Wordly Wise 11-15
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Created by:
andrews1cha on December 19, 2010
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79 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 agrarian adj | having to do with farming or agriculture |
| burgeon v | to grow and expand rapidly; to flourish |
| cataclysm n | a sudden or 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. |
| grandiloquent adj | using lofty or pompous speech or expression |
| hybrid n | the offspring of two animals of plants of different species or varieties |
| hybrid adj | anything that is of mixed origin or composition |
| manifold adj | having many different kinds, parts, or forms |
| palatable adj | acceptable or pleasing, especially to the sense of taste |
| panacea n | something that is supposed to cure all ills or difficulties; a cure-all |
| plebeian adj | of or pertaining to the common people; 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, restrained |
| aftermath n | a consequence or result, often a negative one. |
| aphorism n | a short statement of truth or principle, an adage |
| catharsis n | a releasing of emotions, often through the arts, that brings about spiritual renewal or a relieving of a tension |
| cohort n | a group that is moving or working together; one who assists another, especially in a dubious or criminal activity; an accomplice |
| culpable adj | deserving blame or censure |
| diabolical adj | devilish, wicked, evil |
| enormity n | the state or quality of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous; the state of quality of being of being huge, immense |
| gibe v | to utter sarcastic words |
| gibe n | a taunting, scornful remark |
| innocuous adj | harmless, unlikely to offend |
| necessitate | to require, to make necessary |
| odyssey n | a long, adventurous journey; an intellectual or spiritual quest |
| partisan n | a strong supporter or advocate; an armed fighter opposed to an occupying army |
| partisan adj | strongly biased in favor of a particular party, cause, or position |
| posterity n | a person's descendants; future generations |
| premeditated adj | fully planned beforehand, deliberate |
| scurrilous adj | vulgar; coarsely abusive |
| adjunct n | something or someone joined or added to something else but not essentially a part of it |
| belie v | to give a false impression of, to contradict |
| carnage n | great destruction of life; slaughter |
| dilemma n | a problem that seems to have no satisfactory solution; a difficult choice |
| diverse adj | differing from one another; having various or distinct parts |
| eradicate v | to get rid of; to uproot |
| flout v | to ignore in a disrespectful or scornful way |
| foment v | to stir up, to rouse; to instigate |
| insurection n | an open revolt against legal authority; a rebellion. |
| mandatory adj | ordered by an authority, required |
| mitigate v | to make or become less serious or severe; to ameliorate |
| pretext n | an effort to conceal the real intention or state of affairs; an excuse |
| singular adj | denoting a single person or thing, contrasted to more than one; exceptional; strange/unusual |
| somnolent adj | tending to cause sleepiness; drowsy |
| stalwart adj | strong, sturdy, firm, resolute |
| aberration n | 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 an image into focus |
| antiquated adj | grown old; out of date |
| celestial adj | of or relating to the skies or heavens; heavenly, divine, or the finest or highest kind |
| certitude n | the state of being certain of the truth or rightness of something |
| disburse v | to distribute something or pay out money, especially from a public or other fund. |
| galaxy n | a vast cluster of starts and other matter, billions of which make up the known universe; a group of brilliant of notable things. |
| intractable adj | hard to manage, tame, or control; stubborn, not easily cured |
| juncture n | a joining or coming together; the place where a connection occurs; a point in time made critical by the timing of the circumstances. |
| juxtapose v | to place side by side |
| maelstrom n | a large and violent whirlpool or something resembling a whirlpool; a place or state of great turmoil or confusion |
| optimum adj | best or most favorable |
| pillory v | to expose to public scorn or content |
| proliferate v | to grow, expand, or multiply at a rapid rate |
| remiss adj | negligent; careless, lax |
| titanic adj | marked by great strength, size or influence |
| abominate v | to hate or loathe intensely |
| abridge v | to shorten in duration or extent, to diminish |
| animosity n | intense ill will |
| auspicious adj | favorable, promising |
| beleaguer v | to besiege; to surround with an army; to surrender with troubles; to harrass |
| confidant n | a person to whom all secrets are told |
| constituent n | one of the parts that make up a whole, a voter represented by a particular official |
| iniquitous adj | unjust; wicked |
| inure v | to adjust to and accept 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 |
| sabotage v | to engage in intentionally damaging acts |
| sadistic adj | taking pleasure in something that causes pain |
| scathing adj | harshly critical |
| transpire v | to become apparent; to come to light; to happen or occur |
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