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eng vocab 8
Term | Definition |
---|---|
aberration | “to stray.” (n.) Deviation from customary course |
ad hoc | “for this.” (adj.) Impromptu for 1 specific purpose; (adv.) For 1 specific case |
bane | “thing causing death, poison.” (n.) Fatal injury or ruin |
bathos | “depth” (current sense from Alexander Pope). (n.) A ludicrous descent from the elevated to the low, in writing or speech; anticlimax |
cantankerous | “auction” & “stinking.” (adj.) Quarrelsome |
casuistry | “case.” (n.) False or excessively subtle reasoning intended to mislead |
de facto | ”of fact.” (adj.) Existing in fact; (adv.) in reality, actually |
depredation | “robbery.” (n.) Plundering |
empathy | “feeling.” (n.) Identification w another's situation |
harbinger | “provide lodging for.” (n.) forerunner; (v.) To signal the approach of |
hedonism | “pleasure.” (n.) Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure |
lackluster | Shakespeare (adj.) Dull |
malcontent | “badly pleased.” (n.) One not content w current circumstances; (adj.) Not content w current circumstances |
mellifluous | “honey” & “to flow.” (adj.) Flowing sweetly |
nepotism | “nephew.” (n.) Favoritism shown to associates |
pander | Chaucer character in Troilus & Criseyde (n.) Person who caters low to others; (v.) To cater lower to others |
peccadillo | “to sin.” (n.) a slight offense |
piece de resistance | “piece of resistance.” (n.) Outstanding accomplishment |
remand | “to send back.” (v.) To send back |
syndrome | “together” & “run.” (n.) Group of signs characterizing an abnormality |