scotched

"The minister said a prayer on behalf of the entire congregation."

"My friend told me there was something in the box, but I didn't know what it was yet. "

"I hope we can begin immediately."

"The violinist was a master of her instrument."

"The politician's past actions cast a shadow of discredit on his current campaign. "

"The angry cat was scotching the old armchair with its claws, leaving shallow scratches on the fabric. "

"He listened carefully to his mother's concerns, feeling sorrowful about her disappointment. "

"She only glanced superficially at the instructions, so she didn't understand the problem fully. "

"The stonemason carefully chiseled the new stone for the building's facade. "

"a successful use of medicine;  a successful experiment;  a successful enterprise"

"Drag the trowel through the plaster to texture the wall."

"Her resignation from the company was announced yesterday. "