 | Term | Definition |
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magnanimous |
generous in forgiving an insult/injury, big-hearted |
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meretricious |
alluring by a show of flashy or vulgar attractions |
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metamorphosis |
a complete change of form |
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milieu |
surroundings (social or cultural) |
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missive |
a written messag; letter. (sent or about to be sent) |
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moiety |
an indefinite portion |
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nomenclature |
a set or system of names or terms |
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nonsectarian |
not affiliated with or limited to a specific religious denomination |
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oligarchy |
form of government ruled by a dominent power |
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obdurate |
unmoved by persuasion,pitty, or tender feelings |
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obsequious |
characterized by or showing servile complasiance or deference |
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obtuse |
not quick or alert in perception, dull |
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onerous |
burdensome, oppressive, or troublesome |
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ostensible |
outwardly appearing as such: professed, pretended |
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obstreperous |
resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly |
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oleaginous |
having the qualities/natures of oil |
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palliate |
to relieve or lessen without couring; alleviate |
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paradigm |
example of such as a model |
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parse |
to analyze in terms of grammatical constituents |
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parsimony |
extreme or excessive economy or frugality; stinginess |
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peccant |
guilty of a moral offense |
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peculate |
to steal or to take dishonestly |
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pecuniary |
of or pertaining to money |
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pedestrian |
going or performed on foot; walking |
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pejorative |
having a belittling effect, (pejorative word)=dergatory |
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penumbra |
dim light, shadow |
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pilloried |
to expose, ridicule, abuse (wooden post) |
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prescient |
knowledge of things before they exist or happen |
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prevaricate |
to speak falsely or missleadingly; lie |
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promulgate |
to make known by open declaration, teach publicly |
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propinquity |
Nearness; close |
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prosaic |
commonplace or dull, unimaginative |
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punctilious |
strict or exact in the observance or the conduct of actions |
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quixotic |
impulsive, rashly, unpredictable |
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quotidian |
usual or customary; everyday, reaccuring daily |
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recapitulate |
to review by a brief summary |
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recondite |
dealing with very profound or difficult subject matter |
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redolent |
having a pleasant odor |
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remonstrate |
to plead in protest, objection, or disapproval |
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rubicund |
red or reddish |
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sanguine |
cheerfully optimistic, hopeful/confident. (N)- red iron-oxide color |
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schwa |
unstressed vowel |
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sesquipedalian |
given to use long words containing many syllables |
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sinecure |
office/position requiring little/no work |
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sophistry |
subtle, tricky, fallacious method of reasoning |
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spurious |
not genuine, counterfeit |
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stolid |
not easily stirred or moved mentally |
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subjugate |
to bring under complete control, master |
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supercilious |
haughtfily disdainful or contemptuous |
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syzygy |
alignment of 3 celestial obj. any two related things alike/opposite |
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tacit |
understood without being expressed verbally |
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tautology |
a needless repition of an idea, statement or word |
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tempestuous |
of or relating to a tempest (weather or storm) |
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temper |
to soften or tone down by mixing |
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tenebrous |
dark, gloomy, obscure |
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termagant |
overbearing, nagging woman, shrewish |
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trenchant |
keen, sharp |
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trope |
the use of a word or expression in a figurative sense |
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turpitude |
shameful or vile act |
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turgid |
swollen, exhibiting turgor, excessively embellished in a style or language |
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ubiquitous |
existing or being everywhere (at the same time) |
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ullage |
ammount of liquid in a container that is lost during shipment/storage |
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unctuous |
characterized by smoothness, ointment, oily |
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usurp |
to seize and hold by force without legal right |
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vacuous |
empty |
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vapid |
lacking, loss of life, without liveliness |
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vehement |
zealous; ardent; impassioned, strongly emotional |
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venal |
willing to sell one's influence, able to be purchased, as by a bribe |
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venial |
able to be forgiven or pardoned |
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vim |
lively or energetic spirit, entusiasm |
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virago |
loud voiced, illtempered scholding woman, woman of strength or spirit |
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vortex |
a whirling mass of matter |
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Weltschmerz |
sorrow that one feels, acceptance of evil, pessimism |
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winnow |
to drive/blow away, sift, analyze critically |
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wrought |
worked. ealborated; embellished |
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wassail |
salutation wishing health |
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whorl(ed) |
a circular arrangement of like parts |
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xenophobe |
a person who fears, hates foreigners, strange customs |
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yeoman |
a petty officer in the navy cheifly clerical duties, or a farmer who cultivates, or a servant |
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zenith |
highest point or state |
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zeitgeist |
The spirit of the time, general trend |
