PK Vocab

banal

hackneyed, trite, commonplace

coherent

holding or sticking together; making a logical whole; comprehensible, meaningful

emulate

to imitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the model

encomium

a formal expression of praise, a lavish tribute

substantiate

to establish by evidence, prove; to give concrete or substantial form to

accost

to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way

celerity

swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

maelstrom

a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling a whirlpool in violence and destruction

overt

open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

pejorative

tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling

avid

desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

devious

straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way

gambit

in chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage; any opening move of this type

myopic

nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight or discernment

talisman

an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish

belabor

to work on excessively; to thrash soundly

insatiable

so great or demanding as not to be satisfied

tenable

capable of being held or defended

taciturn

habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little

eschew

to avoid, shun, keep away from