Vocabulary Level F Units 1-7
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- resilient
- (adj) able to return to an original shape/form; able to recover quickly; springy, elastic
- concoct
- (v) to prepare by combining ingredients; to devise, invent, fabricate; rustle up
- inconsequential
- (adj) trifling, unimportant; trivial; negligible; petty; paltry
- demagogue
- (n) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
- ameliorate
- (v) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming; amend; better .... Cait says we have to ---------- the situation at Tom's house
- infraction
- (n) a breaking of a law or obligation; violation; transgression; breach
- peculate
- (v) to steal something that has been given into one's trust; embezzle, defraud
- vapid
- (adj) dull, uninteresting; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness or force; lifeless, colorless
- provincial
- (adj) pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrowin mind or outlook; insular; or (n) soldier from a province or colony
- prerogative
- (n) a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence; Brittney Spears has a ------------
- innuendo
- (n) a hint, indirect suggestion, or reference ( often derrogatory); intimation
- vicarious
- (adj) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another; substitute. "In search of --------- excitement, we watched action movies"
- scourge
- (v) to whip severely, beat (n) a cause of afflcition or suffering, be
- inadvertent
- (adj) resulting from or marked by lack of attention; untintentional; accidental
- sleazy
- (adj) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable; cheesy
- irrevocable
- (adj) incapable of being changed or called back; iirreversible, unalterable
- hackneyed
- (adj) used so often as to lack freshness or originality; trite, commonplace. corny
- filch
- (v) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts; pilfer
- simulate
- (v) to make a pretense of, imitate, to show the outer signs of; feign; pretend
- unwieldy
- (adj) not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity, cumbersome, bulky, clumsy
- beneficient
- (adj) performing acts of kindness or charity; doing good; magnanimous
- ferment
- (n) a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence (v) to be in or work into such a state to produce alcohol by chemical action
- stalwart
- (adj) strong and sturdy; brave; resolute; (n) one who takes an uncompromising position
- scathing
- (adj) bitterly sever, causing great harm, searing, harsh, ferocious, savage
- abominate
- (v) to have an intense dislike or hatred for; loathe, abhor, despise, detest
- prate
- (v) to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion; chatter; prattle; palaver
- intrinsic
- (adj) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent, organic
- sangfroid
- (n) composure or coolness, espeically in trying cirumstances, posie,
- precept
- (n) a rule of conduct or action, principle
- castigate
- (v) to punish or criticize severely; chastise, rebuke
- wheedle
- (v) to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end; cajole; sweet-talk
- transgress
- (v) to go beyond a limit; to sin, violate a law; overstep, exceed, trespass, err
- callow
- (adj) without experience; immature; not fully developed, lacking sophistication and poise; inexperienced
- ingratiate
- (v) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (may have derrogatory sense); cozy up
- meritorious
- (adj) worthy; deserving recognition and praise; laudable, commendable
- contrive
- (v) to invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme; think up, devise, concoct, fabricate
- proclivity
- (n) a natural inclination or tendency
- exhort
- (v) to urge strongly, advise earnestly
- soporific
- (adj) tending to cause sleep (n) something that induces sleep; anesthetic
- inscrutable
- (adj) incapable ot being understood; impossible to see through physically; impenetrable, incomprehensible
- expostulate
- (v) to attempt to dissuade someone from so,e course or decision by earnest reasoning; protest; complain
- autonomy
- (n) self-government, political control
- querulous
- (adj) peevish, complaining, fretful, touchy, cranky, irritable
- commiserate
- (v) to sympathize with, have pity for, share a feeling of distress, empathize
- brusque
- (adj) abrupt, blunt, tactless, rough
- surreptitious
- (adj) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; concealed
- aura
- (n) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or quality; ambience
- inveigh
- (v) to make a violent attack in words , express strong disapproval. Think Timothy McVeigh
- lassitude
- (n) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy, fatigue, lethargy. Lassy does not have this.
- fractious
- (adj) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable
- grandiose
- (adj) grand in an impressive or stately way; marked by pompous affectation or grandeur; majestic
- aspersion
- (n) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming
- ex officio
- (adj, adv) by virtue of holding a certain office. "The President is the -- ------- commander in chief of the armed forces"
- unctuous
- (adj) excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness; servile
- propensity
- (n) a natural inclinationtoward; proclivity
- erudite
- (adj) scholarly, learned, bookish, profoundly educated, well-read
- infringe
- (v) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds; encroach, impinge, intrude, poach
- ennui
- (n) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
- tenuous
- (adj) thin, slender, not dense, lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; flimsy; unsubstantial
- permeate
- (v) to spread through, penetrate, soak through.
- transmute
- (v) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another, convert, translate,
- precipitate
- (v) to fall as moisture; to cause suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to solidify (adj) characterized by excessive haste (n) moisture; the product of an action
- ascribe
- (v) to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute
- transcend
- (v) to rise above or beyond, exceed; surpass
- austere
- (adj) severe or stern in manner; simple; plain; harsh or sour in flavor; unadorned
- restitution
- (n) the act of restoring someone or something to the rightful owner or to a former state of or position; compensation
- amporphous
- (adj) shapeless; of no particular type character; without organization, unity, or cohesion; unstructered
- reprove
- (v) to find fault with, scold, rebuke; chastise; reproach; chide
- sedulous
- (adj) persistent, showing industry and determination; tireless
- stringent
- (adj) strict, severe; rigorusly or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste, stern, tough, urgent (a-------- has this affect on your face when used excessively!)
- repudiate
- (v) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of; renounce
- vulnerable
- (adj) open to attack; defenseless; capable of being wounded or damaged; esposed; unprotected
- immutable
- (adj) not subject to change, constant, unalterable, fixed, invaried
- desecrate
- (v) to commit sacrilege upon, treat irreverently; to contaminate, pollute; defile
- aplomb
- (n) poise, assurance, great self-confidence, composure, levelheadedness
- debase
- (v) to lower in character, quality, or value; to derade; adulterate; depreciate
- expedite
- (v) to make easy, cause to progress faster; accelerate; speed up
- decadence
- (n) decline, decay,or deterioration; a condition or period pfdecline; excessive self-indulgence; corruption
- transient
- (adj) lasting only a short time, fleeting , impermanent (n) one who stays only a short time
- circuitous
- (adj) roundabout, not direct, meandering, winding
- mitigate
- (v) to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity; lessen; alleviate
- heinous
- (adj) very wicked, offensive, hateful, evil, odious, abominable, outrageous
- sinecure
- (n) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job
- jaded
- (adj) wearied, worn-out, dulled
- intercede
- (v) to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve a s a third party in a disagreement; the "saints" supposedly do this
- contraband
- (n) illegal traffic, smuggled goods (adj) prohibited, unlawful
- axiomatic
- (adj) self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle
- anomalous
- (adj) abnormal, irregular, unusual, exceptional, atypical
- assuage
- (v) to make easier or milder, relieve; to; to quiet, calm, appease, satisfy, quench, alleviate
- interloper
- (n) one who moves in where he/she is not wanted or has no right to be, intruder; trespasser. Short story from freshman year
- equitable
- (adj) fair, just, right, reasonable
- noncommital
- (adj) not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no
- petulant
- (adj) peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset; testy
- epitome
- (n) a summary, condensed account, an instance that represents a larger reality; abstract, model
- scurrilous
- (adj) coarsely abusive, vulgar, or low (esp. in language); foul-mouthed; obscene, filthy
- extricate
- (v) to free from entanglemtns or difficulties; to remove with effort; extract; disengage
- pillage
- (v) to rob of good by open force (as in war), plunder, (n) act of looting
- approbation
- (n) the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise
- bizarre
- (adj) extrememly strange, unusual, atypical, outlandish
- salutary
- (adj) beneficial, helpful, healthful, wholesome
- seditious
- (adj) resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government; rebellious
- millenium
- (n) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy, golden age, prosperity, peace
- gossamer
- (adj) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial (n) thin cloth
- caveat
- (n) a warning to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior
- blazon
- (v) to adorn or embellish; to proclaim widely; broadcast; trumpet
- occult
- (adj) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view, not detectable by ordinary means (v) to hide, conceal
- umbrage
- (n) shade cast by trees; an overshadow influence or power; resentment." She hesitated to give her opinion in fear they would take -------- at her criticism"
- disabuse
- (v) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking; undeceive, enlighten, set straight
- reverberate
- (v) to re-echo, resound; to reflect/ be reflected repeatedly; rumble, thunder, boom, echo
- punctilious
- (adj) very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety; precise; scrupulous
- surmise
- (v) to think without certain supporting evidence, to guess (n) likely idea that lacks definite proof (George Bush often did this)
- cajole
- (v) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceieve with soothing thoughts or promises; wheedle, sweet-talk
- drivel
- (n) saliva flowing from mouth/nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense (v) to utter childish twaddle
- lurid
- (adj) causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint; gory
- affable
- (adj) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to, genial, amicable, agreeable, cordial
- amnesty
- (n) general pardon for an offense against a government; any act of forgiveness
- acculturation
- (n) the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; adaptation
- cadaverous
- (adj) pale, gaunt, resembling a corspe; haggard; ghastly
- fetter
- (n) a chain placed on the feet; anything that confines (v) to shackle; to render helpless or impotent
- vitriolic
- (adj) bitter, sarcastic
- disconcert
- (v) to confuse; to disturb the composure of; perturb; upset; rattle
- hiatus
- (n) a gap, opening, break, pause... "Demi Lovato has a ------?!"
- straitlaced
- (adj) extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; highly conventional
- nominal
- (adj) existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or take seriously; inconsequential
- elicit
- (v) to draw forth, bring out from some source; call forth, evoke, extract
- megalomania
- (n) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc. far in excess of reality, delusions of grandeur
- remonstrate
- (v) to argue or plead with someone against something; protest against; object to
- sepulchral
- (adj) funeral, typical of the tomb, extremely gloomy or dismal
- crass
- (adj) coarse, unfeeling; stupid; crude; vulgar; tasteless
- infer
- (v) to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of though; to hint, suggest, imply; gather; deduce
- insular
- (adj) relating to, characteristics of; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience; provincial
- aggrandize
- (v) to increase in greatness, power, or weaoth; to build up or intensify; augment; amplify; enhance
- redoubtable
- (adj) inspiring fear or awe; illustrious, eminent; fearsome; awesome; august
- enjoin
- (v) to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit; command
- adventitious
- (adj) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental; not essential; incidental
- flout
- (v) to mock, scoff, sneer, or snicker at
- expiate
- (v) to make amends, make up for; atone
- bombastic
- (adj) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas; inflated
- coalition
- (n) a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose; alliance, league, federation
- insurgent
- (n) one who rebels against authority (adj) rising in revolt, rushing in