15-16 vocab

abominate

to have an intense dislike or hatred for

abridge

to make shorter

animosity

strong dislike; bitter hostility

auspicious

favorable; fortunate

beleaguer

to besiege by encircling (as with an army); to harass

confidant

a person entrusted with secrets

constituent

a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent

iniquitous

showing a lack of fairness; wicked; vicious

inure

to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure

inveigh

to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

predecessor

someone or something that came before another

sabotage

to deliberately destroy or damage

sadistic

deriving pleasure from inflicting pain on others

scathing

bitterly severe

transpire

to occur; happen; take place

aura

that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality

banal

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring

bemuse

to confuse or bewilder

cognizant

having knowledge or being aware of

conundrum

a confusing and difficult problem or question

evanescent

vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

factotum

An assistant who does a variety of jobs

grandiose

grand in an impressive or stately way; marked by pompous affectation or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated

induce

To lead towards some action

intransigent

refusing to compromise, irreconcilable

laudatory

expressing praise

panache

self-confidence; a showy manner

picayune

of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded

predilection

A preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something

promontory

land or rock projecting into a body of water