UPCAT/PUPCET/ACET English Vocabulary

amalgamation

combination, conglomerate

stacatto

sharp, rapid sounds

incessant

continuous; to the point of annoyance

faux pas

false/wrong step, misstep, mistake

dystopia

anti-Utopia, corrupted and miserable society

facetious

inappropriate humour

contentious

quarrelsome, heated argument, controversy

nuncio

envoy

prelate

a high-ranking member of the clergy

obtruncated

beheaded, to deprive of a limb

vernacular

the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region

sedulous

assiduous, diligent, hard-working, industrious, persistent

timorous

timid, fearful, shy, afraid

Apotheosis

Deification; and exulted or glorified ideal

archetype

a prototype or original model

acquitted

declared not guilty of a specific offense or crime

achromatic

without color

abdication

to give up or step down from power

acidulation

the process of adding acid to an item such as lemon juices to apple slices

decimation

destroying or killing a large part of the population (literally every tenth person as chosen by lot)

denunciation

the act of openly disapproving a person or thing

phlegmatic

calm; sluggish; unemotional

munificent

Generous, giving liberally

proletarian

n. A person of the lowest or working class.

bourgeoisie

the middle and capitalist class

anarchist

one who believes in the absence of government or law; rebel

elitist

belief that certain people or groups are superior (the elites)

flaccid

(adj.) limp, flabby, not firm; lacking vigor or effectiveness

pliable

(adj.) easily bent, flexible; easily influenced

eminent

famous, outstanding, distinguished

obscure

dark; unknown; hard to understand, enigmatic

articulate

able to speak clearly and expressively

redoubtable

(adj.) inspiring fear or awe; illustrious, eminent

feeble

weak, lacking force or vigor

formidable

inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable

perturbing

to disturb or interrupt or agitate

profligate

recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant

abrogated

annulled; repealed; abolished; cancelled

annexation

Addition of new territory to an existing country

ratified

approved; confirmed; legalized

liquidated

disposed of; ended; killed

countermanded

(v.) to revoke, prohibit, forbid, oppose, cancel (a command) by a contrary order

resuscitation

act of reviving a person and returning them to consciousness

tourniquet

a bandage or other material wrapped tightly around a bleeding limb to stop the flow of blood

croquette

a small roll of chopped vegetables, meat, or fish, fried in breadcrumbs.

croquet

a lawn game in which players hit a wooden ball through a series of hoops

baguette

A long narrow loaf of French bread

parquet

a floor composed of short strips or blocks of woods forming a pattern

equivocal

ambiguous; intentionally misleading and open to two or more interpretations

arbitrary

(adj.) unreasonable; based on one's wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness

eucalyptus

a native tree of Australia eaten by the koala

artichoke

the flower head of a tall herb that resembles a thistle and is cooked as a vegetable.

gnat

Any of various a small two-winged biting flies that resembles a mosquito

baccalaureate

an academic degree conferred on someone who has successfully completed undergraduate studies

connoisseur

a person with expert knowledge or discriminating tastes in matters of culture, art, food, or wine

aardvark

first real word in the dictionary; nocturnal burrowing mammal of the grasslands of Africa that feeds on termites

gingerly

carefully

arduously

adv. - with great difficulty; laboriously

hallowed

greatly respected; holy; sacred

immaculate

intricate, spotless; flawless; absolutely clean

palatable

(adj.) acceptable, agreeable to the taste or one's sensibilities; suitable for consumption.

magnum opus

the greatest work of an artist, writer, or composer

raconteur

a person who tells stories and anecdotes with great skill;

witty, skillful storyteller

depredation

(n.) the act of attacking, preying upon or plundering

panache

flamboyant confidence of style or manner

exuberance

high spirits; happy enthusiasm

taxing

arduous, physically or mentally demanding

effervescent

(adj.) bubbly, lively (My friend is so effervescent that she makes everyone smile.)

invidious

offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment

eloquent

fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing; expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively

convalescence

the gradual recovery of health and strength after illness

angst

strong anxiety and unhappiness; a feeling of dread

noxious

harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant

futile

useless; pointless

impecunious

(adj.) poor, without money; penniless Ex: "I fear he's too impecunious to take me out tonight," the bratty girl whined.

panacea

a remedy for all ills; cure-all; an answer to all problems

scouring

cleaning thoroughly; looking over thoroughly in search of somebody or something

concede

(v.) to admit as true; to yield, submit

effusive

expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner

purport

to give or present the often false impression of being someone or intending something

melange

a mixture of dissimilar materials; a hodgepodge

brevity

(n.) shortness; briefness or conciseness in speech or writing

squabble

a noisy argument, esp. over an unimportant matter

ludicrous

(adj.) ridiculous, laughable, absurd

respite

(n.) a break, rest (Justin left the pub to gain a brief respite from the smoke and noise.)

CONVENE

to call together, to assemble

PLENARY

(adj.) complete in all aspects or essentials; absolute; attended by all qualified members

OBSOLETE

out-of-date, no longer in use

INSURGENCY

rebellion

IMMINENT

About to happen; likely to occur in the very near future

TRANSIENT

(adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time

VIGILANT

(adj.) wide-awake, alert, watchful

SCRUPULOUS

very principled, very careful and conscientious

ADULTERATED

to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value

VACILLATING

alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive