tribulation :: distress; suffering
tribunal :: court of justice
tribute :: tax levied by a ruler; mark of respect
trident :: three-pronged spear
trilogy :: group of three works
triolet :: eight-line stanza
troglodyte :: cave dweller
trope :: figure of speech
troth :: pledge of good faith especially in betrothal
truism :: self-evident truth
trumpery :: objects that are showy, valueless, deceptive
tryst :: meeting
tumbrel :: a farm tipcart
tundra :: rolling, treeless plain in Siberia and arctic North America
turbulence :: state of violent agitation
tureen :: deep table dish for holding soup
turnkey :: jailer
turpitude :: depravity
tutelage :: guardianship; training
tyro :: beginner; novice
ukase :: official decree, usually Russian
ultimatum :: last demand; warning
umbrage :: resentment; anger; sense of injury or insult
unanimity :: complete agreement
unction :: the act of anointing with oil
unguent :: ointment
unison :: unity of pitch; complete accord
usufruct :: right of enjoying things belonging to another
usurpation :: act of seizing power and rank of another
usury :: lending money at illegal rates of interest
utopia :: imaginary land with perfect social and political system
vacillation :: fluctuation; wavering
vagary :: caprice; whim
valance :: short drapery hanging above window frame
valetudinarian :: invalid
vampire :: ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
vanguard :: forerunners; advance forces
vantage :: position giving an advantage
vassal :: in feudalism, one who held land of a superior lord
vellum :: parchment
vendetta :: feud; private warfare
veneer :: thin layer; cover