UNUSUAL WORDS CXXXIII

Can you give a simple definition of these less-frequently-used words?  

1. LEA (lee)

2. KEA (kee' uh)

3. VENAL

4. CAMBER

5. BLANCH

6. CARYATID

7. EXTIRPATE

8. TUROPHILE

9. SERENDIPITY

10. STAR CHAMBER

 

Answers:

 

1. LEA - A meadow or grassland

2. KEA - A highly intelligent parrot 

3. VENAL - Corrupt, open to bribery

                     Very serious - as certain sins

4. CAMBER - Inward or outward tilt of a 

                         vehicle's wheels  

5. BLANCH - Lose color, become pale or white

6. CARYATID - Sculpted female figure serving 

                            as an architectural support

7. EXTIRPATE - Root out, completely destroy

8. TUROPHILE - A lover and connoisseur of cheese

9. SERENDIPITY - Unexpected good luck, with an 

                                  aptitude to recognize and benefit from it

10. STAR CHAMBER - A court of the 1600's infamous for arbitrary methods and secrecy. Today, a metaphor for any secretive, autocratic proceeding where the rights of the accused are ignored.