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150 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 vendetta | a prolonged feud, often between two families, characterized by retaliatory acts of revenge; any act motivated by vengeance |
| categorical | without exceptions; made without any doubt in mind; unqualified; absolute |
| salient | (adj.) leaping, jumping, or springing forth; prominent, standing out conspicuous; (n.) a projection or buldge, a land form that projects upward or outward. |
| insrutable | adj. Unfathomable, indecipherable, incomprehensible, baffling |
| allude | refer indirectly; N. allusion: indirect reference |
| platitude | n. quality of being dull; an obvious remark uttered as if it were original.,flat comment |
| lucid | easy to understand, clear; rational, sane |
| construe | to analyze, explain, interpret, or understand |
| fastidious | meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards,fussy and demanding |
| adroit | Skillful; dexterous; clever; shrewd; socially at ease |
| stigma | a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one's reputation. |
| indigent | Extremely poor; impoverished; lacking basic necessities |
| cataclysm | (n.) a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval; a surging flood, deluge, disaster,catastrophy, calamity |
| clairvoyant | (adj.) supernaturally perceptive; (n.) one who possesses extrasensory powers, seer,fortune teller . |
| narcissism | (n.) excessive self-love; absorption in oneself |
| perquisite | a payment or profit received in addition to a regular wage or salary, especially a benefit expected as one's due; a tip; something claimed as an exclusive right |
| incriminate | accuse of or implicate in a crime; serve as evidence against; cause to seem or make guilty of a crime; Ex. incriminating evidence |
| brevity | briefness; conciseness |
| discernable | observable, distinguishable, to recognize or identify as separate and distinct |
| rescind | to invalidate; to repeal; to retract,, to make void; repeal or annul |
| censure | blame; criticize; express strong disapproval; N: severe criticism; strong disapproval |
| quandary | a dilemma; a confusing or puzzling situation |
| foible | a weak point, failing, minor flaw |
| assimilate | to absorb fully or make one's own; to adopt as one's own; to adapt fully |
| ostentatious | showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention |
| cavil | (v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism,quival |
| protract | to draw out; to lengthen; to prolong; to extend |
| fervent | (adj.) very earnest, emotional, passionate; extremely hot |
| quiescent | quiet, still, or at rest; inactive |
| circumspect | cautious; aware of potential consequences |
| ingratiating | flattering, attempting to win approval or curry favor |
| laconic | using words sparingly; terse; concise |
| erudite | (adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic |
| mercenary | (adj.) acting or working for self-gain only; (n.) a hired soldier, a soldier of fortune |
| expunge | to remove; to delete; to erase |
| ameliorate | (v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming |
| austere | severe or stern in manner; without adornment or luxury, simple, plain; harsh or sour in flavor |
| extemporize | compose, perform, or produce something such as music or a speech without preparation; improvise |
| dearth | lack, scarcity, insufficiency |
| circumscribe | to draw a line around; to set the limits; to define; to restrict |
| solicitous | (adj.) showing concern or care; fearful or anxious about someone or something |
| heterogeneous | (adj) composed of different kinds, diverse |
| penchant | a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something |
| glib | Readily fluent, often thoughtlessly, superficially, or insincerely so |
| pittance | a very small amount; an inadequate wage |
| proletariat | marx's term for the exploited class, the mass of workers who do not own the means of production,working class |
| boon | blessing; benefit; something very helpful |
| terse | concise, brief, free of extra words |
| taciturn | (adj.) habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little |
| defray | provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay |
| clement | mild or merciful in disposition or character; lenient; compassionate |
| vacillate | To swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will |
| diurnal | occurring every day; daily; occurring during the daytime |
| pretext | An effort to conceal the real intention or state of affairs; an excuse |
| allocate | assign; set apart for a particular purpose |
| reconcile | make friendly again (after quarrel); make consistent (two ideas in opposition); correct inconsistencies; Ex. reconcile one's political principles with one's religious beliefs |
| analogous | similar to, so that an analogy can be drawn |
| cursory | running over hastily; superficially done, casual; hastily done with little attention to detail |
| paragon | exemplar, ideal, paradigm, model, good example, a model of excellence or perfection |
| lucrative | (adj.) bringing in money; profitable |
| impetuous | rash, impulsive, acting without thinking |
| avaricious | concerned with acquiring money or material goods; greedy |
| embellish | to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details |
| corroborate | to confirm, make more certain, bolster, substantiate, verify |
| repudiate | to disown, reject, or deny the validity of |
| assuage | to make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench |
| frugal | (adj.) economical, avoiding waste and luxury; scanty, poor, meager |
| incongruous | not appropriate, unsuited to the surroundings; not fitting in, lacking in harmony; incompatible |
| nettle | (n.) a prickly or stinging plant; (v.) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely |
| transient | (adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time,temporary |
| carnal | fleshly; sensual; concerning the desires of the body |
| sanction | approve; ratify; N: permission; penalty intended to enforce compliance |
| verbose | using too many words; wordy; long-winded,wordy |
| unequivocal | perfectly clear; leaving no room for doubt or misunderstanding,direct |
| malleable | capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced |
| mollify | (v.) to soften, make gentle, pacify; to calm, allay (as an emotion), assuage, appease, placate; to reduce in intensity |
| spendthrift | a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; prodigal. |
| ambiguous | unclear in meaning; confusing; capable of being interpreted in different ways |
| waive | to relinquish or give up voluntarily; to refrain from insisting upon or enforcing; dispense with,forgo, |
| haggard | appearing tired and thin, as from anxiety, disease, hunger, etc. |
| defunct | Dead or inactive; having ceased to exist |
| tenuous | Thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported |
| animosity | harsh feelings, enmity, resentment, hatred,hostility |
| abet | (v.) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy) |
| rebuff | to snub; to repel, drive away; a curt rejection, a check |
| complacent | (adj.) self-satisfied; overly content,smug |
| acme | highest point; summit; the highest level or degree attainable |
| peripheral | of a periphery; marginal; outer; of minor importance; not central; Ex. peripheral nerve/interest |
| benign | gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant |
| gullible | overly trusting; willing to believe anything,easily deceived |
| delegate | to authorize or send as one's chosen representative,entrust with responsibility |
| nebulous | cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct,unclear |
| tirade | extended scolding; denunciation; harangue, long drawn out speech |
| tacit | Not spoken; implied by actions or statements |
| poignant | deeply affecting, touching; keen or sharp in taste or smell, sharp to the mind or senses |
| clandestine | done secretively, especially to deceive; surreptitious |
| unprecedented | not done or known before; without previous example |
| recur | to return in thought or speech; to happen or appear again; to occur at intervals, to repeat; to occur again |
| allegation | an assertion or declaration, especially one made without proof |
| advocate | speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for, to support , defense by argument |
| urbane | sophisticated; refined; elegant |
| commodious | adj. spacious, roomy, as in a house |
| jargon | language used by special group; technical terminology; gibberish; nonsensical or incoherent talk |
| inviolable | secure from corruption, attack, or violation(or profanation); unassailable; |
| prudent | Cautious, careful, showing good sense |
| subjugate | (v.) to conquer by force, bring under complete control,enslave |
| proximity | nearness in space, time, or relationship |
| wry | (adj.) twisted, turned to one side; cleverly and often grimly humorous |
| flippant | (adj.) lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy |
| cantankerous | full of contensions, ill-tempered and quarrelsome; disagreeable |
| retort | to reply quickly and sharply, often as if in reply to an accusation,witty reply |
| omnipotent | An attribute of God that he is everywhere, unlimited, and all-powerful |
| renaissance | A period of intense artistic and intellectual activity, said to be a 'rebirth' of Greco-Roman culture. Usually divided into an Italian Renaissance, from roughly the mid-fourteenth to mid-fifteenth century, and a Northern Renaissance 1400-1600 (445), rebirth, reincarnation |
| pliant | easily bent; pliable; adaptable or compliant |
| obstinate | stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising |
| unscrupulous | dishonest; having no principles of right and wrong, untrustworthy, deceitful |
| warrant | to justify or deserve |
| genesis | birth; beginning; origin,creation |
| lacerate | to rip, maul, tear, mutilate, or mangle |
| manifold | numerous, varried, having many different kinds, forms, or parts |
| supposition | assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose |
| personable | adj. Pleasing in manner and appearance., attractive,handsome |
| resolute | firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion |
| peevish | cross, complaining, irritable, contrary,Ill-humored |
| arduous | strenuous, taxing; requiring significant effort |
| monotony | Lack of variety resulting in boredom.unvaried , |
| arbitrary | (adj) unreasonable; based on one's wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness |
| tawdry | gaudy, cheap, or showy |
| creed | any statement or system of belief, principles, or opinions that guides a person's actions |
| legacy | an inheritance; something handed down from an ancestor or from the past, bequest |
| adamant | firm in purpose or opinion, unyielding, obdurate, implacable, inflexible; an extremely hard substance |
| vanguard | forerunners; foremost position of an army; advance forces; foremost position in a trend or movement; opposite rearguard |
| obligatory | mandatory, binding; required; compulsory; V. oblige: constrain; make grateful; do a favor; accommodate |
| precocious | exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age, premature |
| aloof | Withdrawn, standing apart from others (usually as a matter of choice),reserved |
| concur | agree; coincide; happen at the same time |
| negligible | so small, trifling, or unimportant as to be easily disregarded |
| sporadic | happening occasionally; not regularly |
| blatant | (adj.) noisy in a coarse, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense |
| capricious | impulsive, unpredictable, changing suddenly, fickle |
| pragmatic | practical; moved by facts rather than abstract ideals |
| uncanny | weird; strange; so keen or acute as to seem bizarre |
| congenial | sympethatic,agreeable, suitable, or pleasing in nature or character |
| saturate | soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity |
| morose | gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent,grumpy |
| adept | very skilled, esp. natural talent improved by practice, , (adj.) thoroughly skilled; (n.) an expert |
| digress | turn aside; get off the main topic; deviate |
| candor | the state or quality of being frank, open, and sincere in speech or expression; candidness |
| ostensible | apparent; represented as true; possibly or seemingly true on the surface |
| paraphrase | to restate in other words; a statement that presents a given idea in new language |
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