| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Attenuate | 1. To make or become thin. 2. To lessen the amount, force or value of. |
| Behemoth | Something or someone of enormous size or power. |
| Disinter | To remove from a grave or tomb; to dig up. |
| Impinge | 1. To go beyond desirable or established limits; to encroach. 2. to come in contact with, especially forcefully. |
| Multifarious | Having many forms; varied, versatile. |
| Oxymoron | A combination of words that seem to be contradictory. |
| Plenitude | An ample amount; an abundance |
| Postulate | To assume as a fact based on the best available evidence. (A fundamental principle) |
| Prevail | 1. To prove superior in power or strength. 2. To remain in effect or use; to be current or widespread. |
| Putrefy | To become rotten or decayed, giving off a foul odor. |
| Salubrious | Beneficial to health or well-being |
| Succulent | Fresh and juicy |
| Tundra | Flat, treeless plains of the arctic regions. |
| Unequivocal | Leaving no room or misunderstanding; unambiguous. |
| Vicissitudes | Fluctuations in conditions; changes of fortune. |
| Amity | Peaceful relations; friendship. |
| Animadversion | A critical or hostile comment. |
| Antithetical | Being in direct and outspoken opposition. |
| Antithesis | The direct contrast of one thing with another; the exact opposite. |
| Bellicose | Inclined to quarrel; combative; warlike |
| Bucolic | Of or relating to country life; rustic; pastoral. |
| Craven | Utterly lacking courage; willing to give up or capitulate. |
| Exalt | To raise in rank, wealth or honor; to praise highly; glorify. |
| Impugn | To attack as false; to call into question. |
| Introspective | Inclined to look inward and examine one's own thoughts and feelings. |
| Metier | Work or activity for which one is particularly suited. |
| Penurious | 1. Marked by extreme poverty. 2. Stingy; lacking generosity. |
| Privation | An instance or condition of extreme hardship; a lack of comfort |
| Sobriquet | A nickname |
| Tantamount | Equivalent to; the same as. |
| Throes | Conditions of painful or difficult change, struggle, or turmoil. |
| Altruism | The putting of others' well-being ahead of one's own; unselfishness. |
| Concurrent | Taking place at the same time; simultaneous. |
| Context | The circumstances in which something exists or occurs. |
| Crass | Lacking delicacy or sensitivity; gross. |
| Cuisine | Style of cooking. |
| Debase | To lower the quality, character, or status of; to devalue. |
| Enjoin | 1. To direct or command. 2. To forbid or prohibit. |
| Extemporaneous | Composed of or performed on the spur of the moment, with little or no planning. |
| Genesis | An origin, creation, or beginning. |
| Libation | A liquid, usually wine, especially when poured as an offering or drunk as part of a ceremony. |
| Malaise | A vague feeling of uneasiness or unwellness. |
| Platitude | A thought or remark that is dull or trite. |
| Reconcile | 1. To reestablish an amicable relationship. 2. To bring to quiet submission. 3. To bring into harmony or agreement. |
| Sunder | To break or force apart; to sever. |
| Travail | 1. Activity that is arduous and burdensome; toil. 2. Suffering or anguish. |
| Abeyance | A state of (usually temporary) inactivity or suspension. |
| Buttress | Anything that supports or protects. |
| Commensurate | Corresponding in size, degree, or amount; proportionate; of equal value. |
| Dilatory | Slow to act or respond; delaying, tardy. |
| Ecumenical | Universal; inclusive, especially concerning religious matters. |
| Facade | 1. The front or face of a building. 2. A superficial appearance; an illusion |
| Gargoyle | A grotesque stone figure used as a decorative feature on a building or as an ornament; a spout projecting. |
| Moot | To debate, suggest, or discuss. |
| Pinnacle | 1. A tall, slender, pointed top; peak. 2. The highest point of achievement. |
| Requiem | A funeral mass or service; a musical composition honoring the dead. |
| Sacrosanct | Highly sacred or holy; not to be violated. |
| Sensuous | 1. Coming from or acting on the senses. 2. Producing an agreeable effect on the senses |
| Tenet | A principle or belief held to be true, especially by members or and organization. |
| Transcend | To go above the limits of; to exceed or surpass. |
| Venue | The scene or locale of any action or event; the place of an alleged crime. |
| Arbiter | One whose decisions are accepted as final; a judge. |
| Conclave | A private meeting or secret assembly. |
| Concomitant | Accompanying; occupying or existing at the same time. |
| Coterie | An intimate or exclusive group; a clique. |
| Demur | To raise objections; to withhold one's approval or agreement. |
| Entice | To lead or persuade by arousing desire or hope; allure. |
| Flaunt | To parade or display conspicuously or boldly. |
| Genteel | Polite, elegant, stylish; sometimes overly so. |
| Graphic | 1. Evoking a sharp mental picture; vivid. 2. Concerning the pictorial arts, as drawing, painting, etc. |
| Inimical | 1. Expressing hostility or unfriendly intent. 2. Having adverse or harmful effects. |
| Inordinate | Beyond what is ordinary or reasonable in amount or scope; excessive. |
| Ludicrous | Provoking or describing laughter because of absurdity; ridiculous. |
| Oligarchy | Government by a small, elite group. |
| Redoubtable | Worthy of respect; formidable. |
| Repugnant | Highly distasteful; offensive; repulsive. |
| Archives | Public or institutional records, especially historical documents that are preserved; the place where such records are kept. |
| Chattel | An item of property that can be moved, as distinct from real estate. A slave. |
| Commodious | Having plenty of space to move around freely; roomy. |
| Conflagration | A large, disastrous fire. |
| Limbo | A place or state of neglect, oblivion, or transition. |
| Lineage | Line of descent; ancestry. |
| Listless | Indifferent, spiritless; showing a lack of motivation or interest. |
| Metropolis | An important city, especially one regarded as the center of a particular activity. |
| Perfunctory | Done in a routine way, without care or particular interest. |
| Pristine | Like new; spotless; free of dirt and decay. |
| Ramshackle | Loosely made; appearing ready to collapse; dilapidated. |
| Sequester | 1. To set apart; to seclude. 2. To seize, especially by legal authority. |
| Subversive | Planning to undermine or overthrow an established order. |
| Terminus | The final destination or goal of a journey or endeavor; the finishing point. |
| Virulent | 1. Extremely harmful or poisonous; deadly. 2. Full of hate; bitter or spiteful. |
| Autocratic | Exercising sole or complete control; dictatorial. |
| Caustic | Capable of destroying tissue by chemical action; corrosive. Extremely sarcastic. |
| Debilitate | To impair the strength of; to enfeeble. |
| Duplicitous | Marked by deception. |
| Emissary | A representative sent on a special errand. |
| Felicitous | 1. Happily suited to an occasion or situation; appropriate and graceful. 2. Marked by happiness or good fortune; pleasant; charming. |
| Forthright | Direct; straightforward; frank. |
| Impecunious | Being habitually without money; poor. |
| Jaundiced | 1. Of an unhealthy yellow appearance. 2. Affected by jealousy, resentment, or hostility. |
| Mercenary | Serving merely for money or gain; greedy. |
| Notorious | Well known for a particular quality or trait, often an unfavorable one. |
| Oust | To eject from a position or place; to drive out of use. |
| Parsimonious | Excessively sparing or frugal; penurious. |
| Pejorative | Having negative or unpleasant associations; belittling. |
| Precept | A general rule of action. |
| Bereft | Deprived of or lacking something that is wanted or needed. |
| Criterion | A standard or rule by which something is judged, or criticized. |
| Deride | To laugh at in scorn or contempt; to ridicule. |
| Effrontery | A boldness that is offensive because of its lack of tact; audacity. |
| Espouse | To advocate or embrace, especially a cause or idea. |
| Hypocrisy | The practice of pretending to believe or value things or ideas that one does not; falseness. |
| Impeding | About to occur; imminent. |
| Incensed | Filled with wrath; enraged. |
| Pertinent | Relating to the matter at hand; relevant. |
| Promulgate | To proclaim or make known. |
| Proscribe | To forbid as harmful; to prohibit. |
| Redress | To correct or compensate for a wrong. |
| Regime | A form of rule or government. |
| Retribution | Something given in repayment, especially punishment; recompense. |
| Substantiate | To verify or confirm by presenting evidence. |
| Aegis | Protection; sponsorship. |
| Bauble | A showy, ornamental object with little practical use; a trinket. |
| complaisant | Willing to please; agreeable. |
| Consolidate | 1. To join together; to unite. 2. To strengthen or to make firm |
| Depredation | The act of plundering or destroying; also, the loss or damage that results. |
| Epiphany | A sudden understanding of the meaning, essence, or reality of something. |
| Moratorium | A waiting period or temporary ban on activity. |
| Pendulous | Hanging loosely or swinging freely. |
| Portend | To be a sign of; to indicate what will happen. |
| Pragmatic | Concerned with practical solutions rather than abstract theory. |
| Reprieve | To delay or suspend punishment. |
| Stentorian | Extremely loud or powerful in sound. |
| Tenure | The condition of holding property, an office, or a position; also the period during which it is held. |
| Unilateral | Done or carried out by one of two ore more parties rather than in concert with others. |
| Viable | Capable of living, growing, or growing. Capable of success; workable. |
| Ambidextrous | Able to use both hands with equal skill. |
| Antipathy | A consistent aversion or dislike. |
| Deleterious | Hurtful; injurious. |
| Excoriate | To criticize severely; to berate. |
| Extrapolate | To estimate or infer by projecting from or expanding upon known information. |
| Grisly | Horrible to contemplate or look upon; grim and ghastly. |
| Idiosyncrasy | A peculiar characteristic, habit, or manner that distinguishes a person. |
| Impute | To assign blame or credit; to attribute or ascribe. |
| Maladroit | Lacking judgment or skill; bungling or clumsy. |
| Negate | 1. To deny or refute the existence or truth of. 2. To make ineffective or invalid. |
| Passe | No longer in fashion; outmoded. |
| Pedagogue | A teacher of children or youth; sometimes one who is dogmatic or overly formal. |
| Preponderance | The greater part; superiority in size, importance, or strength. |
| Propound | To put forward for consideration; to propose. |
| Stance | 1. The way a person stands; the position of a person's feet. 2. A position regarding politics or ideas; point of view. |
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