Language, Luck, Order, Roots, Criticism, Will, and Negotiation Vocabulary

Appellation

A name or title that distinguishes or identifies.

Diphthong

A speech sound that consists of either two vowels or a vowel and a semivowel contained in a syllable.

Eponym

A person for whom something is or is thought to be named.

Linguistics

The study of human speech, especially its components, structure, and nature, and how it changes.

Neologism

A newly made up word, phrase, or expression.

Parlance

A particular manner or kind of speech.

Patois

A dialect other than the standard dialect of a language, especially a regional or uneducated form of speech; the distinctive language of a special group.

Polyglot

Consisting of many groups speaking different languages; speaking or writing several languages.

Solecism

The ungrammatical usage of a word or construction of a sentence; a violation of good manners or good tastes.

Vulgar

Spoken by or using the language spoken by the common people rather than literary, cultured, or learned people.

Amulet

An object worn to bring luck or to protect against evil or injury; charm.

Capricious

Characterized by or subject to sudden, unpredictable changes; fickle.

Fatalism

The belief that all events are determined in advance by fate and cannot be changed by human means.

Incantation

A set of words spoken as a magic charm or to cast a magic spell.

Propitious

Presenting favorable circumstances; auspicious; advantageous.

Providential

Resulting from or seeming to result from divine will; fortunate; opportune.

Quirk

A peculiarity or behavior; mannerism; idiosyncrasy.

Serendipity

The ability to make valuable discoveries by chance; luck.

Vagary

A wild or unpredictable motion or action; odd fancy.

Vicissitude

One of the sudden or unexpected changes or shifts often encountered in one's life, activities, or surroundings.

Continuity

The condition of being without a stop or interruption; an uninterrupted succession or flow.

Converge

To approach the same point from different directions; to move toward a common conclusion or result.

Crux

The basic or essential feature of something; a baffling or puzzling point that is difficult to explain.

Initiate

To begin, originate, cause to begin; to admit into membership.

Pivotal

Central or crucial to something; very important.

Sequel

Something that follows; continuation, a result or consequence.

Subordinate

One subject to the authority of another.

Tangential

Only superficially relevant or related.

Terminate

To bring to an end; conclude.

Ultimate

Last, coming at the end; farthest, extreme; greatest possible.

Incompetent

Not capable; not properly or well qualified; not adequate for the purpose; not sufficient.

Inept

Awkward or clumsy; not suitable to the circumstances or occasion; inappropriate; lacking in judgment, sense, or reason; foolish.

Proficient

Performing in a given art, skill, or branch of learning with expert correctness and facility; adept.

Propensity

An innate inclination; tendency.

Beseech

To address an earnest or urgent request to; implore; to request earnestly; beg for.

Blandishment

The act of coaxing by flattery or wheedling.

Cajole

To coax gently and persistently; wheedle.

Elicit

To bring out; evoke; to call forth.

Enjoin

To direct with authority and emphasis; command; to prohibit or forbid.

Exigent

Requiring immediate attention or remedy; urgent; requiring or demanding a great deal.

Imperious

Arrogantly domineering or overbearing.

Injunction

A command, directive, or order; a court order enjoining or prohibiting a party from course of action.

Mendicant

A beggar; depending upon alms for a living; practicing begging.

Query

A question; inquiry; a doubt in the mind.

Ambivalence

The simultaneous existence of conflicting feelings or thoughts, such as love and hate, about a person, an object or an idea; uncertainty or indecisiveness as to what course to follow; fluctuation.

Avail

Use, benefit, or advantage; to be of use or advantage to; help.

Equivalent

Equal in quantity, force, meaning, or value; having similar or identical functions or effects; practically equal.

Evaluation

The act of judging the value or worth of; the result of evaluating; a judgment or appraisal.

Evince

To show or exhibit, as an emotion; to demonstrate clearly or convincingly; make evident.

Invalid

Being without foundation or force in fact, truth, or law; not in effect; worthless; falsely based or reasoned; faulty; unjustified.

Invaluable

Of inestimable use or help; indispensable; having great value; priceless.

Prevail

To be greater in strength or influence; triumph; to be or become effective; to be most common or frequent; be predominant.

Valedictory

Bidding farewell; a farewell address.

Vanquish

To defeat in a battle, conflict, or competition; to overcome or subdue, as an emotion; suppress.

Abound

To be great in number or amount; to be fully supplied or filled.

Amplitude

Greatness of size; magnitude; fullness; breadth or range, as of intelligence.

Augment

To make greater as in size, extent, or quantity; increase.

Brevity

Briefness of duration; concise expression; terseness.

Commensurate

Of the same size, extent, or duration; corresponding in size or degree; proportionate.

Diminish

To make smaller or less or cause to appear smaller or less; to detract from the authority, rank, or prestige of.

Infinitesimal

Immeasurably or incalculably tiny.

Modicum

A small amount or quantity.

Prodigious

Impressively great in size, force, or extent; enormous; extraordinary; marvelous.

Quota

A proportional share assigned to a group or a member of a group; a maximum or fixed number or amount.

Abdicate

To relinquish formally; to relinquish high office or responsibility.

Abnegate

To deny to oneself; renounce.

Absolve

To pronounce clear of blame or guilt; to relieve from obligation; to pardon a sin.

Catharsis

A purifying or figurative cleaning or release of tension.

Countermand

To cancel or reverse; to recall by contrary order.

Recant

To make a formal retraction or disavowal of a previously held belief.

Recoup

To receive an equivalent for; make up for.

Renunciation

The act of giving something up, especially by formal announcement.

Rescind

To make void; repeal or annul.

Waive

To relinquish or give up voluntarily; to refrain from insisting upon or enforcing.

Adhere

To stick fast or together by or as if by grasping, suction, or being glued; to be devoted as a follower or supporter.

Aggregate

Gathered together into a mass so as to constitute a whole; total.

Dissimulate

To disguise under a feigned appearance; to conceal one's true feelings or intentions.

Egregious

Outstandingly bad; flagrant.

Ensemble

Any unit or group of complementary parts that contribute to a single effect.

Facsimile

An exact reproduction or copy.

Gregarious

Seeking and enjoying the company of others; sociable.

Inherent

Existing in someone or something as a natural, essential part, quality, or characteristic.

Segregate

To isolate or separate from others or form the main group.

Semblance

An outward or token appearance/form; the barest trace.

Affront

To insult intentionally.

Altercation

A heated and noisy quarrel.

Antagonist

One who opposes and actively competes with another; adversary.

Bellicose

Warlike in manner or temperament.

Breach

A breaking up or disruption of friendly relations; estrangement.

Contentious

Quarrelsome.

Dissension

A difference of opinion, especially one that leads to contention or strife.

Rancor

Bitter, long-lasting resentment; ill will.

Retribution

Something given or demanded in repayment, especially punishment.

Schism

A separation or division into factions.

Arbitration

The process by which the parties in a dispute submit their differences to the judgment of an impartial person or group.

Attaché

A person officially assigned to the staff of a diplomatic office in a foreign country.

Consulate

The premises occupied by a consul, an official appointed by a government.

Covenant

A binding agreement made by two or more persons or parties; compact.

Discretion

The quality of demonstrating a cautious reserve in one's speech or behavior; prudence.

Emissary

An agent sent to represent or advance the interest of a person, group, or nation.