| Term | Definition |
|---|
| ameliorate | (v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming |
| aplomb | (n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity |
| bombastic | (adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas |
| callow | (adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers |
| drivel | (n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; (v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly |
| epitome | (n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality |
| exhort | (v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly |
| ex officio | (adj., adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office |
| infringe | (v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds |
| ingratiate | (v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense) |
| interloper | (n.) one who moves in where he or she in not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder |
| intrinsic | (adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part |
| inveigh | (v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval |
| lassitude | (n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy |
| millennium | (n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy |
| occult | (adj.) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; (v.) to hide, conceal; eclipse; (n.) matters involving the supernatural |
| permeate | (v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak though |
| precipitate | (v.) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height, to give distinct form to; (adj.) characterized by excessive haste; (n.) moisture; the product of an action or process |
| stingent | (adj.) strict, severely, rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste |
| surmise | (v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace