vocab final 10-21

idolatry (n.)

excessive or blind adoration; worship of an object

adulterate (v.)

to make impure; to contaminate

emanate (v.)

to come forth; to send forth

garish (adj.)

tastelessly gaudy

immutable (adj.)

unchangeable; fixed

diadem (n.)

a crown

bucolic (adj.)

pertaining to the countryside; rural; rustic

redolent (adj.)

having a pleasant odor; suggestive or evocative

impecunious (adj.)

without money; penniless

sedition (n.)

rebellion or resistance against the government

defile (v.)

to pollute; to corrupt

gratuitous (adj.)

unnecessary or uncalled for

onus (n.)

a burden; a responsibility

impious (adj.)

disrespectful toward God

caveat (n.)

a warning

elixir (n.)

a supposed remedy for all ailments

desiccated (adj.)

dried up

cessation (n.)

a stopping; a discontinuance

juxtapose (v.)

to place side-by-side for comparison

kinetic (adj.)

pertaining to motion

garrulous (adj.)

talkative

fetish (n.)

an object that receives respect or devotion

scintillate (v.)

to sparkle; to twinkle; to sparkle intellectually

lachrymose (adj.)

tearful, weepy

fissure (n.)

an opening; a groove; a split

epitome (n.)

a typical example

languid (adj.)

sluggish; drooping from weakness

delineate (v.)

to describe, to depict

legerdemain (n.)

sleight of hand; deception

libertine (n.)

one who leads an immoral life

halcyon (adj.)

calm; pleasant

fastidious (adj.)

hard to please; fussy

badinage (n.)

playful, teasing talk

malapropism (n.)

a work humorously misused

garner (v.)

to gather; to acquire

kismet (n.)

destiny; fate; fortune (one's lot in life)

hegira (n.)

flight; escape

paradigm (n.)

a model; an example

debauchery (n.)

corruption; self-indulgence

milieu (n.)

environment; setting

regress (v.)

to move backward

bilious (adj.)

bad tempered; cross

necromancy (n.)

magic, especially that practiced by a witch

gumption (n.)

courage and initiative; common sense

blandishment (n.)

flattery

nirvana (n.)

a condition of great peace or happiness

salutary (adj.)

healthful; wholesome

despicable (adj.)

contemptible; hateful

harlequin (n.)

a clown

empathy (n.)

an understanding of another's feelings

brevity (n.)

briefness; short duration

savant (n.)

a person of extensive learning; an eminent scholar

obsequious (adj.)

excessively submissive or overly attentive

redundant (adj.)

repetitious; using more words than needed

offal (n.)

garbage; waste parts

hoi polloi (n.)

the common people; the masses

sentient (adj.)

conscious; capable of feeling or perceiving

impringe (v.)

to encroach; to trespass

cataract (n.)

a large waterfall

animosity (n.)

hatred

bombast (n.)

impressive but meaningless language

orthography (n.)

correct spelling

paleontology (n.)

a science dealing with prehistoric life through the study of fossils

recoil (v.)

to retreat; to draw back

panache (n.)

self-confidence; a showy manner

saturnine (adj.)

gloomy; sluggish

endemic (adj.)

confined to a particular country or area

mendacious (adj.)

lying; false; deceitful

obviate (v.)

to prevent; to get around

paroxysm (n.)

a sudden outburst; a fit

aggrandize (v.)

1. to increase the range of; to expand

2. to make appear larger

deign (v.)

to lower oneself before an inferior

flaunt (v.)

to show off

shibboleth (n.)

a word or pronunciation that distinguishes someone as of a particular group

elicit (v.)

to draw forth; to call forth

orifice (n.)

mouth; opening

hallow (v.)

to make holy

perdition (n.)

damnaion; ruin; hell

chaff (n.)

worthless matter

aesthetic (adj.)

pertaining to beauty

empirical (adj.)

based on practical experience rather than theory

germane (adj.)

relevant; fitting

hermetic (adj.)

tightly sealed

meretricious (adj.)

attractive in a cheap, flashy way

querulous (adj.)

complaining; grumbling

flaccid (adj.)

flabby

hospice (n.)

a shelter for travelers, orphans, or the ill or destitute

egregious (adj.)

remarkably bad; outrageous

ratiocinate (v.)

to reason; to think

foment (v.)

to stir up; to incite

salient (adj.)

significant; conspicuous; standing out from the rest

recant (v.)

to withdraw or disavow a statement or opinion

jocular (adj.)

humorous; lighthearted

palliate (v.)

to ease; to lessen; to soothe

malleable (adj.)

capable of being changed; easily shaped

recreant (n.)

a coward; a traitor

affinity (n.)

an attraction to

impalpable (adj.)

unable to be felt; intangible

fiscal (adj.)

pertaining to finances