Devout means religious or devoted. When someone is devout, they are very religious, and they often follow the rules of their religion very closely.
To consort with someone is to spend time with them. You might consort with someone in order to get information or to make a deal.
To subdue is to overcome or control. When the police subdued the suspect, they were able to control him and bring him in peacefully.
To retract something is to take it back, to undo or change it. When you retract a proposal, you're saying that you no longer want to submit it to the committee.
Alms is a word that is sometimes used to describe money that is given to poor people or to the church. Alms can also refer to food or other supplies that are given to people in need.
To sternly is to behave in a very strict and demanding way. When you sternly tell someone to do something, you are not going to be gentle or lenient with them.
To encrust something is to cover it with a layer of something sticky or gooey. Sometimes encrustation is a natural process, and other times it is the result of something else.
A jewel is a valuable object that is made out of precious materials. Jewels are often worn as jewelry, or they might be used in decoration.
To be absolved is to be forgiven. When someone is absolved, they have been forgiven by the person or group that they have wronged.