Sadlier Level H: Unit 2

aegis

Protection; patronage; sponsorship

SYN: auspices

apprise

To inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice

SYN: acquaint

ANT: keep secret, withhold information

bibulous

Fond or inclined to drink; absorbent

SYN: inebrious

ANT: abstemious, temperate

claque

A group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiatic or fawning admirers; an opera hat

SYN: fan club, flatterers

ANT: critics, detractors, slanderers

deracinate

To pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of

SYN: extirpate, eradicate, expunge

ANT: implant, nurture, foster, instill

exegesis

An explanation or critical interpretation (especially of a text)

SYN: analysis, explication

ANT: mystification

indigenous

Originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent

SYN: endemic, domestic, homegrown

ANT: foreign, alien, exoteric, imported

lachrymose

Given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious

SYN: tearful, doleful, dolorous

ANT: dry-eyed, merry, hilarious

lexicon

A dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium

SYN: wordbook, glossary

melee

A confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling

SYN: fracas, brawl, scuffle, donnybrook

ANT: friendly chat, peace and quiet

microcosm

A miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system

SYN: epitome, world in little

ANT: macrocosm, cosmos, totality

miniscule

Very small, tiny

SYN: infinitesimal, insignificant

ANT: huge, massive, monumental

obfuscate

To darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder

SYN: muddy the waters

ANT: elucidate, explicate, clarify

paternalism

The policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children

SYN: benevolence, solicitude, fatherliness

polarize

To cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positons; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern

SYN: split, alienate, estrange

ANT: unite, unify, reconcile

purview

The range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided im a statue

SYN: orbit

sanguine

Having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

SYN: flushed, rosy

ANT: bloodless, ashen, pessimistic, gloomy

solecism

A substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; a mistake

SYN: misusage, blunder

vassal

a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes alliegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant

SYN: minion

ANT: overlord

verisimilitude

The quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable

SYN: realism, lifelikeness, authenticity