English 2 Semester 1 Vocab
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- Sagacious
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Having or showing sound judgment, and farsightedness. Shrewd
acutely insightful and wise - Astute
- marked by practical hardheaded intelligence; "a smart businessman"; "an astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease";
- Obtuse
- 1. not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull.
- Animated
- . full of life, action, or spirit; lively; vigorous: an animated debate on the death penalty.
- Perfidious
- deliberately faithless; treacherous; deceitful: a perfidious lover
- Feisty
- full of animation, energy, or courage; spirited; spunky; plucky: The champion is faced with a feisty challenger.
- Buffalo(v)
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1. to puzzle or baffle; confuse; mystify: He was buffaloed by the problem.
2. to impress or intimidate by a display of power, importance, etc.: The older boys buffaloed him. - Badger(v)
- to harass or urge persistently; pester; nag: I had to badger him into coming with us.
- Ferret (v)
- 1. to drive out by using or as if using a ferret (often fol. by out): to ferret rabbits from their burrows; to ferret out enemies.
- Hawk (v)
- to search out, discover, or bring to light (often fol. by out): to ferret out the facts.
- Loquacious
- . talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest
- Taciturn(ex)
- inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation.
- Introverted(in)
-
Shyness
2. Psychol.a person characterized by concern primarily with his or her own thoughts and feelings (opposed to extrovert). - Articulate(in)
- using language easily and fluently; having facility with words: an articulate speaker.
- Scrutable
- capable of being understood by careful study or investigation.
- Culpable
- deserving blame or censure; blameworthy.
- Vivacious
- lively; animated; gay: a vivacious folk dance
- Laconic
- using few words; expressing much in few words; concise: a laconic reply
- Elucidate (v)
- to make lucid or clear; throw light upon; explain:
- Abscond (v)
- to depart in a sudden and secret manner, esp. to avoid capture and legal prosecution:
- Lethargic
- of, pertaining to, or affected with lethargy; drowsy; sluggish.
- Truculent
- fierce; cruel; savagely brutal.
- Imperturbable
- incapable of being upset or agitated; not easily excited; calm
- Ardent
- having, expressive of, or characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent: an ardent vow; ardent love.
- Zealous
- full of, characterized by, or due to zeal; ardently active, devoted, or diligent
- Disconsolate
- without consolation or solace; hopelessly unhappy; inconsolable
- Profligate
- utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute
- Jaunty
- Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk
- Inveigle
- . to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements
- Vindicate
- to clear, as from an accusation, imputation, suspicion, or the like:
- Audacious
- extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless: an audacious explorer.
- (in) Tractable
- (not) easily managed or controlled; docile; yielding: a tractable child; a tractable disposition.
- Gauche
- lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; crude; tactless:
- Urbane
- having the polish and suavity regarded as characteristic of sophisticated social life in major cities: an
- Tenacious
- holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold (often fol. by of): a tenacious grip on my arm; tenacious of old habits
- Affable
- pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly polite: an affable and courteous gentleman.
- Congenial
- agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character:
- Winsome
- sweetly or innocently charming; winning; engaging:
- Augment (v)
- to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase
- Sequester (v)
- to remove or withdraw into solitude or retirement; seclude
- Volatile
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1. evaporating rapidly; passing off readily in the form of vapor: Acetone is a volatile solvent.
2. tending or threatening to break out into open violence; - Capricious
- subject to, led by, or indicative of caprice or whim; erratic
- Fastidious
- excessively particular, critical, or demanding; hard to please
- Intrepid
- resolutely fearless; dauntless: an intrepid explorer.
- Complacent
- 1. pleased, esp. with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect;
- Nefarious
- extremely wicked or villainous
- Notorious
- widely and unfavorably known:
- Brazen
- shameless or impudent:
- Conjure (v)
- to affect or influence by or as if by invocation or spell.
- Mollify (v)
- to soften in feeling or temper, as a person; pacify; appease.
- Altruistic
- unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others
- Magnanimous
- generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness:
- Parsimonious
- characterized by or showing parsimony; frugal or stingy.
- Officious
- objectionably aggressive in offering one's unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice; meddlesome:
- Ingratiating
- charming; agreeable; pleasing.
- Vehement
- zealous; ardent; impassioned:
- Peremptory
- leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal; imperative:
- Wary
- watchful; being on one's guard against danger
- Exacerbate (v)
- to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate.
- Placate (v)
- to appease or pacify, esp. by concessions or conciliatory gestures
- Abstemious
- sparing or moderate in eating and drinking; temperate in diet
- Pious
- having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or an earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations
- Haggard
- having a gaunt, wasted, or exhausted appearance, as from prolonged suffering, exertion, or anxiety; worn:
- Lascivious
- inclined to lustfulness; wanton; lewd: a lascivious, girl-chasing old man.
- Chaste
- refraining from sexual intercourse that is regarded as contrary to morality or religion; virtuous
- Circumspect
- watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent: circumspect behavior
- Reticent
- disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved
- Brusque
- abrupt in manner; blunt; rough:
- Instigate (v)
- to cause by incitement; to instigate a quarrel
- Misconstrue (v)
- to misunderstand the meaning of; take in a wrong sense
- Sardonic
- characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking;
- Innocuous
- not harmful or injurious; harmless:
- Vindictive
- disposed or inclined to revenge; vengeful:
- Enigmatic
- resembling an enigma; perplexing; mysterious.
- Disheveled
- hanging loosely or in disorder; unkempt
- Bemused
- bewildered or confused
- Surly
- churlishly rude or bad-tempered:
- Cajole
- To urge with gentle and repeated appeals, teasing, or flattery; wheedle
- Reproach (v)
- To express disapproval of, criticism of, or disappointment in (someone).
- Feign (v)
- To give a false appearance of:
- Candid
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Free from prejudice; impartial.
Characterized by openness and sincerity of expression; unreservedly straightforward: - Furtive
-
Characterized by stealth; surreptitious.
Expressive of hidden motives or purposes; shifty - Formidable
-
1. Arousing fear, dread, alarm: the formidable prospect of major surgery.
2. Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder: - Diffident
- Lacking or marked by a lack of self-confidence; shy and timid.
- Irascible
- Prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered
- Callous
- Emotionally hardened; unfeeling:
- Placid
- Undisturbed by tumult or disorder; calm or quiet
- Ruminate (v)
- To turn a matter over and over in the mind
- Foment (v
- To promote the growth of; incite
- Analyze
- To examine methodically by separating into parts and studying their interrelations
- Synthesize
- to form (a material or abstract entity) by combining parts or elements (
- Gratuitous
- given, done, bestowed, or obtained without charge or payment; free; voluntary.
- Ostracize
- to exclude, by general consent, from society, friendship, conversation, privileges, etc.:
- Sarcastic
- of, pertaining to, or characterized by sarcasm:
- Nepotism
- patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics:
- Bellicose
- inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent; pugnacious
- Gadfly
- a person who persistently annoys or provokes others with criticism, schemes, ideas, demands, requests,
- Beyond the pale
- outside the bounds of acceptable behaviour,
- Kosher
-
. Judaism.
a. fit or allowed to be eaten or used, according to the dietary or ceremonial laws: kosher meat; kosher dishes; a kosher tallith.
b. adhering to the laws governing such fitness: a kosher restaurant.
2. Informal.
a. proper; legitimate.
b. genuine; authentic. - Ennui
- a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom
- Esprit de corp
- a sense of unity and of common interests and responsibilities, as developed among a group of persons closely associated in a task, cause, enterprise, etc
- Coup d’etat
- a sudden and decisive action in politics, esp. one resulting in a change of government illegally or by force
- Coup de grace
-
1. a death blow, esp. one delivered mercifully to end suffering.
2. any finishing or decisive stroke. - Chagrin
- a feeling of vexation, marked by disappointment or humiliation
- Faux pas
-
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faux pas
Pronunciation: (fŠpä'), [key]
—pl. faux pasPronunciation: (fŠpäz'; Fr. fŠpä'). [key]
a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion. - Blase
- indifferent to or bored with life; unimpressed, as or as if from an excess of worldly pleasures.
- Risqué
- daringly close to indelicacy or impropriety; off-color
- Chutzpah
- unmitigated effrontery or impudence; gall
- Kvetch
- to complain, esp. chronically
- Melancholy
- a gloomy state of mind, esp. when habitual or prolonged; depression.
- Phlegmatic
- 1. not easily excited to action or display of emotion; apathetic; sluggish
- Sanguine
- cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident:
- Choleric
- . extremely irritable or easily angered; irascible:
- Bilious
- . peevish; irritable; cranky
- Subjugate
- to bring under complete control or subjection; conquer; master.
- Subterranean
- existing or operating out of sight or secretly; hidden or secret.
- Subterfuge
- an artifice or expedient used to evade a rule, escape a consequence, hide something, etc.
- Imply
- . to indicate or suggest without being explicitly stated: His words implied a lack of faith
- Subjective
-
1. existing in the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought (opposed to objective).
2. pertaining to or characteristic of an individual; personal; individual: a subjective evaluation. - Spendthrift
- a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; prodigal
- Prodigal
- wastefully or recklessly extravagant:
- Gratifying
- tending to gratify; giving or causing satisfaction; pleasing.
- Frivolity
-
the quality or state of being frivolous: (frivolous - 1. characterized by lack of seriousness or sense: frivolous conduct.
2. self-indulgently carefree; unconcerned about or lacking any serious purpose.) - Invalid (n)
- an infirm or sickly person
- Relish (v)
- to take pleasure in; like; enjoy:
- Steadfast
-
fixed in direction; steadily directed: a steadfast gaze.
2. firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., - Retribution
-
Something justly deserved; recompense.
Something given or demanded in repayment, especially punishment - Successor
- a person or thing that succeeds or follows
- Fleeting
- passing swiftly; vanishing quickly; transient; transitory: fleeting beauty
- Anarchy
- 1. a state of society without government or law
- Subordinate
-
1. placed in or belonging to a lower order or rank.
2. of less importance; secondary - Dirge
- a funeral song or tune, or one expressing mourning in commemoration of the dead
- Blasphemy
- . impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things
- Transgress
- 1. to pass over or go beyond (a limit, boundary, etc.):
- Augury
-
1. the art or practice of an augur; divination.
2. the rite or ceremony of an augur.
3. an omen, token, or indication - Profane
- characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things; irreligious
- Revel
- 1. to take great pleasure or delight (usually fol. by in): to revel in luxury
- Trammel
-
1. Usually, trammels. a hindrance or impediment to free action; restraint: the trammels of custom.
2. an instrument for drawing ellipses.
3. Also called tram. a device used to align or adjust parts of a machine.
4. See trammel net.
5. a fowling net.
6. a contrivance hung in a fireplace to support pots or kettles over the fire.
7. a fetter or shackle, esp. one used in training a horse to amble - Calamity
- a great misfortune or disaster, as a flood or serious injury
- Doddering
- shaky or trembling, as from old age; tottering:
- Base (adj)
- 1. morally low; without estimable personal qualities; dishonorable; meanspirited; selfish; cowardly
- Barrow
- a castrated male swine.
- Carrion
- dead and putrefying flesh.
- Infer
- to derive by reasoning; conclude or judge from premises or evidence:
- Insight
- . an instance of apprehending the true nature of a thing, esp. through intuitive understanding: