Vocabulary List: 9 Honors

afflicted

(adj.) Suffering or experiencing pain as a result of something 

elusive

(adj.) Difficult to find or capture 

implore

(v.) To beg or to make a serious request for something 

mnemonic

(adj.) a device, such as a formula or rhyme, used as an aid in remembering

avert

(v.) 1. turn away (one’s eyes or thoughts)

2\. prevent or ward off (undesirable occurrence)

obscure

1\. (adj) not discovered or known about; uncertain

2\. (v.) keep from being seen; conceal

Draconian

(adj.) cruel; harsh; severe; ironhanded

sumptuous

(adj.) splendid and expensive-looking.

discordant

(adj.) not in harmony or agreement

tantalize

(v.) torment or tease (someone) with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable

reproach

1\. (v.) express disapproval or disappointment

2\. (n.) disapproval

clamor

(n.) a loud and confused noise, especially that of people shouting

bane

(n.) a burden

laconic

(adj.) using words sparingly; terse; concise

 garrulous

(adj.) talkative, wordy

divulge

(v.) make known to the public information previously kept secret

impertinent

(adj.) 1. not showing respect, rude

2\. not pertinent (relevant) to a particular matter, irrelevant

elude

(v.) evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way.

obsolete

(adj.) no longer produced or used; out of date.

exacerbate

(v.) make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.

admonish

(v.) to caution or advise against something; to scold mildly

pretentious

(adj.) characterized by assumption of dignity or importance

cumbersome

(adj.) 1. clumsy, hard to handle 2. Slow-moving

muddle

1\. (v.) to make a mess of

2\. (n.) a hopeless mess

dissident

1\. (n.) a person who objects to some established authority

2\. (adj.) in opposition to authority

salvage

1\. (v.) to save from destruction

2\. (n.) property saved from destruction

relinquish

(v.) to let go, give up

comely

(adj.) having a pleasing appearance

stringent

(adj.) demanding strict attention to rules and regulations

jeer

1\. (v.) to make fun of rudely or unkindly

2\. (n.) a rude remark of mockery

proliferate

(v.) to reproduce, increase, or spread rapidly

terse

(adj.) brief and to the point

strife

(n.) a bitter conflict, a rivalry, a violent struggle

paramount

(adj.) chief in importance, above all others

eminent

(adj.) famous, outstanding, distinguished

succumb

 (v.) to give way to superior force, yield

arbitrary

(adj.) unreasonable; based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

feign

(v.) to pretend or disguise

doleful

(adj.) sad, dreary

tenacious

(adj.) 1. tending to keep a firm hold of something

2\. persistent

subjugate

(v.) to conquer by force, bring under complete control

stagnant

(adj.) not running or flowing; foul from standing still; inactive

abate

(v.) to reduce, make less

incessant

(adj.) never stopping, going on all the time

superfluous

(adj.) exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess

unsavory

(adj.) 1. disagreeable to taste, smell, look at

2\. disagreeable because of immorality 

incorrigible

(adj.) not able to be corrected; beyond control

sardonic

(adj.) grimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic