Freshman English Vocab

adjunct

noun - a subordinate

adj. - added or connected in a dependent manner

admonish

verb - to caution

advocate

verb - to recommend, to speak in favor of

affiliate

noun - an associate, a partner

affliction

noun - anything causing great suffering

aghast

adj. - feeling great dismay/horror

alacrity

noun - liveliness, willingness, eagerness

alienate

verb - to make others unfriendly toward you

allude

verb - to hint at, to refer to indirectly

aloof

adj. - reserved, distant

amalgamate

verb - to combine

ambidextrous

adj. - equally skillful with both hands

anachronism

noun - something/someone out of its proper time

animate

verb - to give life or motion to

anthropomorphic

adj. - giving human characteristics or qualities to objects, animals, or gods

antiquated

adj. - no longer useful, very old

aphorism

noun - a concise statement of a truth or principle

aplomb

noun - self confidence

bandy

verb - to give and take quickly in conversation, to toss back and forth

bane

noun - the cause of ruin, pain, or distress

beget

verb - to produce, to be the parent of

begrudge

verb - to resent another’s successes, to give with reluctance

belated

adj - delayed

beleaguer

verb - to besiege by encircling, to harass

benediction

noun - a blessing

beneficiary

noun - one who receives benefits

berate

verb - to scold or rebuke severely and at length

bias

noun - a prejudiced view (either for or against) that inhibits impartial judgement

bibliophile

noun - a lover of books

beserk

adj - showing reckless behavior or lack of control

bilk

verb - to cheat or swindle; to thwart or frustrate

blatant

adj- offensively noisy or obvious; too conspicuous

blight

noun - anything that destroys, prevents growth, or causes devaluation

cache

noun - a hiding place or the things hidden

cadaverous

adj. - of or like a corpse; pale, gaunt, thin

calumny

noun - a fake and malicious accusation (slander)

careen

verb - to lean sideways; to lurch from side to side while still in motion

caricature

noun - an exaggerated portrayal of one’s features

carnage

noun - a bloody and intensive massacre

carp

verb - to complain or find fault in a petty or nagging way