava.
黑曜岩：火山玻璃，一般为黑色，带状，摔碎时色泽光亮，表面变曲，由火山熔岩迅速凝而成
voluminous
Something that is voluminous is very large or contains a lot of things. (FORMAL)
The FBI kept a voluminous file on Pablo Picasso.
throw a light on
To shed light on,throw light on, or cast light on something means to make it easier to understand, because more information is known about it.
A new approach offers an answer, and may shed light on an even bigger question. =clarify
superintendent
A superintendent is a person who is responsible for a particular thing or the work done in a particular department.
He became superintendent of the bank's East African branches...
asunder
If something tears or is torn asunder, it is violently separated into two or more parts or pieces.(LITERARY)
run counter to
Something that is a counter to something else has an opposite effect to it or makes it less effective.
...NATO's traditional role as a counter to the military might of the Warsaw pact.
exodus
If there is an exodus of people from a place, a lot of people leave that place at the same time.
The medical system is facing collapse because of an exodus of doctors.
allude to
If you allude to something, you mention it in an indirect way. (FORMAL)
She also alluded to her rival's past marital troubles.=refer
serf
In former times,serfs were a class of people who had to work on a particular person's land and could not leave without that person's permission.
dissension
Dissension is disagreement and argument. (FORMAL)
The tax cut issue has caused dissension among administration officials.=discord
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