| Term | Definition |
|---|
| abjure | to take back |
| anomaly | something odd or unusual |
| equanimity | stability or secureness |
| estrange | to separate |
| flay | to beat, to remove skin |
| florid | colored face, not pale, reddish |
| interminable | to drag on, never ending |
| lugubrious | sad, depressed |
| nondescript | monotonous, blending in |
| propitious | valuable, has meaning |
| rife | plentiful, abundant |
| truncate | to shorten, to cut off |
| ubiquitous | continuous, everywhere |
| vernacular | informal, everyday language |
| zealous | persistent, energetic |
| arable | fit for cultivation (land) |
| brigand | a robber or bandit |
| carte blanche | authority with no bounds |
| consomme | clear soup |
| contemptuous | scornful, haughty |
| cosmopolitan | worldly, sophisticated |
| discerning | distinguishing differences, detecting |
| donnybrook | fight, uproar |
| incantation | charm; recited magical spell |
| interlocutor | questioner; an on-stage speaker |
| metamorphosis | transformation or dramatic change |
| nomenclature | naming system in an art or science |
| serendipity | a fortunate discovery made by accident |
| stentorian | extremely loud |
| vestige | trace; evidence |
| abstemious | eating and drinking moderately |
| archaic | outdated; ancient |
| dulcet | musical, pleasing to hear |
| expurgate | to remove unwanted words from |
| idyllic | almost perfect; ideal |
| iniquity | sin, wicked art |
| lithe | graceful, smooth in motion |
| patronizing | to talk down to, treat under oneself |
| pellucid | transparent, clear |
| perspicacious | mentally sharp; keen |
| relegate | to assign |
| scapegoat | one given the blame to |
| talisman | a magical charm for protection |
| usurp | to take over, to seize |
| vacillate | waver, to be indecisive |
| acme | the highest point, top |
| apocryphal | of doubtful origin; fictional |
| catharsis | a very emotional experience |
| desiccate | to dry up completely |
| dissipate | to waste; exhaust |
| efficacious | effective; producing the desired outcome |
| ineffable | inexpressible; beyond description |
| intrinsic | of or relating to the basic nature of a thing; inherent |
| inundate | to cover or be overwhelmed with |
| kudos | praise, fame, glory |
| maxim | fundamental principle; familiar statement |
| putrid | partially decayed or decomposed; having a foul smell |
| revere | to regard with respect, awe, adoration |
| servile | submissive; slavish |
| superfluous | unnecessary; excessive |
| Consternation | dismay, worry, concern, shock, bewilderment |
| Conundrum | puzzle, dilemma, problem, enigma |
| Coterie | clique, circle, small group |
| Emollient | balm, lotion |
| Expiate | atone, make amends |
| Extricate | release, disentangle, free, liberate |
| Flippancy | disrespect, sauciness |
| Foist | pass off as worthy or real |
| Incongruous | incompatible, inappropriate |
| Innocuous | harmless, inoffensive, innocent |
| Inveterate | habitual, continuing, chronic, unalterable |
| Plethora | abundance, excess |
| Preamble | opening, prologue |
| Soluble | easily dissolved |
| Vitriolic | spiteful, caustic, burning |
| Camaraderie | rapport between friends; comradeship; fellowship |
| wrenching | violent , forceful twisting |
| venerate | to respect, worship, revere |
| haughty | proud, arrogant |
| trite | hackneyed, cliched, lacking interest |
| stringent | strict, rigorous |
| sectarian | narrowly confined to a particular group |
| scullion | kitchen servant |
| sanctimonious | false piety or righteousness, self-centered |
| platitude | cliche, an obvious remark |
| imbroglio | a difficult situation |
| impetuous | impulsive, rash |
| malinger | to pretend to be ill or injured to avoid work |
| peregrination | to travel on foot; walk |
| hubris | arrogance resulting from excessive pride |
| allay | to reduce the intensity of; relieve; pacify |
| ameliorate | to make better, improve |
| asperity | roughness or harshness; severity |
| exegesis | an analysis; interpretation of |
| extradite | to release an accused criminal to |
| hypocrisy | two-faced, falseness |
| inveigh | to protest; oppose |
| lionize | to honor or celebrate |
| pander | to act as a go between; to exploit weaknesses of others |
| profligate | wasteful; immoral |
| recalcitrant | stubbornly resistant |
| renunciation | rejection, abandonment |
| unimpeachable | beyond doubt, unquestionable, blameless |
| unwieldy | not easily held, lacking strength, hard to hold |
| vitiate | to reduce the value of, to corrupt or debase |
| Anecdote | short account or story, narrative |
| Cerebral | intellectual |
| Churlish | boorish, vulgar, rude, uncouth |
| Cogent | convincing, clear, relevant, valid |
| Convoluted | complicated, intricate |
| Entreat | plead, request, beseech |
| Gibberish | nonsense |
| Incumbent | required, necessary, obligatory |
| Inimical | adverse, hostile, noxious, antagonistic, detrimental |
| Livid | angry, furious, enraged |
| Lurid | ghastly, gruesome, vivid |
| Promulgate | announce, make known, advocate |
| Spurious | false, incorrect, bogus, feigned |
| Staid | sedate, dignified, proper |
| Surfeit | excessive amount, fullness, satiation |
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