Current Affairs

Precipice

[noun] 
MEANING: 

1. a very steep, vertical cliff
2. a perilous or dangerous predicament or situation

Progenitor 

[noun] 
MEANING: 

1. an ancestor or a forefather
2. an originator, precursor, predecessor or founder

Protract 

[transitive verb] 
MEANING: 

1. to increase the time duration of, prolong or extend in space
2. to draw or plot to scale especially by making use of a protractor and a scale
3. (in terms of anatomy) to jut out or protrude

Recreant

[adjective] 
MEANING:

1. (adj.) cowardly, gutless or craven
2. (adj.) unfaithful, treacherous or traitorous
3. (n.) one who is cowardly or gutless
4. (n.) a deserter, traitor, renegade or unfaithful person

Retrench

[transitive verb] 
MEANING:

1. (tr.v.) to reduce, cut down or curtail
2. (tr. v.) to delete or remove
3. (intr. v.) to economize or scrimp