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English 10 Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Recalcitrant | Speaking of stubborn mules; derives from calcitrare meaning “to kick”; stubbornly resistant to authority |
Obdurate | Connotes hardened against feelings or hard hearted; the Latin root means “to harden” |
Fractious | Unruly; troublemaker; suggests an unwillingness to respect authority; “peevish”, “cranky” |
Refractory | Stubbornly resistant to authority; the noun form “refractoriness” has to do with the bending of a sound or light wave |
Intractable | Difficult to manage or govern; often apply to children or adults behaving as such |
Obstreperous | To make noise against; make no bones about their obduracy; derives from the Latin word meaning “to make a noise against“ |
Intransigent | Not to come to an agreement; stubbornly uncompromising |
Dogged | Alluding to the personality of certain dog breeds meaning stubbornly persevering, often against all odds |
Dogmatic | Stubbornly asserts an opinion that is unproven or unprovable; comes from the Greek word meaning “opinion” |
Resolute | Bold and determined |
Undaunted | Not discouraged or disheartened |
Intrepid | Fearlessly brave |
Audacity | Recklessly daring |
Restive | Resist Control |
Fortitude | Strength of mind to endure pain with courage |
Brazen | Undergo adversity with bold self-assurance |
Temerity | Foolish disregard for danger |
Iconoclastic | Seeks overthrow authority |
Cheeky | Impudently bold |
Decorum | Pleasing “appropriateness” for any one social group |
Finesse | Refinement and subtlety in a situation |
Seemly | Appropriate behavior; accepted rules of conduct |
Protocol | Code of expected social behavior |
Gaffe | Awkward social blunder |
Propriety | Observation of existing social norms |
Boor | Socially clueless with rude or nonexistent manners |
Churl | Bad disposition |
Nuance | Subtle variation |
Savoir faire | To know what to do |