Wordly Wise Book 10 Lesson 1-17
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255 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 adjudicate | to hear and decide judicially; to judge. |
| centennial | A one-hundredth anniverary or its celebration; of or pertaining to a period of one hundred years |
| countenance | a person's face; the expression on a person's face; support or approval; to support or approve' to tolerate |
| disgruntle | To make dissastisfied; to put in a bad mood |
| equilibrium | A state of balance |
| expedite | To speed up a process; to facilitate |
| gird | To encircle, bind, or surround. |
| gratuitous | not called for; unnecessary. Without charge; free |
| illusory | Unreal or imagined; deceiving |
| implacable | Incapable of being placated, soothed, or significantly changed; relentless. |
| luminary | A source of light, especially from the sky, such as the sun or moon; A person who is well known for her or his achievements; a celebrity |
| manifesto | A public statement explaining the intentions, motives, or views of an individual or group |
| mesmerize | To fascinate or hypnotize |
| precedent | An act or statement that may serve as an example or justification for a later one |
| spurious | Not genuine; false |
| aggregate | n. A group of things gathered in to a whole; sum total. adj. Calculated by combining units or items. |
| allocate | v. 1. To set aside for a specific purpose; to allot. 2. To distribute according to a plan. |
| augur | v. 1. To predict future events, especially from omens. 2. To give promise of. |
| bastion | n. 1. A fortified area or position; a person, place, or thing that is a source of strength. 2. Something that is considered a stronghold. |
| decorum | n. Suitable, proper behavior or speech. |
| defunct | adj. No longer existing or functioning. |
| disarray | n. A lack of order; confusion. |
| halcyon | adj. Calm, peaceful, and happy; prosperous. |
| homily | n. A lecture, usually long, on how to behave morally. |
| hyperbole | n. Extravagant exaggeration. |
| importune | v. To plead for persistently. |
| jurisdiction | n. Legal authority to govern or control. |
| ruminate | v. To think over again and again to ponder. |
| temerity | n. Reckless boldness without regard to danger or opposition. |
| winnow | v. To separate and remove what is undesirable and leave what is desirable; to blow away the chaff from grain. |
| aura | n. A distinctive atmosphere or feeling that seems to surround someone or something; a distinctive appearance or impression. |
| banal | adj. Lacking freshness; trite. |
| bemuse | v. To confuse or bewilder. |
| cognizant | adj. Fully aware; taking notice. |
| conundrum | n. 1. A riddle whose answer is a play on words. 2. A puzzle or problem that is difficult or impossible to solve. |
| evanescent | adj. Short-lived; staying temporarily. |
| factotum | n. A helper or assistant with a wide range of duties and responsibilities. |
| grandiose | adj. 1. Impressive because of large size or scope. 2. characterized by the pretense of grandeur or absurd exaggeration. |
| induce | v. 1. To influence or persuade. 2. To bring about; to cause. |
| intransigent | adj. Refusing to compromise or change one's position on an issue. |
| laudatory | adj. Full of praise. |
| panache | n. Dash or flamboyance in style or action. |
| picayune | adj. Petty or insignificant; concerned with trifling matters. |
| predilection | n. An inclination; preference. |
| promontory | n. A high point of land that juts out into water. |
| asperity | Sharpness or harshness of manner; roughness of surface; unevenness |
| bane | A person or thing that destroys or causes harm; causing destruction or ruin |
| buffoon | A person who often attempts to be funny; a clown; a fool |
| doleful | Mournful of full of sorrow; causing grief |
| extrovert | A person whose attention is focused on other and on what is going on around her or him, rather than on her or his own feelings |
| garish | Excessively bright and flashy; tastelessly glaring |
| hierarchy | A group or system in which positions of power are ranked, usually from lowest to highest |
| imbue | To fill completely with a feeling or idea; to inspire |
| instigate | To stir up or urge on; to provoke |
| penchant | A strong attraction or leaning |
| rambunctious | Behaving in a wild and unruly manner |
| repertoire | The list of pieces an actor, musician, etc., is ready to perform; the skills or accomplishments of a person or group |
| rudiment | A basic principle or skill. An undeveloped or beginning stage |
| undermine | To weaken or ruin by degrees. To attack by indirect, secret, or underhanded means. |
| unremitting | Not stopping or slowing down; constant |
| accolade | an expression of approval or respect for special merit; an award |
| adamant | not yielding; firm |
| adulate | to flatter or admire excessively; to idolize |
| altercation | a loud and determined dispute; a noisy quarrel |
| annals | an historical record of events, often arranged in a yearly sequence |
| assiduous | diligent and persistent |
| chary | exercising caution; hesitant |
| clique | a small, exclusive group; a group held together by like interests or purpose |
| decrepit | worn-out with use; broken-down |
| endow | to provide with a quality, a thing, or a gift of money |
| ephemeral | lasting a very short time |
| ingratiate | to work to gain the favor of someone |
| pantheon | a group of people held in high esteem for their great achievements |
| perverse | turned away from what is right; wicked; stubbornly opposing what is right or reasonable; obstinate |
| tutelage | instruction, protection, or guardianship |
| abominate | v. To hate or loathe intensely. 2. Disagreeable and unpleasant. |
| abridge | v. To shorten in duration or extent; to diminish. |
| animosity | n. Intense ill will. |
| auspicious | adj. Favorable, promising. |
| beleaguer | v. I. To besiege; to surround with an army. 2. To surround with troubles; to harass. |
| confidant | n. A person to whom secrets are told. |
| constituent | n. 1. One of the parts that make up a whole. 2. A voter represented by a particular official. |
| iniquitous | adj. Unjust; wicked. |
| inure | v. to adjust to and accept unpleasant or undesirable conditions. |
| inveigh | v. (used with against) To complain or protest strongly. |
| predecessor | n. A person or thing that has held a position or office before another. |
| sabotage | n. Acts that intentionally damage, hinder, or seek to discredit. v. To engage in intentionally damaging acts. |
| sadistic | adj. Taking pleasure in causing pain. |
| scathing | adj. Harshly critical. |
| transpire | v. 1. To become apparent; to come to light. 2. To happen or occur. |
| Cautionary | adj. offering or serving as a warning. |
| Constrain | v. to confine, inhibit, or hold back by force or necessity. n. a restriction or limitation. |
| Flotilla | n. a fleet of boats or small ships. |
| Gossamer | n. thin, sheer fabric resembling gauze. adj. as light and delicate as a cobweb. |
| Ignominious | adj. marked by, deserving, or causing shame or disgrace. |
| Incur | v. to bring upon onself something undesirable, such as a debt. |
| Liquidate | v. to settle the affairs of a business; to convert into cash. |
| Magnate | n. an important, often wealthy, person prominent in a large industry or business. |
| Misnomer | n. a name that does not fit. |
| Onerous | adj. burdensome; oppressive. |
| Pandemonium | n. a state of place of great confusion or uproar. |
| Quixotic | adj. romantic and idealistic, but impractical. |
| Tenacious | adj. holding fast; persistent in adhering to something valued or habitual. |
| Vestige | n. a trace of something that once was present. |
| Zephyr | n. a light, gentle breeze. |
| aberration | a departure from the norm or what is considered right, natural, or normal, a flaw or defect. the failure of a mirror or lens to reproduce and image in focus |
| antiquated | grown old; out-of-date |
| celestial | of or to relating to the sky or heavens; heavenly |
| certitude | the state of being certain of the truth or rightness of something |
| disburse | to distribute something or pay out money, espically from a public or other fund |
| galaxy | a vast cluster of stars; a group of brilliant or notable people |
| intractable | hard to manage, tame, or control; stubborn; not easily cured |
| juncture | a joining together; the point at which two things are joined; a point in time made criticl by the timing of the circumstances |
| juxtapose | to place side by side |
| maelstrom | a large and violent whirlpool or something resembling a whirlpool; a place or state of great turmoil or confusion |
| optimum | best or most favorable |
| pillory | to expose to public scorn or contempt |
| proliferate | to grow, expand or multiply at a rapid rate |
| remiss | negligent; careless; lax |
| titanic | marked by great strength, size, or influence |
| Attest | v. To declare or be evidence of something as true, genuine, or accurate. |
| Axiom | n. A statement or principle that requires no proof because its truth is obvious. |
| Churlish | adj. Lacking good manners; rude, impolite. |
| Concoct | v. To make up, prepare, or invent. |
| Derivative | n. Something that grows out of or results from an earliear form or condition OR adj. Based on what has gone before; lacking originality. |
| Differentiate | v. 1. To see the difference; to distinguish. 2. To be or make different. |
| Disparage | v. To criticize in a negative, disrespectful manner. |
| Dissipate | v. 1. To break up and spread out so thinly as to disappear; to scatter or be scattered. 2. To spend or use foolishly. |
| Esoteric | adj. Not generally known or understood; familiar to only a relatively small number of people. |
| Olfactory | adj. Relating to the sense of smell. |
| Plethora | n. Too great a number; an excess. |
| Refurbish | v. To make like new; to renovate. |
| Secrete | v. 1. To produce and give off. 2. To place so as to be hidden from view; to conceal. |
| Vagary | n. (usually plural) A departure from the normal, expected course; a whim or unpredictable action. |
| Volatile | adj. 1. Evaporating quickly. 2. Changing readily; explosive; unpredictable. |
| adjunct | something or someone joined or added to something else but not essentially a part of it |
| belie | to give a false impression of, to contradict |
| carnage | great destrcution of life; slaughter |
| dilemma | a problem that seems to have no satisfactory solution; a difficult choice |
| diverse | differing from one anotehr; having various or distinct parts |
| eradicate | to get rid of; to uproot |
| flout | to ignore in a disrespectful or scornful way |
| foment | to stir up; to rouse; to instigate |
| insurrection | an open revolt against legal authory; a rebellion |
| mandatory | ordered by an authority; required |
| mitigate | make or become less serious or severe; to ameliorate |
| pretext | an effort to conceal the real intention or state of affairs; an excuse |
| singular | denoting a single person or thing, contrasted to more than one. |
| somnolent | tending to cause sleepiness; drowsy |
| stalwart | strong, sturdy; firm, resolute |
| Aftermath | a consequence or result, often a negative one. |
| Aphorism | A short statement of truth or principle; an adage. |
| catharsis | a releasing of the emtions; often though the arts; that brings about spiritual renewal or a relieving of tension |
| cohort | a group that is moving or working together (2) one who assits another, especially in a dubious or criminal activity; an accomplice |
| culpable | deserving blame or censure |
| diabolical | devilish; wicked or evil |
| enormity | the state or quality of being monstrous or outrageous |
| gibe | To utter taunting, sarcastic words; A taunting, scornful remark. |
| innocuous | harmless; unlikely to offend |
| necessitate | to require; to make necessary |
| odyssey | a long, adventurous journey |
| partisan | 1. A strong supporter or advocate. 2. An armed' fighter opposed to an occupying army. 3. Strongly biased in favor of a particular party, cause, or position. |
| posterity | a person's decendants; future generations |
| premeditated | fully planned beforehand; deliberate |
| scurrilous | vulgar; coarsely abusive |
| Agrarian | adj. Having to do with farming or agriculture. |
| Burgeon | v. To grow and expand rapidly; to flourish. |
| Cataclysm | n. A sudden violent change; a catastrophe. |
| Culinary | adj. Having to do with cooking. |
| Denigrate | v. To attack the reputation of; to criticize in a derogatory manner. |
| Gourmet | n. A person who likes fine food and is a good judge of its quality. |
| Graniloquent | adj. Using lofty or pompous speech or expression. |
| Hybrid | n. The offspring of two animals or plants of diiferent species or varieties. |
| Manifold | adj. Having many different kinds, forms, or parts. |
| Palatable | adj. Acceptable or pleasing, especially to the sense of taste. |
| Panacea | something that i supposed to cure all ills or difficulties; a cure all. |
| Plebeian | adj. Of or pertaining to the common people; common; unrefined. |
| Scourge | n. Something that causes great pain and suffering; a social evil. |
| Stalemate | n. A halt in a struggle because both sides are equally strong and neither side will give in; a deadlock. |
| Temperate | adj. Mild, moderate; restrain. |
| Adjacent | adj. Near or next to; avoiding. |
| Beset | v. To surround or to attack repeartedly. |
| Cede | v. To give up or transfer, especially by treaty or formal agreement. |
| Circuitous | adj. Roundabout; Indirect. |
| Desultory | adj. Proceeding or carried out in an aimless or random way. |
| Galvanize | v. To excite or arouse action. |
| Implement | n. A tool or instrument. |
| Inconseqential | adj. Lacking importance or worth; unable to make an impact; trivial. |
| Magnitude | n. Greatness of size, power, or influence. |
| Materialize | v. To become real or actual. |
| Muster | n. A gathering, usually of military forces. |
| Prohibitive | adj. Serving to restrain action or discourage use of. |
| Reminisce | v. To think or talk about one's past. |
| Vanguard | n. The leading or forward position in a movement. |
| Visionary | n. A person who is given to ideas that are not currently realistic; a dreamer. |
| Castigate | v. To punish by criticizing sharply; to berate. |
| Colloquial | adj. Characterized by informal language |
| Epitaph | n. The words carved on a tombstone in memory of the deceased. |
| Exodus | n. A mass departure. |
| Inter | v. To put in a grave; to bury. |
| Lacerate | v. To tear or cut roughly. |
| Largesse | n. The act of giving generously; gifts. |
| Obituary | n. A notice of someone's death, such as in a newspaper, usually with a brief summary of that person's life. |
| Omnivorous | adj. Eating all kinds of food, including both animal and vegetable food. |
| Permeate | v. To spread throughout; to pass through. |
| Rendition | n. An interpretation or tanslation; a performance. |
| Resurgence | n. A rising again to life, use, acceptance, or prominence; a revival. |
| Stereotype | n. A generalization that is used to characterize a person without acknowledging individual. |
| Stipend | n. A regular and fixed amount of pay for work done or to help cover living or work expenses. |
| Subservient | adj. Serving or action in a subordinate manner; servile. |
| Curtail | To cut short or reduce. |
| Discriminate | To make clear distinctions/ treating one group more or less favorably. |
| Espionage | The act of spying. |
| Inalienable | Not able to be taken away. |
| Incarcerate | To put in prison. |
| Indignity | An insult to one's pride. |
| Indiscriminate | Not marked by careful distinctions/haphazard. |
| Infamous | Famous for a negative reason. |
| Intercede | To act on another's behalf/to try to settle differnces between two parties. |
| Malign | To say negative and unfair things about. |
| Perpetrate | To commit, as a crime or other antisocial act. |
| Rampant | Wild and unrestrained/widespread. |
| Rancor | Long-held feelings of hatred or bitterness. |
| Reparation | A mending or repair/ making up or payment for wrongs done. |
| Smattering | A small amount. |
| Ameliorate | To make better; to become better; to improve. |
| Baleful | Expressing hatred or evil; harmful, ominous. |
| Berate | To criticize vigorously; to scold vehemently. |
| Circumvent | To avoid through craftiness. |
| Compunction | A feeling of uneasiness or anxiety caused by guilt. |
| Condone | To overlook or accept without punishment; to pardon or excuse. |
| Diminutive | Very small; tiny. |
| Euphemism | A polite term used to avoid directly naming something considered offensive or unpleasant. |
| Expendable | Able to be used up and then descarded or replaced. |
| Heresy | The expression of shocking or unacceptable views. |
| Infirmity | Physical or mental weakness or defect. |
| Profane | To treat with scorn or irreverence. |
| Recompense | To pay or compensate. |
| Repast | Food and drink; a meal. |
| Servitude | A lack of freesom; forced labor. |
| Acrimony | n. Bitterness or sharpness of temper, manner, or speech; hostility. |
| Affinity | n. Attraction for someone or something with which one feels a closeness or kinship. |
| Ambivalent | adj. Having mixed, often opposing, feelings about something or someone, indecisive. |
| Cessation | n. A stopping, either final or temporary. |
| Emaciated | adj. Very thin or wasted away, especially from lack of nourishment, scrawny. |
| Enclave | n. A distinct region or community enclosed within a larger territory. |
| Engender | v. To bring into being, to produce. |
| Exacerbate | v. To make more severe, bitter, or violent. |
| Illicit | adj. Not allowed, improper, or unlawful. |
| Indigenous | adj. Naturally living or growing in a certain area; native. |
| Inexorable | adj. not to be persuaded, stopped, or moved by entreaty or plea; relentless. |
| Infactuated | adj. Filled with excessive, shallow, or foolish love or desire. |
| Insatiable | adj. Never satisfied; greedy. |
| Poigant | adj. Painfully moving, Affecting, or touching. |
| Proselytize | v. To convert someone to a faith, belief, or cause. |
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