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Vocabulary 06/09/10
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| ABDICATE | to give up a position, right, or power |
| ABLUTION | act of cleansing |
| ABNEGATE | to deny, renounce |
| ABJURE | to reject, abandon formally |
| ABROGATE | to abolish or invalidate by authority |
| ABSTEMIOUS | consuming moderately |
| ABSTRUSE | difficult to comprehend |
| ABUT | to touch, to be in contact with |
| ACERBIC | bitter, sharp in taste or temper |
| ACME | highest point, summit |
| ACQUIESCE | to agree or comply in silence |
| ADROIT | skillful, accomplished, highly competent |
| ADUMBRATE | to sketch, outline in a shadowy way |
| AERIE | nook or nest built high in the air |
| ALTRUISM | unselfish concern for others’ welfare |
| AMBULATORY | itinerant; walking around |
| AMORTIZE | to diminish by installment payments |
| ANCILLARY | accessory, subordinate; helping |
| ANTEDILUVIAN | prehistoric, ancient beyond measure; coming before the biblical flood |
| ANTHROPOMORPHIC | attributing human qualities to nonhumans; having human qualities |
| APLOMB | poise, confidence |
| APOSTATE | one who renounces a religious faith |
| APOTHEGM | a short, instructive saying |
| APOTHEOSIS | deification; glorified ideal |
| ARBOREAL | relating to trees; living in trees |
| ASSIDUOUS | diligent, persistent, hardworking |
| BACCHANALIAN | drunkenly festive |
| BALK | to refuse, shirk; prevent |
| BEATIFIC | saintly, angelic |
| BEHEMOTH | huge creature |
| BELIE | to misrepresent; expose as false |
| BENISON | blessing |
| BIFURCATE | divide into two parts |
| BILIOUS | easily irritated, relating to bile |
| BONHOMIE | goodnatured geniality; atmosphere of good cheer |
| BULWARK | defense wall; anything serving as defense |
| CAJOLE | to flatter, coax, persuade |
| CALAMITOUS | disastrous, catastrophic |
| CALUMNY | false and malicious accusation, misrepresentation,slander |
| CANARD | a lie |
| CAROM | to strike and rebound |
| CAVALCADE | a procession |
| CHAGRIN | shame, embarrassment, humiliation |
| CHARLATAN | quack, fake |
| CHATTEL | piece of personal property |
| CHIMERICAL | fanciful, imaginary, visionary; impossible |
| CHOLERIC | easily angered, short |
| CHURLISH | rude |
| CISTERN | tank for rainwater |
| COALESCE | to grow together; cause to unite as one |
| COFFER | strongbox, large chest for money |
| COGNOMEN | family name; any name, especially a nickname |
| COMELINESS | physical grace and beauty |
| COMMODIOUS | roomy, spacious |
| COMPUNCTIOUS | feeling guilty or having misgivings |
| CONCILIATORY | overcoming distrust or hostility |
| CONFLAGRATION | big, destructive fire |
| CONGENIAL | similar in tastes and habits |
| CONSANGUINEOUS | of the same origin; related by blood |
| CONTENTIOUS | quarrelsome, disagreeable, belligerent |
| CONTUMACIOUS | rebellious |
| CORPULENCE | obesity, fatness, bulkiness |
| CORRUGATE | to mold in a shape with parallel grooves and ridges |
| COSSET | to pamper, treat with great care |
| COTERIE | small group of persons with a similar purpose |
| COVEN | group of witches |
| CURMUDGEON | cranky person |
| DECLIVITY | downward slope |
| DELETERIOUS | harmful, destructive, detrimental |
| DELUGE | flood |
| DEMAGOGUE | leader or rabble, rouser who usually uses appeals to emotion or prejudice |
| DENIGRATE | to slur or blacken someone’s reputation |
| DESCRY | to discover or reveal |
| DIAPHANOUS | allowing light to show through; delicate |
| DICTUM | authoritative statement; popular saying |
| DIDACTIC | excessively instructive |
| DILUVIAL | relating to a flood |
| DIMINUTIVE | small |
| DISCOMFIT | to cause perplexity and embarrassment |
| DISTAFF | the female branch of a family |
| DITHER | to move or act confusedly or without clear purpose |
| DIURNAL | daily |
| DOCTRINAIRE | rigidly devoted to theories |
| DOLOR | sadness |
| DOUGHTY | courageous |
| DROLL | amusing in a wry, subtle way |
| DYSPEPTIC | suffering from indigestion; gloomy and irritable |
| EBULLIENT | exhilarated, full of enthusiasm and high spirits |
| EFFLUVIA | outpouring of gases or vapors |
| EFFULGENT | brilliantly shining |
| EGREGIOUS | conspicuously bad |
| EMEND | to correct a text |
| EMOLLIENT | having soothing qualities, esp. for skin |
| ENCOMIUM | warm praise |
| ENDEMIC | belonging to a particular area, inherent |
| ENNUI | boredom, lack of interest and energy |
| EPICURE | person with refined taste in food and wine |
| EPITOME | representative of an entire group; summary |
| ERSATZ | fake |
| ESCHEW | to abstain from, avoid |
| EVINCE | to show clearly, display, signify |
| EXORCISE | to expel evil spirits |
| EXPATIATE | to wander; to discuss or describe at length |
| EXPIATE | to atone for, make amends for |
| EXPUNGE | to erase, eliminate completely |
| EXPURGATE | to censor |
| EXTEMPORANEOUS | unrehearsed, on the spur of the moment |
| EXTOL | to praise |
| EXTRAPOLATE | to estimate |
| FACETIOUS | witty in an inappropriate way |
| FATUOUS | stupid; smugly foolish; unconsciously foolish |
| FEALTY | intense loyalty |
| FECUND | fertile, fruitful, productive |
| FETID | foul |
| FEY | doomed |
| FILCH | to steal |
| FILIAL | appropriate for a child |
| FLACCID | limp, flabby, weak |
| FOLIATE | to grow, sprout leaves |
| FORSWEAR | to repudiate, renounce, disclaim, reject |
| FRACAS | noisy dispute |
| FRACTIOUS | unruly, rebellious |
| FRENETIC | wildly frantic, frenzied, hectic |
| FULMINATE | to explode with anger |
| FULSOME | excessive, overdone, sickeningly abundant |
| FURTIVE | secret, stealthy |
| GAINSAY | to deny |
| GAMBOL | to dance or skip around playfully |
| GAUCHE | crude, socially awkward |
| GERMINATE | to begin to grow (as in a seed or idea) |
| GIBE | to make heckling, taunting remarks |
| GLIB | fluent in an insincere manner; offhand, casual |
| GNOSTIC | having to do with knowledge |
| GRANDILOQUENCE | pompous talk, fancy but meaningless language |
| GRATUITOUS | free, voluntary; unnecessary and unjustified |
| GUSTATORY | relating to sense of taste |
| HACKNEYED | worn out by over |
| HARANGUE | a pompous speech |
| HEGEMONY | leadership, domination, usually by a country |
| HERETICAL | opposed to an established religious orthodoxy |
| HERMETIC | tightly sealed |
| HOARY | very old; whitish or gray from age |
| HUSBAND | to farm; manage carefully and thriftily |
| IDIOSYNCRASY | peculiarity of temperament, eccentricity |
| IGNOMINIOUS | disgraceful and dishonorable |
| ILK | type or kind |
| ILLUSORY | unreal, deceptive |
| IMBUE | to infuse; dye; wet, moisten |
| IMPECUNIOUS | poor, having no money |
| IMPERIOUS | arrogantly selfassured, domineering, overbearing |
| IMPOLITIC | unwise |
| IMPROMPTU | spontaneous, without rehearsal |
| IMPUGN | to call into question, attack verbally |
| INCARNATE | having bodily form |
| INCENDIARY | combustible, flammable, burning easily |
| INCULCATE | to teach; impress in the mind |
| INCULPATE | to blame; charge with a crime |
| INDEFATIGABLE | never tired |
| INDIGENT | very poor |
| INDOLENT | habitually lazy, idle |
| INDUBITABLE | unquestionable |
| INERT | unable to move, tending to inactivity |
| INFALLIBLE | incapable of making a mistake |
| INGENIOUS | original, clever, inventive |
| INGRATIATE | to bring oneself purposely into another’s good graces |
| INGRESS | entrance |
| INNUENDO | indirect and subtle criticism, insinuation |
| INSIDIOUS | sly, treacherous, devious |
| INSUPERABLE | insurmountable, unconquerable |
| INTERDICT | to forbid, prohibit |
| INTERLOCUTOR | someone taking part in a dialogue |
| INTERLOPER | trespasser; meddler in others’ affairs |
| INTERNECINE | deadly to both sides |
| INTERPOLATE | to insert; change by adding new words or material |
| INTERSTICE | a space between things |
| INTIMATION | clue, suggestion |
| INTREPID | fearless |
| INTRINSIC | inherent, internal |
| INURE | to harden; accustom; become used to |
| INVETERATE | confirmed, longstanding, deeply rooted |
| INVIDIOUS | likely to provoke ill will, offensive |
| ITINERANT | wandering from place to place, unsettled |
| JIBE | to shift suddenly from one side to the other |
| JINGOISM | belligerent support of one’s country |
| JOCULAR | jovial, playful, humorous |
| JUGGERNAUT | huge force destroying everything in its path |
| JURISPRUDENCE | philosophy of law |
| KISMET | fate |
| KNELL | sound of a funeral bell; omen of death or failure |
| LACHRYMOSE | tearful |
| LAMBASTE | disapprove angrily |
| LAPIDARY | relating to precious stones |
| LARGESS | generosity; gift |
| LASSITUDE | lethargy, sluggishness |
| LEGERDEMAIN | trickery |
| LEVITY | humor, frivolity, gaiety |
| LEXICON | dictionary, list of words |
| LIBIDINOUS | lustful |
| LICENTIOUS | immoral; unrestrained by society |
| LIMPID | clear and simple in style |
| LINIMENT | medicinal liquid used externally to ease pain |
| LIONIZE | to treat as a celebrity |
| LISSOME | easily flexed, limber, agile |
| LUGUBRIOUS | sorrowful, mournful |
| MACABRE | gruesome, producing horror |
| MACHINATION | plot or scheme |
| MALAPROPISM | humorous misuse of a word |
| MALEVOLENT | ill-willed; causing evil or harm to others |
| MANIFOLD | diverse, varied; comprised of many parts |
| MARTINET | strict disciplinarian; one who rigidly follows rules |
| MAUDLIN | overly sentimental |
| MAWKISH | sickeningly sentimental |
| MEGALOMANIA | mental state with delusions of wealth and power |
| MENDACIOUS | dishonest |
| MENDICANT | beggar |
| MERCURIAL | quick, shrewd, and unpredictable |
| MERITORIOUS | deserving reward or praise |
| MINATORY | menacing, threatening |
| MNEMONIC | relating to memory; designed to assist memory |
| MOLT | to shed hair, skin, or an outer layer periodically |
| MORDACIOUS | caustic, biting |
| MOTE | small particle, speck |
| MULTIFARIOUS | diverse |
| MUNIFICENT | generous |
| NADIR | lowest point |
| NASCENT | starting to develop, coming into existence |
| NEBULOUS | vague, cloudy |
| NECROMANCY | black magic |
| NEFARIOUS | vicious, evil |
| NEOLOGISM | new word or expression |
| NEOPHYTE | novice, beginner |
| NIHILISM | belief that existence and all traditional values are meaningless |
| NOISOME | stinking, putrid |
| NOXIOUS | harmful, unwholesome |
| NUMISMATICS | coin collecting |
| OBFUSCATE | to confuse, obscure |
| OBSTREPEROUS | troublesome, boisterous, unruly |
| OMNIPOTENT | having unlimited power |
| OMNISCIENT | having infinite knowledge |
| OSCILLATE | to move back and forth |
| OUSTER | expulsion, ejection |
| PAEAN | a song of praise or thanksgiving |
| PALLIATE | to make less serious, ease |
| PANACEA | cure all |
| PANEGYRIC | elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise |
| PANOPLY | impressive array |
| PARLEY | discussion, usually between enemies |
| PAROCHIAL | of limited scope or outlook, provincial |
| PARSIMONY | stinginess |
| PASTICHE | piece of literature or music imitating other works |
| PAUCITY | scarcity, lack |
| PECCADILLO | minor sin or offense |
| PECULATION | theft of money or goods |
| PENCHANT | inclination |
| PENULTIMATE | next to last |
| PENUMBRA | partial shadow |
| PERAMBULATE | walk about |
| PERIPHRASTIC | using circumlocution |
| PERNICIOUS | very harmful |
| PERSPICACIOUS | shrewd, astute, keen witted |
| PERTINACIOUS | persistent, stubborn |
| PHALANX | massed group of soldiers, people, or things |
| PHILISTINE | narrow minded person, someone lacking appreciation for art or culture |
| PLAIT | to braid |
| PLANGENT | resounding; plaintive |
| PLAUDIT | applause |
| PNEUMATIC | relating to air; worked by compressed air |
| POLEMIC | controversy, argument; verbal attack |
| POLYGLOT | speaker of many languages |
| POSIT | to put in position; to suggest an idea |
| PRECEPT | principle; law |
| PRECURSOR | forerunner, predecessor |
| PREDILECTION | preference, liking |
| PRESCIENT | having foresight |
| PRIVATION | lack of usual necessities or comforts |
| PROBITY | honesty, high-mindedness |
| PROGENITOR | originator, forefather, ancestor in a direct line |
| PROGNOSTICATE | to predict |
| PROLIFIC | productive, fertile |
| PROLIX | tedious; wordy |
| PROMULGATE | to make known publicly |
| PROPINQUITY | nearness |
| PROPITIOUS | favorable, advantageous |
| PROSELYTIZE | to induce someone to convert to a particular belief or religion |
| PROSTRATE | lying face downward, lying flat on the ground |
| PROTAGONIST | main character in a play or story, hero |
| PROVIDENT | prudent, frugal |
| PROVINCIAL | rustic, unsophisticated, limited in scope |
| PRURIENT | lustful, exhibiting lewd desires |
| PUERILE | childish, immature, silly |
| PULCHRITUDE | beauty |
| PUNDIT | an authority or critic |
| PUSILLANIMOUS | cowardly |
| QUERULOUS | inclined to complain, irritable |
| QUOTIDIAN | occurring daily; commonplace |
| RACONTEUR | a witty, skillful storyteller |
| RAILLERY | lighthearted jesting |
| RANCOR | bitter hatred |
| RAPACIOUS | greedy; predatory |
| RAPPROCHEMENT | reestablishing a cordial relationship |
| RAZE | to tear down, demolish |
| RECALCITRANT | resisting authority or control |
| RECIDIVISM | tendency to repeat previous behavior |
| RECONDITE | relating to obscure learning; known to only a few |
| RECREANT | disloyal; cowardly |
| REDRESS | relief from wrong or injury |
| REJOINDER | response |
| RENEGE | to go back on one’s word |
| RENITENT | resisting pressure, obstinate |
| REPAST | meal |
| REPROBATE | morally unprincipled person |
| REQUITE | to return or repay |
| RESPITE | interval of relief |
| RESTIVE | impatient, uneasy, restless |
| RETINUE | group of attendants with an important person |
| REVELRY | boisterous festivity |
| RIBALD | humorous in a vulgar way |
| RIPOSTE | a retort |
| ROCOCO | very highly ornamented |
| ROTUND | round in shape; fat |
| RUMINATE | to contemplate, reflect upon |
| SACROSANCT | extremely sacred; beyond criticism |
| SAGACIOUS | shrewd, wise |
| SALACIOUS | lustful |
| SALUBRIOUS | healthful |
| SANGUINE | ruddy; cheerfully optimistic |
| SAPIENT | wise |
| SCABBARD | sheath for sword or dagger |
| SCINTILLA | very small amount |
| SCINTILLATE | to sparkle, flash |
| SCURRILOUS | vulgar, low, indecent |
| SEDITION | behavior promoting rebellion |
| SENESCENT | aging, growing old |
| SENTIENT | aware, conscious, able to perceive |
| SEPULCHRAL | typical of a place of burial |
| SERAPHIC | angelic, pure, sublime |
| SHIRK | to avoid a task due to laziness or fear |
| SIMPER | to smirk, smile foolishly |
| SINECURE | well-paying job or office that requires little or no work |
| SINUOUS | winding; intricate, complex |
| SLAKE | to quench or moderate |
| SLOVENLY | untidy, messy |
| SOJOURN | visit, stay |
| SOLECISM | grammatical mistake |
| SOLIPSISM | belief that the self is the only reality |
| SOMNAMBULIST | sleepwalker |
| SONOROUS | producing a full, rich sound |
| SOPHIST | person good at arguing deviously |
| SPORTIVE | frolicsome, playful |
| SQUALID | filthy; morally repulsive |
| STAID | self-restrained, strait-laced |
| STENTORIAN | extremely loud |
| STRIATE | striped, grooved |
| STRINGENT | imposing severe, rigorous standards |
| STYMIE | to block or thwart |
| SUBTERFUGE | trick or tactic used to avoid something |
| SULLY | to soil, stain, tarnish; taint |
| SUPERCILIOUS | arrogant, haughty, overbearing, condescending |
| SURLY | rude and bad-tempered |
| SURREPTITIOUS | characterized by secrecy |
| SYBARITE | person devoted to pleasure and luxury |
| SYCOPHANT | self-serving flatterer, yes-man |
| SYNCOPATION | temporary irregularity in musical rhythm |
| TABLEAU | vivid description, striking incident or scene |
| TALISMAN | something producing a magical effect |
| TANTAMOUNT | equivalent in value or significance; amounting to |
| TEMERITY | recklessness |
| TEMPORAL | relating to time; chronological |
| TENABLE | defensible, reasonable |
| TENET | belief, doctrine |
| TENUOUS | weak, insubstantial |
| THRENODY | a sad poem or song |
| TRAMMEL | to impede or hamper |
| TRENCHANT | acute, sharp, incisive; forceful, effective |
| TRITE | shallow, superficial |
| TRUCULENT | savage and cruel; fierce; ready to fight |
| TURGID | swollen, bloated |
| TURPITUDE | inherent vileness, foulness, depravity |
| TYRO | beginner, novice |
| UMBRAGE | offense, resentment |
| UNCTUOUS | greasy, oily; smug and falsely earnest |
| UNFETTERED | free, unrestrained |
| UNSULLIED | clean |
| UNTOWARD | not favorable; unruly |
| URBANE | courteous, refined, suave |
| USURY | lending money at exorbitant rates |
| VACUOUS | empty, void; lacking intelligence, purposeless |
| VARIEGATED | varied; marked with different colors |
| VIRILE | manly, having qualities of an adult male |
| VISCOUS | thick, syrupy, and sticky |
| VITIATE | reduce in value or effectiveness |
| VITRIOLIC | burning, caustic; sharp, bitter |
| VITUPERATE | to abuse verbally |
| VOCIFEROUS | loud, vocal, and noisy |
| VOLUBLE | speaking much and easily, talkative; glib |
| WASPISH | easily irritated |
| WIZENED | withered, shriveled, wrinkled |
| WRAITH | a ghost |
| XENOPHOBIA | fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers |
| ZENITH | highest point, summit |
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