Amiable in expression - pleasant, friendly
Dangling - hanging
Endearing - evoking affection
testify - bear witness
stem from - arises
Key (to something) - a means of access
slither - slide
Impending doom - threating approaching
Instinct - inborn tendency/impulse
Probing - examinating
Gruesome - horrible
frenzied - violent excitement
arouses - awakens
superstitions - beliefs
remnants (of) - remainder
eerie - uncanny weird
elaborately - intricately, carefully, in detail
Unearthed - dug up
Hoard (of) - accumulation
Domesticate - tame
Smuggled - to bring illegally
(far) afield (to a place) - abroad
Symbol of fertility - representation of ability to produce offspring
put about (of) - spread
potentially - capable of, possibly
inflicted (upon) - melt
consumed (in something) - not eaten by people, destroyed
hastened - quickened
familiarity (with) - association
immense - huge
(is) enacted - acted out
crossfire - conflict
closeness (of) - bond
condemned - judged adversely
virtuous - morally upright
solitary - with companions
humane - compassionate
pampered - spoiled (with care)
vermin - disgusting creature
rendering - doing
dignity - conduct& bearing
myths and legends - folk tales
inhabit - occupy
scamper - to run or go hastily or quickly
savage - fierce
memorialised - remembered
verse - poems
to let the cat out of the bag - to reveal a secret

Labels: Meaning of words