English Vocabulary List

loom

to appear as a vague and shadowy form, especially as a large and threatening presence

reminiscent

tending to remind one of something

scrutinize

to examine something thoroughly

fleeting

lasting for a very short time

daunting

causing fear or a lack of confidence; intimidating

pretext

a pretended reason for doing something that is not the real reason; an excuse

reprimand

to tell someone that they have done something wrong, especially in an official capacity

misgiving

a feeling of doubt or worry about a future event

sentimental

marked by deep feelings, especially of nostalgia or tenderness or pity—can be used pejoratively, to indicate that those feelings are excessive or unwarranted

mannerism

unconscious habits of expression with the face, hands, or voice

incapacitate

to prevent from functioning as usual

cognitive

related to thinking or reasoning

unfathomable

impossible to explore or understand completely

impunity

freedom from punishment

vindictive

vengeful, showing a desire to seek revenge

foreboding

an omen, prediction, or feeling, especially of coming evil

fervent

marked by intense feeling

satiate

to satisfy fully

conjecture

to guess or conclude based on evidence

hitherto

so far, up to this time

caprice

a sudden, impulsive act or idea

capricious

sudden and impulsive

disposition

usual mood, temperament

inexorable

relentless, impossible to stop or persuade to change

endeavor

to attempt through effort/an attempt marked by effort

apparition

an unusual or unexpected sight, a ghostly figure

peruse

to read, to study, to examine in detai

inure

to desensitize, to cause to become used to something undesirable

countenance

face

perilous

dangerous

dominion

absolute authority or ownership/self-governing nation

chimera

an illusion, an impossible dream

folly

a foolish idea or act

sacrilege

a violation of what is sacred

facile

easily accomplished or understood

pertinacity

persistence, stubbornness

wretch (noun)

a miserable, unhappy person/a corrupt, despicable person

wretch (adjective)

miserable/corrupt

depraved

marked by corruption or evil

ignominy

humiliation, disgrace

hallow

to make holy, to respect greatly

abhor

to hate, to loathe

precipice

a steep or overhanging place/the brink

benign

gentle, kind, harmless

malign

evil, harmful

epithet

abusive word or phrase

irk (verb)

to annoy

irksome (adjective)

annoying

machination

a plot, a crafty scheme designed to accomplish something, especially something evil