vocab

candor

Frankness; open honesty.

candid

Frank; honest; straightforward.

cantankerous

Ill-humored; irritable.

capacious

Spacious; able to hold much.

capacity

The greatest amount or number that something can hold.

capricious

Unpredictable; fickle; fanciful.

caption

Title; chapter heading; text under illustration.

captivate

To charm or enthrall.

cardinal

Chief; of primary importance.

caricature

An exaggerated picture or description.

carnivorous

Meat-eating.

carping

Finding fault; overly critical.

castigate

To criticize severely; to punish.

casualty

A serious or fatal accident.

cataclysm

A violent upheaval; deluge.

catalyst

An agent which brings about a change while remaining unaffected.

catastrophe

A calamity; disaster.

categorical

Without exceptions; absolute.

cater to

To supply something desired.

catharsis

Release of repressed emotional tensions.

catholic

Wide-ranging in interests.

caucus

A private meeting of members to select officers or determine policy.

causal

Implying a cause-and-effect relationship.

caustic

Burning; sarcastically biting.

cavil

To make frivolous objections.

cede

To yield title or territory.

celebrated

Famous; well-known.

censor

An overseer of morals; someone who eliminates inappropriate remarks.

censorious

Critical; finding fault.

censure

To blame or criticize.

centrifugal

Radiating; departing from the center.

centripetal

Tending toward the center.

cerebral

Pertaining to the brain or intellect.

ceremonious

Marked by formality.

certitude

Certainty.

cessation

Stoppage.

cession

Yielding to another; ceding.

chagrin

Vexation caused by humiliation or disappointment.

chameleon

A lizard that changes color.

champion

To support militantly.

chaotic

In utter disorder.

charismatic

Compellingly charming.

charlatan

A quack; pretender to knowledge.

chary

Cautious; sparing.

chasten

To discipline or punish in order to correct.

chauvinist

A blindly devoted patriot.

check

To stop motion; to curb.

checkered

Marked by changes in fortune.

chicanery

Trickery; deception.

chide

To scold.

chisel

To swindle or cheat.

chivalrous

Courteous; faithful; brave.

chronic

Long established as a disease.

chronicle

To report or record in chronological order.

cipher

A secret code.

cipher

A nonentity; worthless person.

circuitous

Roundabout.

circumlocution

Indirect or roundabout expression.

circumscribe

To limit; to confine.

circumspect

Prudent; cautious.

circumvent

To outwit; to baffle.

cite

To refer to or quote.

civil

Having to do with citizens; courteous.

clamor

Noise.

clemency

Disposition to be lenient.

clench

To close tightly; grasp.

cliché

A phrase dulled by repetition.

clientele

A body of customers.

climactic

Relating to the highest point.

clip

A section of filmed material.

clique

A small exclusive group.

clout

Great influence.

coagulate

To thicken; congeal.

coalesce

To combine or fuse.

coalition

A partnership or union.

coddle

To treat gently.

codify

To arrange as a code; classify.

coercion

The use of force to get someone to obey.

cogent

Convincing; strong.

cogitate

To think over.

cognitive

Having to do with knowing or perceiving.

cognizance

Knowledge.

cohere

To stick together.

cohesion

The tendency to keep together.

coin

To make coins or to invent.

coincidence

Two or more things occurring at the same time by chance.

collaborate

To work together.

collateral

Security given for a loan.