Vocabs 4.4 - 8 Darwin

anathema

something/someone that is strongly disliked/condemned

chimerical

unrealistic/wildly imaginative; not achievable in reality

conflagration

A large and destructive fire

diaphanous

Light, delicate, and almost transparent

excoriate

To criticize severely/harshly

perspicacious

Having keen insight or sharp understanding

ameliorate

To improve or make a situation better

fortitude

Courage and strength in facing difficulties

mandate

An official order/command; to authorize/require

sampling

The process of selecting a representative group for study

inadvertent

Unintentional or accidental

erudition

Extensive scholarly knowledge

detrimental

Causing harm/damage

affinity

A natural liking or connection with something

distill

To extract the essential meaning or most important aspects

contend

To argue or assert a position

transience

The state of lasting only a short time

diverge

To move or develop in different directions

arbitrary

Based on personal choice rather than logic or reason

custodian

A person responsible for protecting/maintaining something