Mastering Vocabulary Skills Unit 2

Test is 10/7 (Monday)

Appall

To fill with horror or disapproval

Cognizant

having knowledge or being aware of

Commiserate

sympathize

Expedient

a means to an end; convenient, practical

Hindrance

Any person or thing that is an obstacle.

Kindle

to set fire to or ignite; excite or inspire

Lavish

extremely generous or extravagant; giving unsparingly

Ludicrous

absurd; ridiculous

Negligent

not properly attentive; careless

Scrutinize

to observe carefully

Clamor

Loud noise or shouting

Contract

to become smaller

Duplicity

intentional deceit in speech or conduct

Equivocal

Ambiguous; intentionally misleading

Irresolute

indecisive

Rescind

to repeal, cancel

Stagnant

not moving

Uniform

The same all the way through; consistent

Untenable

not able to be defended

Vilify

to malign, to defame, to utter abusive statements against

Affable

friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to

Apocryphal

of questionable authority or authenticity

Cultivate

to nurture, improve, refine

Desultory

wandering from subject to subject

Irascible

easily angered, irritable

Loquacious

very talkative

Obtuse

lacking sharpness of intellect; not clear or precise in thought or expression

Opaque

impossible to see through; preventing the passage of light

Paucity

scarcity; lack

Recapitulate

to summarize; to repeat briefly

Accolade

tribute; honor; praise

Assuage

to make something unpleasant less severe

Cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

Censure

harsh criticism or disapproval

Diatribe

an abusive, condemnatory speech

Edifice

a large, elaborate structure; an imposing building

Gravity

seriousness

Infraction

a breaking of a law or obligation

Profane

showing contempt toward sacred things

Somber

dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit

Blasphemy

speech which offends religious sentiments

Enmity

hatred, ill-will

Erroneous

wrong; incorrect

Garner

to gather; to acquire

Heretic

someone who goes against accepted religious beliefs

Incite

to rouse, stir up, urge on

Languish

to become weak or feeble; to lose strength

Peruse

to read carefully; scrutinize

Recluse

A person who leads a secluded or solitary life

Renounce

to give up or resign something