Vocabulary Cartoons
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- 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