 | Term | Definition |
| |
asperity |
sharpness or harshness of manner |
| |
bane |
a person or thing that destroys or causes harm |
| |
buffoon |
a person who often makes attempts to be funny; a clown, fool |
| |
doleful |
mournful or full of sorrow, causing grief |
| |
extrovert |
a person whose attention is focused on others and on what is going on around her rather than on her own feelings |
| |
garish |
excessively bright and flashy; tastelessly glaring |
| |
hierarchy |
a group or system in which positions of power are ranked, usually from highest to lowest |
| |
imbue |
to fill completely with a feeling or idea; to inspire |
| |
instigate |
to stir up or urge on; to provoke |
| |
penchant |
a strong attraction or leaning |
| |
rambunctious |
behaving in a wild and unruly manner |
| |
repertoire |
the list of pieces an actor is ready to perform; the skills or accomplishments or a person or group |
| |
rudiment |
basic principle or skill, an undeveloped or beginning stage |
| |
undermine |
to weaken or ruin by degrees |
| |
unremitting |
not stopping or slowing down; constant |
| |
adjudicate |
to hear and decide judicially; to judge |
| |
centennial |
a one-hundredth anniversary or its celebration |
| |
countenance |
a person's face, support or approval |
| |
disgruntle |
to make dissatisfied; to put in a bad mood |
| |
equilibrium |
a state of balance |
| |
expedite |
to speed up a process; to facilitate |
| |
gird |
to encircle, bind, or surround |
| |
gratuitous |
not called for, unnecessary, free |
| |
illusory |
unreal or imagined, decieving |
| |
implacable |
incapable of being placated, soothed, or significantly changed, relentless |
| |
luminary |
a source of light, like the moon, or a celebrity |
| |
manifesto |
a public statement that explains the intentions or motives of a group |
| |
mesmerize |
to fascinate or hypnotize |
| |
precedent |
an act, statement, that may serve as an example or justification for a later one |
| |
spurious |
not genuine, false |
| |
curtail |
to cut short or reduce |
| |
discriminate |
to recognize distinctions, to treat in a less or more favorable way |
| |
espionage |
the act of spying, especially by a government |
| |
inalienable |
not able to be taken or given away |
| |
incarcerate |
to confine or put in prison |
| |
indignity |
an insult to one's pride, humiliating treatment |
| |
indiscriminate |
not marked by careful distinctions, haphazard |
| |
infamous |
having a very bad reputation, notorious |
| |
intercede |
to act or plead on another's behalf, to try and smooth the differences between two parties |
| |
malign |
to say negative and unfair things about; to slander |
| |
perpetrate |
to commit, as a crime or other antisocial act |
| |
rampant |
threateningly wild, without restraint or control, widespread |
| |
rancor |
a deep, long-held feeling of hatred or bitterness |
| |
reparation |
a mending or repair, normally payment for a damage done |
| |
smattering |
superficial, scattered knowledge |
| |
accolade |
an expression of approval or respect for special merit; an award |
| |
adamant |
not yielding, firm |
| |
adulate |
to flatter or admire excessively; to idolize |
| |
altercation |
a loud and determined dispute, a noisy quarrel |
| |
annals |
a historical record of events, often arranged in a yearly sequence |
| |
assiduous |
diligent, persistent |
| |
chary |
exercising caution; hesitant |
| |
clique |
a small, exclusive group held together by like interests or purposes |
| |
decrepit |
worn-out with use, broken-down |
| |
endow |
to provide with a quality, a thing, or a gift of money |
| |
ephemeral |
lasting a very short time |
| |
ingratiate |
to work to gain the favor of someone |
| |
pantheon |
a group of people held in high esteem for their great achievements |
| |
perverse |
turned away from what is right; wicked |
| |
tutelage |
instruction, protection, or guardianship |
| |
acrimony |
bitterness or sharpness of temper, manner, or speech; hostility |
| |
affinity |
attraction for someone or something with which one feels a closeness or kinship |
| |
ambivalent |
having mixed, often opposing, feelings about something or someone; indecisive |
| |
cessation |
a stopping, either final or temporary |
| |
emaciated |
very thing or wasted away because of lack of nourishment, scrawny |
| |
enclave |
a distinct region enclosed within a larger territory |
| |
engender |
to bring into being; to produce |
| |
exacerbate |
to make more severe, bitter, or violent |
| |
illicit |
not allowed, improper, or unlawful |
| |
indigenous |
naturally living or growing in a certain area; native |
| |
inexorable |
not to be persuaded, stopped, or moved by entreaty or plea, relentless |
| |
infatuated |
filled with excessive, shallow, or foolish love or desire |
| |
insatiable |
never satisfied, greedy |
| |
poignant |
painfully moving, affecting, or touching |
| |
proselytize |
to convert someone to a faith, belief, or cause |
