GD WOTD_C Block

Terms	Definitions
ameliorate	v. to improve; to mitigate
paroxysm	n. a violent outburst or attack "The student crumbled into paroxysms of laughter when the teacher asked if she had finished the assignment."
erudite	adj. learned, full of profound knowledge
defenestrate	v. to throw out the window
defalcate	v. to cut off or take away as part of something "He defalcated his nose to spite his face."
obfuscate	v. to deliberately make something difficult to understand
calumny	n. a false, malicious accusation; misrepresentation; insult
chimerical	adj. fanciful, imaginary, impossible
anathema	n. a person or thing detested or loathed "Homework is one of the biggest anathemas to a student and their teachers."
ephemeral	adj. lasting a very short time; impermanent
germane	adj. relevant; fitting; appropriate
beguile	v. to trick or deceive "To beguile the time, / Look like the time..." (Macbeth 1.5.62-63).
quixotic	adj. very idealistic; impractical; caught up in romantic notions
prosaic	adj. NOT fanciful or imaginative; plain; common-place
inure	v. to cause to accept or become hardened to; to habituate to; to accustom to; to become used to
quagmire	n. a swamp; a difficult or inextricable situation "There are many quagmires for newly elected politicians."
staid	adj. sedate, serious and dignified; quiet or subdued in character or conduct
vitriolic	adj. bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid); virulence of feeling or speech
abrogate	v. to abolish, often by authority; to nullify or annul "Some laws currently on the books need to be abrogated."
bucolic	adj. rural or rustic in nature, country-like; relating to shepherds or herdsmen n. a pastoral poem; a bumpkin (country person)
recondite	adj. difficult to understand or penetrate; deep BONUS WORD
inveigle	v. to persuade; to do something by means of deception or flattery; to manipulate "Mortimer is always trying to inveigle favors out of his more unassuming friends."