Print › Mullarkey 12th Grade Vocab

Alacrity: n- cheerful willingness, eagerness, speed or quickness; celerity
Behest: n- an authoritative command; an urgent request
Beset: v- to attack from all sides; to trouble persistently; harass; beleaguer; to hem in; surround; to stud, as with jewels
Besot: v- to muddle or stupefy, as with alcohol or infatuation
Blandish: v- to coax by flattery of wheedling; to cajole Blandishment- n
Byzantine: adj: relating to the Byzantine Empire or the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Concoct: v- to prepare by mixing ingredients; to devise; using skill and intelligence; contrive
Convoluted: adj.- having numerous overlapping coils or folds; overly complicated, intricate, or elaborate; tortuous
Dastardly: adj.- cowardly and malicious; base; dishonorable; reprehensible
Discern: v- to perceive something obscure or concealed; to detect; to discriminate
Discernible: adj.- perceptible; distinguishable
Discerning: adj.- astute, perceptive
Discernment: n- keenness of insight and judgement
Doyenne: n- a woman who is the eldest/senior member of a group
Effulgence: n- brilliant radiance
Effulgent: adj.- shining brilliantly; resplendent; bright
Enamor: v- to inspire with love; to captivate the affections of
Encroach: v -to take another's possessions or rights gradually or stealthily; to advance beyond proper or former limits
Grist: n- grain or a quantity for grinding; ground grain
Grist for the Mill: idiom- something that can be used to an advantage
Ignominious: adj.- marked by shame or disgrace; deserving disgrace or shame; despicable; degrading; debasing
Ignominy: n- great personal dishonor on humiliations; shameful or disgraceful action, conduct, or character
Immaterial: adj.- of no importance or relevance; inconsequential having no material body or form
Indomitable: adj.- incapable of being overcome or subdued; unconquerable; resolute; doughty
Malaise: n- a vague feeling of bodily discomfort; a general sense of unease or depression
Motley: adj.- having elements of great variety or incongruity; heterogenous; miscellaneous; having many colors; variegated (A motley tunic)
Null: adj.- having no legal force; invalid; of no consequence, effect, or value; insignificant; amounting to nothing
Nullify: v- to invalidate; to counteract the force or effectiveness of
Pithy: adj.- precisely meaningful; forceful and brief; terse; curt; succinct
Purport: v- to have or present the often false appearance of being or intending; to profess; to have the intention of doing n- the intention, purpose, or meaning presented
Purported: adj.- assumed to be such; supposed; ostensible; alleged
Pyrrhic victory: n- a victory that is offset by staggering losses
Quarry: n- a hunted animal; a prey; hunted animal considered as a group; game; an object of pursuit
Reckon: n- to count, compute, or calculate; to consider as being; to regard
Reckoning: n- the act of counting or computing; an itemized bill or statement of a sum due; a settlement of accounts
Scoff: v- to mock at or treat with derision (slang) to eat (food) quickly and greedily (intr.) to show or express derision or scorn
Scofflaw: n- one who habitually violates the law or fails to answer court summonses
Serpentine: adj.- of or resembling a serpent in form or movement; sinuous; subtly, sly and tempting; circuitous; indirect
Soignée: adj.- showing sophisticated elegance; fashionable; well-groomed; polished
Staid: adj.- characterized by a sedate dignity and often a strait-laced sense or propriety; serious; sober; fixed; permanent
Stipend: n- a fixed regular payment, such as a salary for services rendered
Sultry: adj.- very humid and hot; expressing or arousing desire; extremely hot, torrid
Vaunt: v -to boast, crow, or brag; suggesting ostentatiousness n - a boastful remark; speech of extravagant, self-praise
Veritable: adj.- being truly so called; real or genuine; authentic; absolute
Vintage: n- the yield of wine or grapes from a vineyard during one season adj.- characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; classic; of the most distinctive; of the best
Viscous: adj.- having relatively high resistance to flow; stick; viscid; thick and adhesive (used of a liquid)
abridge: v: to reduce the length of (a written text); condense; to cut short; curtail (abridgment is the n).
accost: v: to approach and speak to boldly or aggressively, as with a demand; to confront or detain.
adjuration: n: an earnest or solemn appeal.
adjure: v: to command or urge solemnly and earnestly; to entreat.
aegis: n: (pronounced eejiss) protection; patronage; support or guidance; sponsorship.
aggregate: adj : constituting or amounting to a whole; total; (aggregate sales) n : a total considered with reference to its constituent parts; a gross amount v : to gather into a mass, sum, or whole; to amount to or total
alcove: n: a recess or partly enclosed extension connected to or forming part of a room; a secluded structure, such as a bower, in a garden. (A Gazebo.)
amorphous: adj: lacking definite form; shapeless; of no particular type; anomalous; lacking organization; formless.
animus: n: a hostile feeling; animosity; ill-will; an attitude that informs one's actions; disposition.
aplomb: n: self-confident assurance; composure; ease.
apocryphal: adj: of questionable authorship or authenticity (apocryphal rumors).
apostasy: n: abandonment of a loyalty or religion.
apostate: n: one who has abandoned one's beliefs, such as one's religion, political affiliation, or a cause.
apotheosis: n: exaltation of divine rank or stature; deification; elevation to a preeminent or transcendent position; glorification; an exalted or glorified example (the apotheosis of courage).
approbate: n: an expression of warm approval; praise; official approval.
arbiter: n: one chosen to judge or decide a disputed issue; an arbitrator; one who has the power to judge or ordain a will.
argot: n : (are-go) a specialized vocabulary or set of idioms used by a particular group, especially criminals; jargon; dialect
arrant: adj: completely such; thoroughgoing (an arrant fool, the arrant luxury of the cruise ship).
aspersion: n : an unfavorable or damaging remark; slander; the act of defaming or slandering
astringent: adj: in medicine, tending to draw together or construct body tissues; styptic. adj: sharp and penetrating; pungent or severe (astringent remarks).
attenuate: v : to make slender, fine, or small (the drought attenuated the men); to reduce in force, value, degree, or amount; weaken (the medicine attenuated the fever's effect) (attenuating – adj)
attrition: n: a rubbing away or wearing down by friction; a gradual, natural reduction in membership or personnel, as through retirement, resignation, or death.
augur: n : a seer or prophet; a soothsayer v : (tr) to predict, especially from signs or omens; to foretell; to serve as an omen of (trends that augur change in society) v : (intr) to make predictions from signs or omens; to be a sign or omen (a smooth dress rehearsal augurs well for the play)
avatar: n : the incarnation of a Hindu deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form; an embodiment; as of a quality or concept; an archetype
baleful: adj: portending evil; ominous; harmful or malignant in intent or effect; that which is menacing or foreshadows evil; sinister (a baleful look).
baroque: adj: extravagant or bizarre, especially in ornamentation; elaborately, boldly, or flamboyantly decorative.
bathetic: adj: excessively or insincerely emotional or sentimental; maudlin, mawkish, soppy, schmaltzy, mushy.
bathos: n: an abrupt, unintended transition in style from the exalted to the commonplace, producing a ludicrous effect; an anticlimax.
beget: v: to father; sire; to cause to exist or occur; to produce (begot – past tense, begotten: past participle).
behoove: v: to be necessary or proper for (it behooves you to try).
belie: v: to picture falsely; misrepresent; to be counter to; to contradict. Belie the argument.
blanch: v: to turn pale; to cause to turn white or lose color.
brio: n: vigor; vivacity; liveliness; exuberance.
cabal: n: a secret group of conspirators; a clique; a faction; a sect.
callow: adj : lacking adult maturity or experience; immature
canard: n: an unfounded or false, deliberately misleading story; a hoax; a ruse or fraud.
cataclysm: n: a violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change, a devastating flood (cataclysmic is the adj).
catatonia: n: an abnormal condition variously categorized by stupor, mania, and either rigidity or extreme flexibility of the limbs (catatonic is the adj).
cavalcade: n : a procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; a ceremonial procession or display; a succession, series or cluster (a cavalcade of stars)
celerity: n: haste, swiftness of movement; rapidity; alacrity; speed.
chagrin: n: a keen feeling of mental unease caused by disappointment or failure; mortification; vexation.
chary: adj: careful, cautious, wary; circumspect.
chimera: n : an organism consisting of two or more tissues of different genetic compositions, produced as a result of transplant, grafting, or genetic engineering n : in Greek mythology, a fire-breathing she-monster usually represented as a composite of a lion, goat, and serpent; a fanciful mental illusion or fabrication
churl: n : a rude, boorish person; a miserly person; a medieval English peasant (a free person of the lowest class)
churlish: adj : boorish and vulgar; having a bad disposition; surly
cipher: n : one having no influence or value; a nonentity; an empty vessel; the mathematical symbol for zero
codicil: n: an addition, appendix, or supplement, usually to a will.
cogent: adj: appealing to the intellect or powers of reasoning; convincing; persuasive; influential (a cogent argument) (cogency is the n).
cognition: n: the mental process of knowing, including aspects such as awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment; that which comes to be known, through perception, reasoning, or intuition, knowledge.
cognitive: adj: having a basis in or reducible to empirical factual knowledge.
consortium: n: an association or combination, as of business, in order to engage in a joint venture; a cooperative arrangement among groups or institutions.
consummate: v: to bring to completion or fruition; to conclude; to fulfill. adj: complete or perfect in every aspect; supremely accomplished or skilled (a consummate politician).
conundrum: n: a riddle in which a fanciful question is answered by a pun; a paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult problem; a dilemma.
crass: adj: so crude and unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility; inane; asinine.
crony: n: a longtime close friend or companion. (Has a negative connotation.)
cronyism: n: favoritism shown to old friends without regard for their qualifications, as in political appointments to office.
cull: v: to pick out from others; to select; to gather or collect; to remove rejected members or parts from (a herd). n: something picked out from others, especially because of inferiority.
desiccate: v: to dry out; to preserve (as in foods) by removing the moisture.
desiccated: adj: dry, parched, lifeless; dehydrated.
dichotomy: n : division into two usually contradictory parts or opinions (dichotomy of someone's character) (dichotomous – adj)
dilatory: adj: intended to delay; tending to postpone or lacking promptness due to procrastination or indifference (dilatory in his work habits).
dilettante: n : a dabbler in an art or a field of knowledge (connotes lacking professional skill; a lover of the fine arts; a connoisseur
disingenuous: adj: not straightforward or candid; insincere; hypocritical.
dither: n: a state of indecisive agitation. v: to be nervously irresolute in acting or doing (dithering is the adj).
diurnal: adj: (the opposite of nocturnal) occurring during the day, happening every day; daily.
doctrinaire: adj/n : of, relating to, or characteristic of a person; inflexibility attached to a practice or theory without regard to its practicality, and implies imposing that will on others
doughty: adj : (pronounced DOW-tee) marked by stouthearted courage; brave
du jour: adj: prepared for a given day; most recent; current.
dulcet: adj: pleasing to the ear; melodious; having a soothing, agreeable quality.
duress: n: constrain by threat; coercion (confessed under duress); in law, illegal coercion or forcible confinement.
ecumenical: adj : of worldwide scope or applicability; universal adj : of or relating to the worldwide Christian church; concerned with establishing or promoting unity among churches and religions
effete: adj: exhausted; lacking vitality; lethargic; weary; marked by self-indulgence; triviality or decadence.
effrontery: n: brazen boldness; presumptuousness; impudence.
egregious: adj: outstandingly bad; flagrant (as in a mistake or error).
emissary: n: an agent sent on a mission to represent or advance the interests of another.
empirical: adj : relying or derived from observation or experiment; verifiable or provable by means of observations or experiment (empirical evidence)
ennui: n: (pronounced onwee) listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; boredom.
ephemeral: adj : lasting for a markedly brief time; living or lasting only for a day; transient; temporary
epigram: n: a short, witty poem expressing a single thought or observation; a concise, clever, often paradoxical statement.
errant: adj: roving, especially in search of adventure (knight's errant); wandering outside the established limits (errant lambs); aimless or irregular in motion (an errant afternoon breeze).
ethereal: adj : light and insubstantial; intangible; highly refined; delicate; heavenly; spiritual
excoriate: v : to tear or wear off the skin of; to abrade; to censure strongly or denounce (excoriating – adj)
exhume: v: to remove from a grave; disinter; to bring to light, especially after a period of obscurity; to unearth (exhumation is the n).
expiate: v: (tr./intr.) to make amends or reparation for; to atone (expiate one's sins by acts of penance).
extirpate: v: to rip up by the roots; to abolish, annihilate, destroy, eradicate, exterminate, or extinguish; to remove by surgery (extirpate drug use) (extirpative – adj, exterpation: n).
fallow: adj : plowed but left unseeded during a growing season (a fallow field); characterized by inactivity (a fallow gold market)
fatuous: adj: vacuously, smugly, and unconsciously foolish; delusive; inane; unreal; absurd.
fealty: the fidelity owed by a vassal to his feudal lord; faithfulness; allegiance; loyalty
fete: n: a festival or feast; an elaborate, often outdoor entertainment; gala; jamboree. v: to celebrate or honor with a festival, feast, or an elaborate entertainment; to pay honor to.
fetid: adj: having an offensive odor; putrid; squalid; decaying.
fetish: n: an object that is believed to have magical or spiritual powers, especially one associated with animistic or shamanistic religious practices; an object or unreasonably excessive attention or reverence; an abnormally obsessive preoccupation or attachment; a fixation.
fey: adj: having or displaying an other-worldly, magical, or fairylike aspect or quality (a fey look); having visionary power; clairvoyant.
fissure: n: a long narrow opening; a crack or cleft; the process of splitting or separating; a division; a schism.
flippant: adj : marked by disrespectful levity or casualness; pert; frivolous; glib
florid: adj: flushed with rosy color; ruddy; very ornate; flowery; healthy; baroque; extravagant (doesn't directly describe a person).
fodder: n: feed for livestock, especially material, as for artistic creation; a consumable, often inferior item or resource that is in demand and usually in abundant supply.
foment: v: to promote the growth of; to incite; to stimulate or provokeNegative connotation.
fusillade: n: a rapid outburst; spray of gunfire fired simultaneously or in rapid succession; a barrage, as of insults.
graft: n: unscrupulous use of one's position for profit or advantages; extortion; money or an advantage gained by unscrupulous means. v: to join or unite closely (as in a plant, a transplant, or a custom).
grandiloquence: n: pompous or bombastic speech or expression (grandiloquent is the adj).
harrowing: adj: extremely distressing; disturbing; tormenting; vexing.
hoary: adj: gray or white with age; ancient; stale; old.
hubris: n : (pronounced hyoo-bris) overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance; haughtiness; egotism
impinge: v : (intr) to collide or strike (sound waves impinge on the eardrum); to encroach; intrude; trespass (don't impinge on my privacy) v : (tr) to encroach upon (without impinging the liberties of our society)
inbroglio: n : (pronounced im-broel-yo) a difficult or intricate situation; an entanglement; a confused or complicated disagreement; a confused heap; a tangle
inception: n: the beginning of something, such as an undertaking; a commencement.
incur: v: to acquire or come into (something usually undesirable); to sustain; to bring upon oneself.
indolent: adj: habitually idle; disliking or avoiding work; lazy, sluggish; listless, slothful (indolence is the n).
ineffable: adj: defying expression or description; indescribable; inexpressible, unspeakable, indefinable (an ineffable quality).
ineluctable: adj: not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable.
inimitable: adj: defying imitation; matchless; unique; incomparable.
interloper: n: one who interferes with the affairs of others, often for selfish reasons; a meddler; one who intrudes in a place, situation, or activity.
intractable: adj: difficult to manage or govern; stubborn; unruly; difficult to mold or manipulate.
inure: v: to habituate to something undesirable, especially by prolonged subjection; to get used to; to accustom (she inured herself to their insults).
invective: n : denunciatory or abusive language; vituperation; reproachful and/or abusive use of profanity
inveigh: v: (against) to give vent to angry disapproval; to protest vehemently.
invidious: adj: tending to rouse ill will, animosity, or resentment (invidious accusations); discriminatory; odious.
jejune: adj: insipid; juvenile; dull, lacking interest; unsophisticated; immature.
jettison: v: to cast overboard or off; to discard (something) as unwanted or burdensome.
lope: v: to run or ride at a steady, easy gait; to stride.
lugubrious: adj : mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree; doleful, somber
macabre: adj: suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome.
martinet: n: one who adheres strictly to rules; a disciplinarian or despot.
masochist: n: the turning of destructive tendencies upon oneself; the willingness to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences (masochist – n, masochistic is the adj).
messianic: adj: of or relating to a messiah or savior.
mete out: v: to distribute by or as if by measure; allot (mete out punishment).
milk: v: to press out, drain off, or remove by or as if by milking; to obtain money or benefits from in order to achieve personal gain; exploit.
morass: n : an area of low-lying soggy ground; something that hinders, engulfs, or overwhelms; a quagmire
mordant: adj : bitingly sarcastic; incisive and trenchant; acerbic; harsh; penetrating (having to do with written or oral communication)
munificent: adj: generous; magnanimous; charitable; upright (munificence is the n).
nadir: n: in astronomy, a point on the celestial scale directly below the observer, diametrically opposite the zenith; the lowest point. (The very bottom.)
natty: adj: neat, trim, and smart; dapper (a natty dresser).
nefarious: adj : infamous by way of being extremely wicked; despicable; reprehensible
nihilism: adj: an exreme form of skepticism that holds that or rejects all moral or religious values as baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated; the belief that destruction of existing political and social institutions is necessary for future improvement (nihilistic is the adj).
nominal: adj: of, resembling, relating to, or consisting of a name or names; existing in name only; titular; insignificantly small; trifling. (A nominal amount does not matter. Being the student body president is usually nominal.)
non sequitur: n : an inference or conclusion that does not follow from the premises or evidence; a statement that does not follow logically from what preceded
nostrum: n : a medicine whose effectiveness is unproved and who ingredients are usually secret; a quack remedy n : a favorite but untested remedy for problems or evils
obdurate: adj: hardened in wrongdoing or wickedness; stubbornly inpenitent; hardened against feeling; hardhearted; not giving in to persuasion; intractable; inflexible (an obdurate miser).
oblique: adj: having a slanting or sloping direction, course, or position; indirect or evasive; devious, misleading, or dishonest.
obrogate: v: to abolish; do away with, or annul, especially by authority.
oeuvre: n: (pronounced oovruh) a work of art; the sum of the lifework of an artist, writer, or composer; opus.
ostensible: adj : representing or appearing as such; ostensive; professed; seeming (his ostensible purpose was charity, but his real goal was popularity) (ostensibly – adj)
paean to: n : (pronounced pee-an) a song of joyful praise or exultation; a fervent expression of joy or phrase (the art was a paean to paganism)
palliate: v : to make (an offense or crime) seem less serious; extenuate; to make less severe or intense; mitigate; to relieve the symptoms of a disease or disorder
palliative: adj : tending or serving to palliate; relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disorder without effecting a cure; analgesic
parapet: n : a low protective wall or railing along the edge of a raised structure, such as a roof or balcony; an embankment protecting soldiers from enemy fire; a bulwark
parlay: v: to bet (an original wager and its winnings) on a subsequent event; to maneuver (an asset) to great advantage (He parlayed his small investment into a large fortune).
paroxysm: n: a sudden outburst of emotion or action (a paroxysm of laughter); a sudden attack or intensification of a disease; a spasm or fit; a convulsion.
parry: v: to deflect or ward off; to evade or avoid with skill.
parse: v: to examine closely or subject to detailed analysis, especially by breaking into components; to make sense of; to comprehend.
parsimonious: adj : excessively sparing or frugal; cheap, miserly
parsimony: n : unusual or excessive frugality; stinginess; thriftiness
penury: n : extreme want/poverty; destitution; extreme dearth; barrenness; insufficiency; indigence (penurious – adj)
percipience: n: keen perception.
percipient: adj: having the power to perceive keenly and readily.
perfidious: adj: treacherous, traitorous, or untrustworthy; disloyal; deceitful.
perfidy: n: deliberate breach of faith; calculated violation of trust; treachery.
peripatetic: adj : walking about or from place to place; traveling on foot; wandering; itinerant
perquisite: n: a privilege or perk that goes along with a job; gratuity; benefit; advantage.
perspicacious: adj : having or showing penetrating mental discernment; intelligently clear-sighted or perceptive
perspicacity: n : acuteness of perception, discernment, or understanding
philander: v: to carry on a sexual affair or many affairs, esp. with a frivolous or casual attitude (philanderer is the n).
phlegmatic: adj : having or suggesting a calm, sluggish, temperament; unemotional, apathetic
pillory: n: a wooden framework on a post, with holes for the head and hands, in which offenders were formerly locked to be exposed to public scorn as punishment. v: to ridicule and abuse; to put in a pillory as punishment.
piquant: adj : (pronounced pe-kant) pleasantly pungent or tart in taste; spicy; appealingly provocative (a piquant wit) adj : charming, interesting, or attractive (a piquant face) (piquancy - n)
placard: n: a sign or notice for display in a public place; a small cord or plaque, such as a nameplate on a door.
plangent: adj : loud and resounding (plangent bells); expressing or suggesting sadness; plaintive (the plangent sounds of a guitar)
plenary: adj: complete in all respects; unlimited or full (a diplomat with plenary powers); fully attended by all qualified members (a plenary session of the council).
pontificate: v: (intr.) to express opinions or judgments in a dogmatic way.
posthumous: adj: occurring or continuing after one's death; published after a writer's death.
predicate: v: to base or establish a statement or action (I predicated the facts); to carry the connotation of; to imply; to proclaim; declare or assert as an attribute or quality of something (his sermon predicated that materialism is a form of greed).
predilection: n: a partiality or disposition in favor of something; a preference, a bias, a leaning, a penchant, a proclivity, or a propensity.
prescience: n: knowledge of actions or events before they occur; foresight (prescient is the adj).
prevaricate: v : to stray from or evade the truth; equivocate; to dither or stall (prevaricator/prevarication : n)
probity: n : honesty; uprightness; integrity; decency; virtue
proclivity: n : (to or for) a natural prosperity or inclination; predisposition; tendency; penchant
progeny: n : one bord of, begotten by, or derived from another; an offspring or a descendant; a scion; a result of a creative effort; a product
promenade: n: a leisurely walk, especially one taken in a public place; a formal dance; a ball. v: to go on a leisurely walk.
promulgate: v: to make known (a decree) by public declaration; to announce officially; to put into effect by former public announcement.
propitious: adj : presenting favorable circumstances; auspicious, kindly, gracious
proprietary: adj: exclusively owned; private.
proprietor: n: one who had legal title to something; an owner; manager.
protean: adj: readily taking on varied shapes, forms, or meanings; exhibiting considerable variety or diversity (protean skill). (Like Mystique from XMen, or a person who is very skilled at many different things.)
prurient: adj: inordinately interested in matters of sex; lascivious; abusing or appealing to an inordinate interest in sex (prurience is the n).
queue: n: a line of waiting people or vehicles; a long braid of hair worn hanging down the back of the neck; a pigtail.
quintessence: n: the pure, highly concentrated essence of a thing; the purest or most typical instance (the quintessence of kindness).
quintessential: adj: being the most typical.
quotidian: adj: everyday; commonplace; recurring daily; on a daily basis.
raconteur: n: one who tells stories and anecdotes with skill and wit.
rapprochement: n: a reestablishment of cordial relation; as between two countries; the state of reconciliation.
recompense: v: to award compensation to; to remunerate. n: amends made for a loss; payment in return for something; remuneration; compensation.
reprieve: v: to postpone or cancel the punishment of; to bring relief to. n: postponement or cancellation of a punishment; temporary relief, as from danger.
repudiate: v: to reject the validity or authority of; to eject strongly as false or unjust; to refuse to recognize or pay; to disown (as in a child).
requisite: adj: required; essential. n: something that is indispensable; a requirement.
restive: adj: uneasily impatient under restriction, opposition, criticism, or delay; resisting control; refusing to move. (The crowd grew restive.)
retinue: n: the retainers accompanying a high-ranking person; entourage.
rhapsodize: v: to express oneself in an immoderately enthusiastic manner; to recite (something) in the manner of a rhapsody (rhapsodic is the adj).
rhapsody: n: exalted or excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing; a literary work written in an impassioned style; a state of elated bliss; ecstasy; in music, a usually instrumental composition of irregular form that often incorporates improvisation.
roil: v: to make (a liquid) muddy or cloudy by stirring up sediment; to displease or disturb; to vex; to agitate.
rube: n: an unsophisticated country person.
salacious: adj : appealing to or stimulating sexual desire; lascivious; lustful; bawdy (the media played up the scandal's salacious details)
sardonic: adj : scornfully or cynically mocking; sarcastic; satirical; mordant
schmaltz: n: excessively sentimental art or music; maudlin sentimentality (schmaltzy is the adj).
scurrilous: adj : given to the use of vulgar, coarse, or abusive accusations expressed in defamation or libelous language
secular: adj: worldly rather than spiritual; not bound by monastic restrictions, especially not belonging to a religious order; material.
seminal: adj : of, relating to, or having the power to originate; creative; highly influential in an original way (a seminal figure in impressionism); constituting or providing a basis for further development (a seminal idea)
sententious: adj: terse or energetic in expression; pithy; abounding in aphorisms; given to pompous moralizing.
slattern: n: an untidy, dirty woman.
slatterny: adj: characteristic of or befitting a slattern; slovenly; untidy.
sobriquet: n : a nickname; an assumed name
sojourn: v: to reside or stay temporarily n : a temporary; a brief period of residence
sophistic: adj : apparently sound but really fallacious; specious (sophistic refutations)
sophistry: n : a plausible but misleading or fallacious argument (sophist – n)
sumptuous: adj: of a size or splendor suggesting great expense; lavish; luxurious; extravagant; opulent; plush.
supercilious: adj : feeling or showing haughty disdain; arrogant; condescending; excessively proud
temporal: adj : of, relating to, or limited by time; of or relating to the material world; lasting for only a time; not eternal; passing
tendentious: adj : marked by a strong implicit point of view; partisan (a tendentious account of the recent election)
threshold: n: a piece of wood or stone beneath a door; a doorway; entrance; the place or point of beginning; the outset; the point that must be exceeding to begin producing a given effect or result to elicit a response.
tractable: adj: easily managed or controlled; governable; easily handled or worked; malleable.
travail: n : work, especially when arduous; toil; tribulations or agony; anguish (v : (intr) to work strenuously; to toil)
treacle: n : a medicinal compound formally used as an antidote for poison; cloying speech or sentiment
treacly: adj : cloyingly sweet or sentimental
treatise: n: a systematic, usually extensive, written discourse on a topic. (Such as Raskolnikov's article on the two types of people.)
turbid: adj: having sediment or foreign particles stirred up or suspended; muddy; heavy, dark, or dense, as a smoke or fog.
unctuous: adj: characterized by affected, exaggerated, or insincere earnestness; having the quality or characteristics of oil; slippery.
ungainly: adj: lacking grace or ease of movement or form; clumsy; difficult to move or use; unwieldyLike a dancer.
unseemly: adj: not in accord with accepted standards of good taste; grossly improper; not suited to the circumstances; inappropriate.
untoward: adj: not favorable; unpropitious; troublesome; adverse (an untoward incident); hard to guide or control; unruly; improper; unseemly (untoward advances).
venerable: adj: commanding respect by virtue of age, dignity, character, or position; worthy of reverence, especially by religious or historical association.
venerate: v: to regard with respect, reverence, or heartfelt deference; to honor or idolize (veneration: n).
veracious: adj: truthful; honest; accurate; precise.
veracity: n: adherence to the truth; truthfulness; accuracy or precision.
vernacular: n : the standard native language of a country or locality; dialect; the everyday language spoken by a people as distinguished from literary language; the idiom of a trade or profession
vertiginous: adj: turning about an axis; revolving or whirling; affected by or tending to produce vertigo; dizzy; inclined to change quickly; unstable.
vertigo: n: the sensation of dizziness; an instance of such a sensation; a confused, disoriented state of mind.
vis a vis: prep – face to face with; opposite to; compared with; in relation to. n: one with the same functions or characteristics as another; a counterpart
vituperate: v: (tr.) to rebuke or criticize harshly or abusively; berate; scold; (intr.) to use harshly abusive language; to rail.
vituperative: adj: using, containing, or marked by harshly abusive censure.
voluble: adj: marked by a ready flow of speech; fluent.
vouchsafe: v : to condescend; to grant or bestow (a privilege); to deign
waft: v: to cause to go gently and smoothly through the air or over water; to drift.
éclat: n: a dazzling success; acclaim; great brilliance.
élan: n: (aylon) enthusiastic vigor or liveliness; vivacity; distinctively elegant style or flair.