elite vocab 501-600

wizened

wrinkled from aging

corrode

to eat into, to destroy gradually, as by a chemical process

florid

flushed with rosy color; overdecorated

enervate

to weaken

rash

showing boldness or haste without judgement

dogma

a specific set of ideas or beliefs, esp religious or asserted to be absolutely true

germane

fitting and appropriate

tinge

a faint coloring; a trace amount

addendum

a supplement; something added at the end of a book or document

auspicious

showing signs of favorable outcome; marked by favorable circumstances

epicure

one with refined tastes, esp. in food and wine

quintessence

a pure substance or essence of something

placebo

a substance, often presented as medicine, that has an effect because of a patient’s expectations rather than because of an active ingredient

blanch

to turn pale

exhaustive

thorough

ascribe

to attribute to a specific source

hazard

a risk of being harmed; something that presents such a risk

ruminate

to ponder at length

demagogue

a leader who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the people

burgeon

to sprout or grow rapidly

lank

long and slender; lean

revert

to return to a former condition

repudiate

to reject as invalid or untrue

nomad

one who has no permanent home

contempt

a feeling that something is low or disgusting

dubious

causing doubt; questionable

berate

to scold severely and at length

verbose

wordy

abash

to embarass

incontrovertible

impossible to dispute

prudent

marked by careful planning; discreet

imminent

impending; threatening; likely to happen

loquacious

very talkative

brittle

rigid; likely to break

aptitude

an inherent capacity for learning understanding, or performing

mishap

an unlucky or unfortunate accident

omnibus

including or dealing with many items at once; a volume of reprinted works of a single author or reprinted works with a single theme

stipend

a fixed and regular payment

recapitulate

to summarize; to paraphrase

paradox

a statement or situation that appears contradictory

conviction

a strong belief or opinion

prognosticate

to predict

preclude

to make impossible; to prevent the occurrence of

rampant

unrestrained

nemesis

one who inflicts justified or great punishment; source of harm or ruin

tautology

needless repetition of an idea in different words; a statement that is logically true no matter what

paragon

an example of perfection

stringent

imposing strict standards of performance; constricted

livid

extremely angry; discolored, as from a bruise; pale, ashen

enmity

the bitter attitude or feelings of an enemy or of mutual enemies

insolent

boldly disrespectful min speech or behavior; impertinent; impudent

arrogant

having more pride and self importance than is proper

slipshod

marked by carelessness or casual attention to detail; sloppy

voracious

devouring; extremely hungry

embark

to set off on a long trip

found

to establish; to set up on a firm basis

parry

to deflect an attack

purse

to contract into wrinkles or folds; to pucker

convoke

to call together in a meeting

lurch

to sway or tip abruptly to one side; to stagger

vim

energy; enthusiasm

pristine

remaining in a pure state

anathema

someone or something that is hated

tortuous

winding; twisted

clamor

a loud and continuous noise

frivolous

of little importance

perfunctory

done without care or interest or merely as a form or routine

buttress

to prop up or support

faculty

a natural ability to do something

malodorous

smelling very bad

elaborate

detailed; carefully thorough; to develop with care or at great length

turgid

excessively ornate or complex in style; swollen, as from fluid

modest

limited in amount, extent, etc.

ascertain

to discover with certainty, as thorough examination

rescind

to take back or cancel

prodigious

wonderful; amazing; very big

sacharine

overly or sickeningly sweet

wary

cautious; on guard

umbrage

offense or resentment

segregate

to separate into groups or parts

august

inspiring awe or admiration, esp. because of high rank or character

discreet

careful about what one says or does; circumspect; done, said, or placed so as to attract little notice

intimate

to make known subtly; to hint

rouse

to wake or provoke

morsel

a small piece, esp. of food

cacophony

a harsh, jarring sound

disinterested

free from bias

girth

the distance around something; circumference

skew

to place at an angle; to cause bias in or distort; asymmetric; distorted; biased

toxic

poisonous; dangerous

verity

a widely; accepted truth

incoherent

not sticking together; not logically connected

impetus

an impelling or originating force

increment

an increase in quantity; to increase

dismay

to destroy courage or resolution; to cause to lose enthusiasm, to disillusion

assimilate

to take in as one’s own; to absorb; to adapt or adjust to the customs, etc. of a group.

disburse

to pay out money

dissent

to disagree

charisma

a quality or leadership that inspires great devotion in one’s followers; personal magnetism or charm

civic

pertaining to a city or citizen