| Term | Definition |
|---|
| zeal | (n) excessive fervor to do something or accomplish some end |
| cloy | (v) to spoil or destroy an appetite by too much indulgence, especially in sweet or rich things; to glut, satiate, sufeit |
| ignoble | (adj) completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose;, dishonorable, common, undignified |
| cynic | (n) someone who is critical of the motives of others, one who deeply distrusts human nature; one who belives humans are motivated only by selfishness |
| lionize | (v) assign great social importance to; treat as a famous person or a celebrity; |
| specious | (adj.) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit; , seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally) |
| ravage | devastate, plunder, despoil, Ex. crops ravaged by storms; to destroy, lay waste, ruin; (n.) ruinous damage, destruction |
| facilitate | (v) make easier; helping a group to accomplish its goals; help bring about |
| officious | (adj) intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner; volunteering one's services when they are neither asked for nor needed; Syn: meddlesome, interferring |
| remonstrance | (n) the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest; an expression of protest, complaint, or reproof, especially a formal statement of grievances. |
| promulgate | put a law into effect by formal declaration; to make known far and wide Synonyms: announce Antonyms: withdraw, retract, abrogate, nullify |
| ersatz | (n) an artificial or usually inferior substitute or imitation, (adj) artificial and inferior |
| compunction | (n a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain;contrition; remorse; |
| tout | (v) advertize in strongly positive terms Ex.: "This product was touted as a revolutionary invention."; someone who advertises for customers in an especially brazen way; , someone who buys tickets to an event in order to resell them at a profit |
| immaterial | (adj) without material form or substance; (often followed by 'to') lacking importance - does not matter one way or the other; Syn: unimportant, irrelevant, |
| qualm | (n) a pang of conscience, uneasiness, misgiving, or doubt; a felling of faintness or nausea; Syn: regret, nauseousness |
| demean | (v) reduce in worth or character, usually verbally; to humble oneself; to behave in a particular manner |
| phlegmatic | (adj) not easily excited to action or display of emotion; self-possessed, calm, or composed; full of phlegm (mucous from respiratory track - as during a cold) |
| debacle | (n) a violent breakdown, sudden overthrow, or overwhelming defeat; a total failure; flooding caused by a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river during the spring or summer |
| scoff | (n) display of contempt by derision (disapproval, ridicule, jeering laughter); (v), laugh at with contempt and derision; mock |
| fortuitous | (adj) occurring by happy chance Ex.: ". . . profits were enhanced by a fortuitous drop in the cost of raw materials"; having no cause or apparent cause; Syn: accidental, lucky |
| dynamo | (n) a generator consisting of a coil (the armature) that rotates between the poles of an electromagnet (the field magnet) causing a current to flow in the armature; an energetic, hardworking, forceful person |
| encumber | (v) to impede with obstacles to hinder progress; to weigh down or burden (with difficulties, cares, debt, etc.); to fill up, block up, hinder; |
| lowly | (adj) of low birth or station Ex.: "baseborn wretches with dirty faces", "of humble (or lowly) birth", inferior in rank or status Ex.: "the junior faculty"; "a lowly corporal"; "petty officier" |
| dogma | (n) a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative Ex.: "he believed all the Marxist dogma"; a firmly held opinion, especially a religious belief |
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