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Vocabulary Cartoons

Terms

undefined, object
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Wane
to decrease gradually
Fraught
teeming with; laden; full; involving; accompanied by
Chasm
a deep opening in the earth's surface; a gorge; differences of opinion, interests, loyalties
Erudite
deeply learned, scholarly
Also-ran
one who is defeated in a race, election, or other competition; loser
Elfin
small and sprightly; mischievous, fairylike
Aggrandize
to exaggerate, to cause to appear greater in power, influence
Ensemble
a coordinated outfit or costume; a musical group
Tether
a rope or chain that allows limited movement; the limit of one's resources or strength
Claimant
a person making a claim
Entice
to lure, to attract, to tempt in a pleasing fashion
Philanthropy
love of mankind, especially through charitable gifts and deeds
Misanthropy
someone who hates mankind
Mirage
unreal reflection; an optical illusion
Noisome
stinking; offensive; disgusting
Coup
the violent overthrow of a government by a small group; a victorious accomplishment
Hoard
to accumulate for future use; stockpile
Languish
to become weak or feeble; sag with loss of strength
Cloister
a tranquil, secluded place
Oust
to eject; to force out; to banish
Creditor
a person to whom money is owed
Pillage
to rob of goods by violent seizure, plunder; to take as spoils
antecedent
going before; preceding; an occurrence or event preceding another
embody
to give bodily form to; to personify; to make part of a system
verbatim
using exactly the same words, word for word
truncate
to shorten by cutting off
remorse
a strong feeling of sadness or guilt for having done something wrong
forsake
to abandon, to give up, to renounce
deft
dexterous, skillful
ubiquitous
the quality of being everywhere (or seeming to) at the same time
insouciant
calm and carefree; lighthearted
sundry
various, several, miscellaneous
callous
unfeeling, insensitive; having calluses
dearth
scarcity; lack
revere
to regard with great devotion or respect, to honor
prowess
exceptional skill and bravery
generalize
general rather than specific; to form a general conclusion
legacy
something handed down from one who has gone before or from the past; a bequest
phobia
a persistent, illogical fear
somber
depressing, gloomy, dark
edifice
a building, especially one of imposing appearance or size
paradox
a statement that seems true but at the same time seems to also have an opposite truth
penitent
sorrow and remorse for past misdeeds
muse
to ponder; meditate; think about at length
gloat
to brag greatly
pique
irritation, resentment stemming from wounded pride; also to arouse curiosity
dispel
to drive away; to dissipate
ramification
a branching out; a development growing out of and often complicating a problem or pain
allure
to entice with something desirable; tempt
commodious
spacious, roomy, capacious
orthodox
conventional, doing it by the book, sticking to established principles
fawn
exhibit affection; seek favor through slave-like flattery; to "suck up" to something
lethargy
laziness, tiredness; languor
masticate
to chew
archaic
belonging to an earlier time, ancient; outdated
gazebo
an outdoor structure with a roof and open sides
abhor
to hate very much, to detest utterly
plight
a condition of situation, especially a distressing one
callow
immature and inexperienced
euphonious
pleasing to the ear
quirk
a peculiarity of behaviour; an unaccountable act or event
mores
customary cultural standards; moral attitudes, manners, habits
comprise
to consist of; to include, to contain, to be made up of
cache
a hiding place, or the objects hidden in a hiding place
bucolic
rural or rustic in nature, country-like
affidavit
a sworn written statement
abstruse
hard to understand
oblique
at an angle; indirect or evasive
dilemma
a difficult situation where one must choose between two or more choices that seem unfavorable; any problem or predicament
vertigo
the sensation of dizziness
intervene
to come between; to mediate, to occur between times
stupefy
to make numb with amazement; to stun into helplessness
bleak
depressing, discouraging, harsh, cold, barren, raw
ajar
partially open
demur
to object, to make exception
catharsis
an emotional or psychological cleansing that brings relief or renewal
alleviate
to make less severe; to relieve, to lessen
domain
a territory over which one rules, has influence or powers
candor
truthfulness, sincere honesty
aftermath
events following some occurrence; a consequence of
affinity
a natural attraction; kinship; similarity
inveigle
to tempt or persuade by using deception or flattery
demagogue
a leader who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the people
bizarre
extremely unconventional or far-fetched
lax
careless, negligent; not tense, slack
circa
about; at an estimated historical time period
pied
multi-colored, especially of more than one color in patches
herbicide
a substance used to destroy plants, especially weeds
melancholy
depression of spirits, gloomy, weary
anterior
situated in front
embellish
to beautify by adding ornaments; to add fanciful or fictitious details to
petulant
ill humor, irritable, cranky
assuage
to soothe; to make less severe; to satisfy, ease, lessen
castigate
to criticize harshly, usually with the intention of correcting wrongdoing
wrest
pull away, take by violence
perverse
stubborn; contrary; intractable
serpentine
snakelike in shape or movement; winding as a snake
abut
border upon; to adjoin
segregate
to separate or keep apart from others
wither
shriveled, shrunken, dried-up
grandiose
grand and impressive, especially flashy and showy
surfeit
an overabundant amount, especially overindulgence in eating and drinking
unbridled
violent, unbounded, unrestrained
fortuitous
occurring by accident or chance
enrapture
to delight, to thrill or give pleasure
guile
craft, cunning, deceitfulness; arfulness
marshal
to assemble together for the purpose of doing something; also an officer in the police or military
desiccate
to dry out completely; dehydrate
photogenic
suitable, especially attractive for photography
relinquish
to give up doing, professing, or intending; to surrender, give in
tyro
a beginner; a novice
idiosyncrasy
a behavioral quirk; a person's idea about behavior different from others
adjunct
something connected or added to another in a subordinate position; an assistant
yore
former days, an era long past
abyss
bottomless pit; a yawning gulf; a profound depth or void
emulate
to attempt to equal or surpass; especially through imitation
atypical
not typical, abnormal
cajole
to wheedle, coax, or persuade someone to do something they didn't want to
bereave
to be left alone, especially through the death of another
loiter
hand around; linger
lieu
instead of; in place of
evoke
to summon forth, call to mind, awaken, produce, suggest
maim
to disable or disfugure, to cripple
deduce
to come to a conclusion by reasoning from the evidence
lexicon
a dictionary; vocabulary terms used in or of a particular profession, subject or style
menagerie
a collection of live wild animals on exhibit
permeate
to flow or spread through; penetrate
amplify
to make larger, louder, or more powerful
certify
to confirm formally; verify
partition
the division of something into parts; an interior structure dividing a larger area
joust
a combat with lances between two knights, a tilting match; any combat suggestive of a joust
infamy
having an evil reputation; extreme disgrace
nepotism
favors shown by those in high positions to relatives and friends
fleece
to defraud, swindle; also the wool of a sheep or similar animal
parry
to ward off a blow; to turn aside; to avoid skillfully, to evade
periphery
the outermost part within a boundary, the outside edge
entomology
the scientific study of insects
ostracize
to exclude from a group; to shun
capacious
roomy, able to hold much
fickle
often changing for no reason; not loyal or consistent
marauder
raider, intruder
emit
to send or give out; to express, utter; to put in circulation as money
engulf
to surround or enclose completely
umbrage
sense of injury or insult; to take offense, displeasure
abominate
extreme hatred, loathing; something despised
rivet
something that fastens two parts together; also to hold the attention of
rudimentary
basic, crude, undeveloped; fundamental principles or skills
abridge
to shorten; to condense; to dimish; to curtail
fester
to generate pus; to become a source of resentment or irritation
entomb
to place in or as if in a tomb, or a grave
exhume
to dig up from a grave; to bring to light, uncover
laudable
worthy or deserving of praise
altercation
to argue vehemently, a heated quarrel
decree
an order having the force of law
gamin
a neglected boy left to run about in the streets
debase
lower in quality, character or value
dauntless
to be fearless; unintimidated
chide
scold; reprove
spurn
to reject with disdain
feign
to give a false appearance; to pretend
damper
one that depresses or restrains
scapegoat
one who is made an object of blame for others
husbandry
management of resources, expecially in agriculture
spur
to move to action; an incentive
truculent
inclined toward conflict; eager to fight
debacle
a sudden calamitous downfall; collapse or failure
optimum
the most advantageous; the best condition, degree, or amount
couture
fashion and fashion designers
supplant
to take the place of
quandary
state of perplexity; difficult or uncertain situation
sonorous
producing sound, especially deep and rich, resonant
egalitarian
advocating the doctrine of equal rights for all citizens
duress
hardship, restraint, confinement
volition
an act of choosing, using one's own will in a conscious choice
entreat
to ask earnestly; to implore, plead, beg
potentate
a powerful ruler; an important person
disparage
to belittle, say uncomplimentary things; to put down
beset
to harass; to surround
appalling
to fill with dismay; causing horror or consternation
dormant
asleep or inactive
chattel
an item of personal, movable property; slave
austere
stern, as in manner; without excess, unadorned, severely simple and plain
lament
to express sorrow or regret; to mourn
aloof
distant, reserved in manner; uninvolved
cerebral
of or relating to the brain; an intellectual person
incongruous
not appropriate, unsuited to the surroundings; not fitting in
bulwark
a defensive wall; something serving as a principal defense
connoisseur
an expert, particularly in matters of art and taste
cacophony
harsh sounds
expunge
to remove; to delete; to erase
trenchant
cutting, incisive, having a sharp point; caustic, sarcastic
procrastinate
to put off until a later time
roster
a list of names; especially of personnel available for duty
impede
to obstruct or interfere with; to delay
forbear
to refrain from; to abstain; to be patient or tolerant
migratory
roving, wandering, nomadic
evade
to elude or avoid by cunning; to flee from a pursuer
efface
to rub away
asunder
in separate parts; apart from each other in position
incite
to arouse to action
quixotic
idealistic and totally impractical
beleaguer
to besiege; beset, surround, harass
milieu
environment or surroundings
histrionic
overly dramatic, theatrical
bludgeon
a short heavy, thick club that has one end larger than the other
arduous
hard, difficult, tiresome
reminisce
the act or practice of recalling the past
opportune
occurring or coming at a good time
dulcet
melodious, soft, soothing
porcine
reminiscent of or pertaining to a pig; resembling a pig
lassitude
listlessness; torpor, weariness
coterie
a circle of close associates or friends
ballistics
the study of the dynamics or flight characteristics of projectiles
ambiance
mood, feeling; general atmosphere
girth
the distance around something; to encircle; to secure with a band that encircles the body of an animal
askew
to one side; crooked; awry; a sidelong look of contempt
cubism
a style of art in which the subject matter is portrayed by geometric forms, especially cubes
cranny
a small opening as in a wall or rock face
enrage
to put in a rage; infuriate, anger
propulsive
the act or process of propelling; a propelling force
laconic
brief, using few words
harrowing
extremely distressed; disturbing or frightening
aptitude
capacity for learning; natural ability
endure
to carry on through despite hardships; to put up with
chronic
continuing for a long time; continuous
giddy
a light-headed sensation; dizzy, frivolous
irascible
easily angered, irritable
cower
cringe from fear; to shrink away
gossamer
delicate floating cobwebs; a sheer gauzy fabric; something delicate, light, flimsy
queue
to form or to wait in line
myriad
an extremely large number
accolade
an award, an honor; approval, praise
grandiloquent
attempting to impress with big words or grand gestures
caucus
a meeting of the members of a political party to make decisions; to assemble in or hold a caucus
dromedary
a one-humped domesticated camel
demonic
one who works devilishly (a demon for work), a persistent person, force or drive; an evil person
noxious
physically or mentally destructive, or harmful to human beings
proficient
skillful; to be very good at something
harangue
to lecture, berate; a long bombastic speech
atrophy
to wither away
catapult
slingshot
glutton
one who eats or consumes a great deal; having capacity to receive or withstand something
muster
to collect or gather; the act of inspection or critical examination
beget
to give birth to; to create
curtail
to truncate or abridge; to lessen, usually by cutting away from
paranoia
a mental illness of unreasonable anxiety, especially believing someone is out to get you, or that you are an important person
facilitate
to make easier, to help bring about
craven
cowardly
mode
a way or method of doing something; type, manner, fashion

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