| Term | Definition |
|---|
| brouhaha | noun, a confused hodgepodge of sounds, hubbub; an uproar or commotion that goes far beyond what is justified |
| cloy | verb, to spoil or destroy an appetite by too much indulgence especially in sweet or rich things; to glut, satiate |
| demeanor | noun, the way a person behaves, overall impression made by comportment, manner, etc.; facial appearance, mien |
| deference | noun, courteous, yielding to the wishes and ideas of another person; great respect marked by submission, as to a superior |
| enigmatic | adjective, puzzling, perplexing, not easily understood, mysterious |
| definitive | adjective, conclusive, final, representing the limit of what can be done |
| bumptious | adjective, offensively self-assertive; excessively and arrogantly self-confident |
| choleric | adjective, easily made angry, bad-tempered |
| bulwark | noun, a strong defense or protection, a solid wall-like structure for defense; verb, to provide such defense or protection; verb, to provide such a defense or protection |
| curtail | verb, to cut short, bring to a halt or end sooner than expected; to reduce |
| adamant | adjective, firm in purpose or opinion, unyielding; noun, an extremely hard substance |
| profligate | adjective, given over to dissipation and self-indulgence, immoral; recklessly extravagant; noun, a person given to self-indulgent and wild spending |
| mawkish | adjective, excessively and objectionably sentimental; having a mildly sickening flavor |
| thwart | verb, to oppose successfully; to prevent, frustrate |
| onus | noun, something that is heavy or burdensome; a stigma; blame |
| requisite | adjective, needed, necessary, regarded as essential or indispensable |
| mollify | verb, to soften, make gentle, to calm, allay; to reduce in intensity |
| sartorial | adjective, of or pertaining to a tailor or his work, having to do with clothes or dress |
| presentiment | noun, a vague sense of approaching misfortune |
| impromptu | adjective & adverb, without preparation, offhand, suddenly or hastily done; noun, an extemporaneous composition or remark; a minimal piece suggestive of improvisation |
| forbearance | noun, tolerance and self-control, patience; the act of refraining from something, abstinence |
| remit | verb, to send or hand in, to cancel, forgive, pardon; to lessen, diminish; to put off, postpone, defer |
| jejune | adjective, lacking in nutritive value; lacking in interest or substance; immature, juvenile |
| credulous | adjective, too ready to believe, easily deceived |
| infirmity | noun, a weakness or ailment |
| berate | verb, to scold sharply |
| expatiate | verb, to expand on, write or talk at length or in detail; to move about freely |
| deplete | verb, to use up as a result of spending or consumption; to diminish greatly |
| extraneous | adjective, coming from the outside, foreign; present but not essential, irrelevant |
| inception | noun, the beginning, start, earliest stage of some process, institution, etc. |
| criterion | noun, a rule, test; a standard for judgment or evaluation |
| amenable | adjective, willing to follow advice or authority, tractable, submissive; responsive, amendable to; liable, to be held responsible for |
| carnage | noun, large scale slaughter or loss of life |
| tortuous | adjective, winding, twisted, crooked; highly involved, complex, devious |
| sententious | adjective, self righteous, characterized by moralizing; given to use of maxims or adages; saying much in few words, pithy |
| obdurate | adjective, stubborn, unyielding |
| potpourri | noun, a collection of diverse or miscellaneous items, a general mixture; petals mixed with spices for scent |
| precocious | adjective, showing unusually early development |
| providential | adjective, happening as though through divine intervention; characterized by good fortune |
| ostensible | adjective, apparent, appearing to be true or actual; capable of being shown or exhibited |
| surfeit | noun, an excess or overindulgence, as in eating or drinking; causing disgust; verb, to feed or supply with anything to excess |
| sadistic | adjective, delighting in cruelty, excessively cruel |
| turgid | adjective, swollen, bloated, filled to excess; over decorated or excessive in language |
| supplicate | verb, to beg earnestly and humbly |
| collate | verb, to compare critically in order to note differences, similarities, etc.; to arrange in order for some specific purpose |
| foment | verb, to promote trouble or rebellion; to apply warm liquids to, warm |
| abet | verb, to encourage, assist (especially in something wrong) |
| encumber | verb, to weigh down or burden; to fill up, block, hinder |
| connoisseur | noun, an expert; one who is well qualified to pass critical judgments, especially in one of the fine arts |
| blatant | adjective, noise in a coarse, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense |
| disconsolate | adjective, deeply unhappy or dejected without hope, beyond consolation |
| buttress | verb, to support, prop up, strengthen; noun, a supporting structure |
| aver | verb, to affirm, declare confidently |
| carousal | noun, noisy revelry or merry making (often with a suggestion of heavy drinking) |
| broach | verb, to break the surface of the water, to turn sideways to the wind and waves; to bring up or begin to talk about; to announce; to pierce in order to draw off liquid; noun, a spit for roasting |
| nonplussed | adjective & participle, puzzled, not knowing what to do, at a loss |
| prolific | adjective, abundantly productive; abundant, profuse |
| opportune | adjective, suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occurring at an appropriate time |
| incontrovertible | adjective, unquestionable, beyond dispute |
| grisly | adjective, frightful, horrible, ghastly |
| rejoinder | noun, a reply to a reply, especially from the defendant in a legal suit |
| predilection | noun, a liking, preference |
| magniloquent | adjective, expressed in loft or high-flown language |
| inauspicious | adjective, unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future |
| impassive | adjective, showing no feeling or emotion |
| herculean | adjective, relating to Hercules; characterized by great strength; |
| clangor | noun, a loud ringing noise; verb, to make a loud ringing noise |
| deleterious | adjective, harmful, injurious |
| absolve | verb, to clear from blame, responsibility, or guilt |
| enhance | verb, to raise to a higher degree; to increase the value or desirability of |
| caricature | noun, a representation in which the subject's characteristic features are deliberately exaggerated; verb, to present someone or something in a deliberately distorted way |
| extenuate | verb, to lessen the seriousness or magnitude of offense by making partial excuses |
| contiguous | adjective, side by side, touching; near; adjacent in time |
| exude | verb, to ooze out; to discharge through the pores |
| implicit | adjective, implied or understood though unexpressed; without doubts or reservations, unquestioning; potentially contained in |
| cupidity | noun, an eager desire for something; greed |
| enthrall | verb, to enslave; to imprison; to captivate, charm, hold spellbound |
| scintillating | adjective & participial, sparkling, twinkling, exceptionally brilliant |
| redundant | adjective, extra, excess, more than is needed ; wordy, repetitive, profuse, lush |
| winsome | adjective, charming, attractive, pleasing (often suggesting innocence) |
| preeminent | adjective, superior, outstanding; prominent |
| paragon | noun, a model of excellence or perfection |
| politic | adjective, prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedient |
| sanctimonious | adjective, making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious |
| incisive | adjective, sharp, keen, penetrating |
| prosaic | adjective, dull, ordinary, lacking in distinction and originality; characteristic of prose, not poetic |
| paraphrase | verb, to restate in other words; noun, a statement that presents a given idea in new language |
| ostentatious | adjective, marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy |
| denizen | noun, an inhabitant, resident; one who frequents a place |
| contingent | adj, likely but not certain to happen, possible, happening by chance; Noun, a representative group forming part of a larger body |
| foist | verb, to impose by fraud; to pass off as worthy or genuine; to bring in by stealth, dishonesty, or coercion |
| corroborate | verb, to confirm, make more certain |
| abstemious | adj, moderate, sparing; characterized by abstinence and self-discipline |
| disseminate | verb, to scatter widely |
| florid | adj, highly colored, reddish; excessively ornate, overdecorated, showy |
| censurable | adj, deserving of blame or correction |
| discursive | adj, passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling, roving, nomadic |
| dowdy | adj, poorly dressed, shabby; lacking smartness |
| accentuate | verb, to emphasize, place stress upon |
| specious | adj, deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit |
| perceptive | adj, having sympathetic insight or understanding, capable of keen appreciation |
| palpable | adj, capable of being touched or felt; easily seen, heard, or recognized |
| sear | verb, to make or become dry or withered; to char or scorch the surface of; to harden or make unfeeling |
| satiate | verb, to satisfy completely, to fill to excess; adj, full, satisfied |
| gauche | adj, awkward, lacking in social graces, tactless, clumsy |
| inculcate | verb, to impress on the mind by repetition, teach persistently and earnestly |
| heresy | noun, an opinion different from accepted belief; the denial of an idea that is generally held sacred |
| pernicious | adj, extremely harmful; deadly, fatal |
| quail | verb, to shrink back in fear, lose heart in a difficult or dangerous situation |
| salient | adj, leaping, jumping, or springing forth, prominent, standing out; noun, a projection or bulge, a land form that projects upward or outward |
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