english vocab
Terms
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- infer
- to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply.
- ennui
- weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom.
- querulous
- peevish, complaining, fretful.
- surreptitious
- stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud.
- remonstrate
- to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to.
- axiomatic
- self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule.
- immutable
- not subject to change, constant.
- amorphous
- shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion.
- meritorious
- worthy, deserving recognition and praise.
- ameliorate
- to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming.
- drivel
- saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense.
- flout
- to mock, treat with contempt.
- contrive
- to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan.
- transient
- lasting only a short time, fleeting.
- acculturation
- the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend.
- permeate
- to spread through, penetrate, soak through.
- sangfroind
- composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances.
- sinecure
- a position requiring little or no work; an easy job.
- affable
- courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to.
- commiserate
- to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress.
- vicarious
- performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another.
- intrinsic
- belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part.
- occult
- mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hiddenfrom view; not detectable by ordinary means.
- scathing
- bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm.
- anomalous
- abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual.
- resilient
- able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly.
- insular
- relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience.
- bombastic
- pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas.
- precept
- a rule of conduct or action.
- prerogative
- a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence.
- contraband
- illegal traffic, smuggled goods.
- proclivity
- a natural or habitual inclination or tendency [ especially of human character or behavior. ]
- peculate
- to steal something that has been given into one's trust; to take improperly for one's own use.
- heinous
- very wicked, offensive, hateful.
- hackneyed
- used so often as to lack fresness or originality.
- cajole
- to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises.
- petulant
- peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset.
- interloper
- one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder.
- precipitate
- to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to.
- callow
- without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers.
- circuitous
- roundabout, not direct.
- amnesty
- a general pardon for an offense against a government in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution.
- transgress
- to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law.
- epitome
- a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality.
- hiatus
- a gap, opening, break [ in the sense of having an element missing. ]
- demagogue
- a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power.
- reverberate
- to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly.
- erudite
- scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic.
- seditious
- resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government.
- salutary
- beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome.
- unwieldy
- not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity.
- enjoin
- to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit.
- disabuse
- to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking.
- blazon
- to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely.
- surmise
- to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess.
- insurgent
- one who rebels or rises against authority.
- vapid
- dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force.
- ferment
- a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence.
- expostulate
- to attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning.
- provincial
- pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple, plain design that originated in the countryside.
- transcend
- to rise above or beyond, exceed.
- stringent
- strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste.
- fractious
- tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable.
- soporific
- tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy.
- abominate
- to have an intense dislike or hatred for.
- elicit
- to draw forth, bring out from some source [ such as another person. ]
- millennium
- a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy.
- autonomy
- self-government, political control.
- repudiate
- to disown, reject, or deny the validity of.
- castigate
- to punish severely; to criticize severely.
- aspersion
- a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming.
- meglaomania
- a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality.
- bizarre
- extremely strange, unusual, atypical.
- intercede
- to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement.
- filch
- to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts.
- unctuous
- excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable.
- irrevocable
- incapable of being changed or called back.
- coalition
- a combination, union, or merger, for some specific purpose.
- infringe
- to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds.
- ingratiate
- to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others [ sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense. ]
- aggrandize
- to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensity; to make appear greater.
- approbabtion
- the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval.
- tenuous
- thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported.
- fetter
- a chain or shackle placed on the feet [ often used in plural ] anthing that confines or restrains.
- gossamer
- thin, light, delicate, insubstantial.
- expedite
- to make easy, cause to progress faster.
- wheedle
- to use coaxing or flatter to gain some desired end.
- ascribe
- to assign or refer to [ as a cause or source ], attribute.
- aura
- that which surrounds [ as an atmoshpere ]; a distinctive air or personal quailty.
- sleazy
- thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable.
- aplomb
- poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity.
- simulate
- to make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of.
- sepulchral
- funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal.
- extricate
- to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort.
- straitlaced
- extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical.
- scourge
- to whip, punish severly.
- vitriolic
- bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting [ like a strong acid. ]
- caveat
- a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior.
- ex officio
- by virtue of holding a certain office.
- lassitude
- weariness of body or mind, lack of enery.
- inscrutable
- incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically.
- umbrage
- shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion.
- equitable
- fair, just, embodying principles of justice.
- sedulous
- persistent, showing industry and determination.
- assuage
- to make easier or milder, releive; to quiet, calm; to put an end to appease, satisfy, quench.
- scurrilous
- coarsely abusive, vulgar or low [ especially in language ], foul-mouthed.
- decadence
- decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self-indulgence.
- noncommittal
- not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no.
- lurid
- causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint.
- innuendo
- a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference [ often in a derogatory sense. ]
- brusque
- abrupt, blunt, with no formalities.
- inadvertent
- resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental.
- expiate
- to make amends, make up for; to avert.
- jaded
- wearied, worn-out, dulled [ in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgense. ]
- nominal
- existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously.
- propensity
- a natural inclination or predilection toward.
- exhort
- to urge strongly, advise earnestly.
- inveigh
- to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval
- adventitious
- resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; [ medicine ] acquired, not congenital.
- transmute
- to change from one nature, substance, or form to another.