General Vocab

lachrymose

tearful, weepy, tending to cause crying

febrile

nervous excitement, frantic activity and agitation

vacillate

to waver indecisively between competing options

sardonic

grimly mocking, cynically contemptuous

pinched

having a thin, haggard look from cold, hunger, or worry

inured

to become accustomed to something unpleasant to the point that it no longer negatively affects you

circumspect

very cautious of possible consequences of a thing before acting

invective

harsh, abusive, or insulting language

insouciance

lighthearted unconcern; nonchalance

dramatis personae

“character of the drama”, the characters of a play, story, etc.

contrived

something that seems forced and planned, rather than coming from natural spontaneity

bête noire

“black beast”, an intensely dislike thing that acts as the bane of one’s existence

provenance

origin of something, especially an item or historical document

apostolic

of the teachings, authority, and mission of the early Christian apostles

rejoined

a quick, sharp reply

callow

young person lacking maturity and experience

hateur

arrogant, proud, unfriendly manner; an obnoxious display of superiority of others

alms

things given to the poor out of charity, especially money, food, etc.

temporize

delaying action or avoiding decision to strategically gain time or advantage

insuperable

an impossible-to-overcome problem or barrier

classicist

one who studies the ancient Greek and Roman cultures, literature, and language

dissociated

separated, disconnected, no longer tied to something