A Modest Proposal

prodigious

(adj.) immense; extraordinary in bulk, size, or degree

rudiments

(n. pl.) the parts of any subject or discipline that are learned first; the earliest stages of anything; the basics.

expedient

(n.) a means to an end; (adj.) advantageous, useful, though not ideal

deference

(n.) courteous yielding to the wishes and ideas of another person; great respect marked by submission, as to a superior

importune

(v.) to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently

encumbrance

N. A burden or impediment

collateral

N. Anything of value belonging to the borrower that is pledged to the lender to guarantee that the loan will be repaid.

Sustenance

N. something that provides nourishment; food needed to live

deplorable

adj. Deserving censure or contempt; pitiable

thrifty

adj. able to handle money wisely, not extravagant

utterly

adv. completely and without qualification

famine

n. A time when there is so little food that many people starve.

melancholy

n. Depression of spirits

propagation

n. Multiplication or increase; having offspring or spreading ideas.

carcass

n. The dead body of an animal

enumerate

v. To count OUT; to list; to tick off the reasons for

computed

v. calculated

reckon

v. count; calculate; regard as; think; suppose