Dowry

1. the money or property brought by a woman to her husband at marriage
2. (esp formerly) a gift made by a man to his bride or her parents.

Substitute

a person or thing used or acting instead of another.
I was substitute headmaster for a team.

Rum

Atype of alcoholic drink, a spririt made from sugar cane: a bottle of rum.

Allegiance

1. loyalty, as of a subject to his sovereign or of a citizen to his country

       

Vow

a solemn or earnest pledge or promise binding the person making it to perform a specified act or behave in a certain way.

Cynicism

 

1. the attitude or beliefs of a cynic
2. a cynical action, remark, idea, etc

Breakthrough

a military movement or advance all the way through and beyond an enemy's front-line defense.

 

an act or instance of removing or surpassing an obstruction or restriction; the overcoming of a stalemate: The president reported a breakthrough in the treaty negotiations.