20th Century Vocab list 5

Tizzy - noun

A state of nervousness, anxious or confusion

Chronic - adjective

Continuing or occurring again and again for a long time

Chronic - adjective (in reference to the novel)

Describing patients deemed incurable or unable to function outside of the ward

Libido - noun

A person’s overall s*xual drive

Passel - noun

A large group of people or things of indeterminate number; a pack

Unvarnished - adjective

Plain, straightforward, direct, honest

Cynical - adjective

Not trusting the motives of others

Citified - adjective

Describes someone or something accustomed to or adapted to an urban style of living

Spatter - verb

The splash of tiny objects of a liquid such as molten metal or paint onto a surface

Lucid - adjective

Clear, easy to understand

Banal - adjective

Something so ordinary, unoriginal, trite, or overused that it becomes boring due to overfamiliarity

Resplendent - adjective

Someone or something that is very bright, shining, or impressively beautiful and colorful

Vertiginous - adjective

A dizzying sensation, often caused by great heights or rapid, unstable movement

Putrefying - verb

The process of organic matter decaying, rotting, and emitting a foul odor

Abridge - adjective

Shortened or condensed especially by the omission of words or passages

Picturesque - adjective

Visually appealing, strikingly pleasing, or vivid qualities

Pallor - noun

An unnatural color deficiency in the skin; paleness

Chauvinist - noun

A person with an unreasonable, exaggerated belief in the superiority of their own group, Nation, or gender, often leading to prejudice against others

Betrothed - noun

A person to whom someone is engaged to be married

Insolent - adjective

Behavior that is boldly rude or disrespectful

Pretense - noun

An insincere act, make-believe, or a false allegation

Guise - noun

An outward appearance used to conceal the true nature of something or someone

Resilience - noun

Ability to recover quickly from a hardship or adapt to difficult circumstances

Disillusionment - noun

A feeling of disappointment when something is not good enough

Obedience - noun

The act of following rules, authorities, or instructions

Estrangement - noun

A state of being emotionally distant or no longer close to someone