World Lit Midterm

10th

acrid

adj. harsh or corrosive in tone; strong and sharp; "the pungent taste of radishes"

ameliorate

verb get better; to make better

asinine

adj. devoid of intelligence

auspicious

adj. auguring favorable circumstances and good luck

belie

verb represent falsely; be in contradiction with

brazen

adj. made of or resembling brass (as in color or hardness); unrestrained by convention or propriety; verb face with defiance or impudence

castigate

verb inflict severe punishment on; censure severely

circumspect

adj. heedful of potential consequences

dearth

noun an insufficient quantity or number; an acute insufficiency

disparage

verb express a negative opinion of

dogmatic

adj. characterized by assertion of unproved or unprovable principles; relating to or involving dogma; of or pertaining to or characteristic of a doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative

empirical

adj. derived from experiment and observation rather than theory; relying on medical quackery

fastidious

adj. giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness; having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures

goad

noun a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something; a pointed instrument that is used to prod into a state of motion; verb stab or urge on as if with a pointed stick; urge with or as if with a goad; goad or provoke,as by constant criticism; give heart or courage to

guile

noun the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them); the quality of being crafty; shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception

inordinate

adj. beyond normal limits

impertinence

noun inappropriate playfulness; the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties; an impudent statement

lurid

adj. shining with an unnatural red glow as of fire seen through smoke; ghastly pale; glaringly vivid and graphic; marked by sensationalism; horrible in fierceness or savagery

nebulous

adj. lacking definition or definite content; lacking definite form or limits; of or relating to or resembling a nebula

portend

verb indicate by signs

pretext

noun something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason; an artful or simulated semblance

rapacious

adj. excessively greedy and grasping; devouring or craving food in great quantities; living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey

scintillating

adj. brilliantly clever; having brief brilliant points or flashes of light; marked by high spirits or excitement

stupor

noun marginal consciousness; the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

tenet

noun a religious doctrine that is proclaimed as true without proof