| Term | Definition |
|---|
| browse | a. to look over reading material, sampling different parts b. to look at in leisurely and casual manner |
| citation | a reference to or quotation from authority |
| compendium | a. a short but complete written summary b. a collection that includes a variety of written works |
| entry | a. in a reference book, a subject or word and information about it b. the means or place by which to come in |
| abridged | shortened, usually in reference to a written or spoken work |
| etymology | the origin or history of a word |
| gazetteer | a dictionary of geographical places, including names and information |
| homonym | a word having the same pronunciation as another word but a different meaning from that word |
| lexicon | a. a dictionary b.the vocabulary of a particular subject or group |
| phonetics | the study of sounds and language |
| clarify | to make clear or understandable |
| confide | to trust someone with private or secret information |
| disclose | to reveal or open to view |
| enlighten | to inform or give new insight |
| exhibit | a. to show or arrange for public display b. a display |
| expound | to explain in detail or to talk at length about a particular subject |
| ingrained | deep -seated, firmly imprinted or fixed |
| misconception | a mistaken idea |
| sage | a. wise, showing great wisdom b. a person who is respected for experience and wisdom |
| seminar | a class or conference held to discuss ideas on a topic |
| brusque | rough and short in manner or speech, abrupt, curt |
| cordial | warm and friendly |
| dignity | a calm manner indicating self-respect and worthiness |
| hospitable | open and welcome to guests |
| irksome | annoying or irritating |
| nicety | a. a small often unimportant detail,a fine point b. an elegant detail or distinction, a refined feature or custom |
| propriety | the quality of being proper,appropriateness |
| refined | very polite and cultured |
| suave | sophisticated, smoothly agreeable and polite |
| tact | the ability to speak or act without offending others |
| allure | a. a strong fascination or attraction b. to attract with something desirable |
| avid | eager, very enthusiastic |
| devotion | complete dedication to a cause or person |
| effusive | unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression, gushing |
| exhilaration | excited happiness |
| fanatic | a person excessively and unreasonably devoted to a cause or belief |
| indifferent | a. not interested or concerned about something b. not good or bad |
| jubilant | filled with joy |
| reticent | unwilling, reluctant |
| zealous | highly motivated by dedication to a cause, an ideal, or a goal |
| amelioration | the act of making better or improving |
| assuage | to relieve or make less difficult |
| compensate | a. to pay b. to make up for |
| conserve | to protect from wasteful loss |
| constructive | serving a useful and positive purpose |
| enhance | to make better or more valuable |
| enrichment | the act of making something richer or better, improvement |
| neutralize | to cancel an effect or render it harmless |
| preservation | the act of keeping something in good health or condition |
| redeem | a. to recover or buy back b. to restore honor, worth , or value |
| contemplate | to consider carefully and thoughtfully |
| conviction | a. a very strong belief or opinion b. to be found guilty |
| disseminate | to make widely known, to spread |
| engross | to occupy the mind completely , absorb |
| intuition | a feeling, a sense, understanding gained without thinking |
| lucid | easily understood,clear |
| moral | a. confirming to a standard of right r good behavior b. the lesson taught by a story fable or an event |
| profound | deep, deeply thought or reasoned |
| puritanical | strict in maters of religious moral or conduct |
| sanctify | to make holy or sacred |
| abstain | to not do something by choice |
| acknowledge | a. to admit the truth,existence, or reality of something b. to show you have received something |
| advocate | to recommend , to write or speak in favor of a cause or a person who argues for a cause |
| coalition | a alliance of people, parties, or nations |
| conform | to follow rules or customs |
| invalid | not effective or legal |
| justify | to demonstrate that something is right or fair, to defend with reasons |
| sanction | a. permit or approve of an action b. to punish a nation or or group that has broken accepted laws |
| underlie | a.to provide a basis of support b. to lie under |
| uphold | to maintain or support in the face of possible opposition |
| bliss | extreme joy, leading to contentment |
| compassion | the feeling of sharing the suffering of another |
| dismay | a. to discourage , to upset b. a sudden loss of courage or confidence, due to danger |
| ecstatic | overwhelmingly joyful, intensely delighted |
| endear | to inspire friendly,affectionate feelings , to cause to be liked |
| exasperate | to annoy greatly, to aggravate or irritate, to anger |
| forlorn | lonely, abandoned , sad |
| somber | dark, gloomy |
| sullen | bad-tempered in a quiet, gloomy way, sulky |
| wretched | miserable ,dreadful |
| aspire | to have great ambition or desire, to strive for |
| covet | to strongly desire something belonging to another |
| envy | a feeling of jealously |
| inclination | a. a preference , a tendency to act a certain way b. a slant or a leaning |
| persevere | to continue trying despite difficulties |
| reluctant | unwilling not wanting to do something |
| tantalize | to tempt but deny satisfaction |
| wary | watchful and cautious |
| willful | stubbornly determined to do what one wants |
| wistful | full of sad wishing or longing |
| aesthetic | a standard of artistic beauty |
| artisan | a crafts person |
| audition | a tryout , a short performance given to tryout for a part in a show |
| ceramics | objects made from clay |
| encore | an additional performance demanded by an audience immediately after a show |
| medley | a group of excerpts from musical pieces blended together into one longer number |
| mural | a large image on a wall or ceiling |
| ornate | heavily and often excessively decorated |
| palette | a thin board on which an artist mixes paint of different colors |
| pantomime | acting that uses gestures and facial expressions without speech |
| arboretum | a park where trees and shrubs are displayed and studied |
| aviary | a large cage or building for holing birds |
| botany | the scientific study of plants |
| chameleon | a type of lizard that changes color |
| cultivate | a. to grow crops b. to encourage the development of a friendship or an interest |
| habitat | the environment a plant or an animal normally lives in |
| nurture | to help grow and develop , to take care of |
| talon | the claw of a bird of prey |
| terrarium | a clear container housing plants and small land animals |
| zoology | the scientific study of animals |
| adage | a traditional saying considered to be wise and true |
| alliteration | repetition of sounds , usually of consonants , especially at the beginning of words |
| allusion | an indirect reference to something |
| anthology | a collection of writings by various authors |
| epic | a long poem or other literary work about heroes |
| hyperbole | an extreme exaggeration |
| melodramatic | overly emotional or sentimental |
| personify | to represent an animal, object, or idea as having human qualities |
| pseudonym | a fake name used by an author , a pen name |
| serialized | presented in parts |
| reiterate | to say or do again repeatedly |
| proclaim | a. to announce publicly and officially b. to make clear or plain |
| digress | to stray from the main subject when writing or speaking |
| coherence | the quality of being logical, orderly, and clearly connected |
| eloquent | persuasive or powerful in speaking or writing |
| impromptu | without preparation or rehearsal |
| garble | to mix up or confuse so as to make unclear |
| orator | a skilled public speaker |
| terse | brief and to the point |
| audible | able to be heard |
| applicable | appropriate or relevant to a situation |
| expedient | convenient and self-serving rather than morally correct |
| extraneous | not essential or relevant |
| functional | able to operate in working order |
| futile | not successful,without effect or result |
| obsolete | no longer in use or fashion |
| opportune | well timed , occurring at appropriate or fitting time |
| pragmatic | practical, concerned with realities |
| relevant | related to or connected to, important in a given context |
| utilitarian | designed to be useful rather than beautiful or pleasing |
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