| Definition |
 |
|
| Vocabulary Word |
|
|
| the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval |
approbation |
| to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm |
assuage |
| a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose |
coalition |
| decline, decay, or deterioration |
decadence |
| to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person) |
elicit |
| to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reason |
expostulate |
| used so often a to lack freshness or originality |
hackneyed |
| a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing) |
hiatus |
| a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense) |
innuendo |
| to plead on behalf of someone else |
intercede |
| to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement |
intercede |
| wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence) |
jaded |
| causing shock, horror, or revulsion |
lurid |
| worthy, deserving recognition and praise |
meritorious |
| peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset |
petulant |
| a special right or privilege |
prerogative |
| pertaining to an outlying area |
provincial |
| local |
provincial |
| to make a pretense of, imitate |
simulate |
| to rise above or beyond, exceed |
transcend |
| shade cast by trees |
umbrage |
| excessively smooth or smug |
unctuous |
| to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming |
ameliorate |
| poise, assurance, great self-confidence |
aplomb |
| pompous or overblown in language |
bombastic |
| immature, not fully developed |
callow |
| saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose |
drivel |
| a summary, condensed account |
epitome |
| by virtue of holding a certain office |
ex officio |
| to urge strongly, advise earnestly |
exhort |
| to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds |
infringe |
| to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or recognition by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense) |
ingratiate |
| one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder, meddler |
interloper |
| belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent |
intrinsic |
| to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval |
inveigh |
| weariness of body or mind, lack of energy |
lassitude |
| period of 1,000 years |
millennium |
| mysterious, magical, supernatural |
occult |
| to spread through, soak through, penetrate |
permeate |
| to fall as moisture |
precipitate |
| strict, severe |
stringent |
| to think or believe without certain supporting evidence |
surmise |
| to have an intense dislike or hatred for |
abominate |
| the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend |
acculturation |
| resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character |
adventitious |
| to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute |
ascribe |
| roundabout, not direct |
circuitous |
| to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress |
commiserate |
| to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way |
enjoin |
| to make easy, cause to progress faster |
expedite |
| to make amends, make up for |
expiate |
| a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence |
ferment |
| unintentional, accidental |
inadvertent |
| existing in name only, not real |
nominal |
| not decisive or definite |
noncommittal |
| to steal something that has been given into one's trust |
peculate |
| a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior) |
proclivity |
| composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances |
sangfroid |
| resistant to lawful authority |
seditious |
| of slight importance or significance |
tenuous |
| bitter, sarcastic |
vitriolic |
| to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end |
wheedle |
| courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to |
affable |
| to increase in greatness, power or wealth |
aggrandize |
| shapeless, without definite form |
amorphous |
| that which surrounds (as an atmosphere) |
aura |
| illegal traffic, smuggled goods |
contraband |
| scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic |
erudite |
| thin, light, delicate, insubstantial |
gossamer |
| to find out by reasoning |
infer |
| to hint, suggest, imply |
infer |
| incapable of being understood |
inscrutable |
| related to, characteristic of, or situated on an island |
insular |
| incapable of being changed or called back |
irrevocable |
| a natural inclination or predilection toward |
propensity |
| peevish, complaining, fretful |
querulous |
| to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to |
remonstrate |
| to disown, reject, or deny the validity of |
repudiate |
| able to return to an original shape or form |
resilient |
| to re-echo, resound |
reverberate |
| coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed |
scurrilous |
| persistent, showing industry and determination |
sedulous |
| thin or flimsy in texture |
sleazy |
| a general pardon for an offense against a government |
amnesty |
| self-government, political control |
autonomy |
| self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule |
axiomatic |
| to adorn or embellish |
blazon |
| a warning or caution |
caveat |
| fair, just, embodying principles of justice |
equitable |
| to free from entanglement or difficulties |
extricate |
| to steal, especially in a sneaky, way in petty amounts |
filch |
| to mock, treat with contempt |
flout |
| tending to be troublesome |
fractious |
| a rule of conduct or action |
precept |
| beneficial, helpful |
salutary |
| healthful, wholesome |
salutary |
| bitterly severe, withering |
scathing |
| to whip, punish severely |
scourge |
| funereal, typical of the tomb |
sepulchral |
| tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy |
soporific |
| extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct |
straitlaced |
| lasting only a short time, fleeting |
transient |
| not easily carried handled or managed because of size or complexity |
unwieldy |
| dull, uninteresting, tiresome |
vapid |
| abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual |
anomalous |
| a damaging or derogatory statement |
aspersion |
| extremely strange, unusual, atypical |
bizarre |
| abrupt, blunt, with no formalities |
brusque |
| to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice |
cajole |
| to punish severely |
castigate |
| to plan with ingenuity, invent |
contrive |
| a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power |
demagogue |
| to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking |
disabuse |
| weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom |
ennui |
| a chain or shackle placed on the feet |
fetter |
| very wicked, offensive, hateful |
heinous |
| not subject to change, constant |
immutable |
| one who rebels or rises against authority |
insurgent |
| A delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality |
megalomania |
| a position requiring little or no work; an easy job |
sinecure |
| stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud |
surreptitious |
| to sin, violate a law |
transgress |
| to change from one natures, substance, or form to another |
transmute |
| performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another |
vicarious |
| severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor |
austere |
| performing acts of kindness or charity |
beneficent |
| pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse |
cadaverous |
| to devise, invent, fabricate |
concoct |
| stupid |
crass |
| to lower in character, quality, or value |
debase |
| to contaminate, pollute |
desecrate |
| to confuse |
disconcert |
| marked by pompous affectation or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated |
grandiose |
| trifling, unimportant |
inconsequential |
| a breaking of a law or obligation |
infraction |
| to make milder or softer, to moderate force or intensity |
mitigate |
| to rob of goods by open force (as in war), plunder |
pillage |
| to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion |
prate |
| very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety |
punctilious |
| inspiring fear or awe |
redoubtable |
| to find fault with |
reprove |
| the act of restoring someone or something to the rightful owner or to a former state or position |
restitution |
| strong and sturdy |
stalwart |
| open to attack |
vulnerable |
| stinging, bitter in temper or tone |
acrimonious |
| resembling a cow or ox |
bovine |
| dismay, confusion |
consternation |
| fat |
corpulent |
| to deny responsibility for or connection with |
disavow |
| calm, free from emotion |
dispassionate |
| disagreement, sharp difference of opinion |
dissension |
| to cause to disappear |
dissipate |
| to cleanse, purify |
expurgate |
| a challenge |
gauntlet |
| based on an assumption or guess, used as a provisional or tentative idea to guide or direct investigation |
hypothetical |
| mean, low, base |
ignoble |
| to call into question |
impugn |
| immoderate, lacking in self-control; inclement |
intemperate |
| hatred, contempt |
odium |
| faithlessness, treachery |
perfidy |
| to banish |
relegate |
| inclined to nausea |
squeamish |
| subordinate in capacity or role |
subservient |
| open to |
susceptible |
Science Vocab 147928
