Short Stories Vocabulary

adulation

excessive flattery or admiration

allocation

1.) the action or process of allotting or distributing something 2.) an amount or portion of a resource assigned to a particular recipient

bueraucratic

1.) relating to the business of running and organization or government 2.) overly concerned with procedure at the expense of efficiency or common sense

circumscribe

1.) to draw a line around; encircle 2.) to enclose within bounds; to limit

civility

politeness; a polite action or expression necessary for courteous, proper society

deftly

quickly and lightly in movement; with agility; skillfully

gesticulation

a gesture, especially a dramatic one, used instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words

gravely

1.) in a serious or solemn manner 2.) in a manner that gives cause for alarm

impediment

1.) a hindrance or obstruction 2.) a defect in a person's speech

implore

to beg urgently, as for aid or mercy

impunity

exemption from punishment

indifferent

having no particular interest or sympathy

loquacious

characterized by excessive talk; tending to babble

luminous

full of or shedding light; bright or shining, especially in the dark

oppression

prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control

perfunctory

done without care or intrest or merely as duty or routine

petulant

childishly sulky or bad-tempered; rude in speech or behavior

provincial

of or concerning the regions outside the capital city of a country, especially when regarded as unsophisticated or narrow minded

renounce

stop using or consuming; formally declare one's abandonment of (a claim, right, or possesion)

repercussion

an effect or result of some action, which can be indirect or minor

resilience

1.) the ability to return to the original form after being bent or stretched 2.) ability to recover readily from illness, depression, or adversity

retribution

a justly deserved punishment; something given or inflicted because it is deserved

sanctuary

1.) a sacred or holy place 2.) a church or other sacred place where fugitives were formerly entitled to immunity from arrest

subsist

to remain alive or continue to exist (often just barely)

trepidation

a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen

tumultuous

riotous; marked by disturbance or uproar; disorderly; causing a commotion

urbane

courteous and refined in manner (Said of a person); sophisticated

vigilant

keenly alert to detect danger; wary