Amer Lit Vocab 5

materialism

materialism

a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values

methodical

habitually proceeding according to method; systematic

meticulous

marked by extreme or excessive care in the consideration or treatment of details

miserly

of or related to, or characteristic one who is extremely stingy with money; giving or sharing as little as possible

mitigate

to cause to become less harsh or hostile; mollify

morose

having a sullen and gloomy disposition

mundane

of, relating to, or characteristic of the world; lacking interest or excitement; dull

negate

to deny the existence or truth of; to cause to be ineffective or invalid

nonchalance

the quality or state of having an air of easy unconcern or indifference

notoriety

the state of being famous for doing something, esp. something immoral or bad

novelty

something new or unusual; a small manufactured article intended mainly for personal or household adornment

nurture

to supply with nourishment; training; upbringing

obliterate

to remove utterly from recognition or memory

oblivion

the fact or condition of not remembering; a state marked by lack of awareness or consciousness

obscure

dark; dim; shrouded in or hidden by darkness

obstinate

stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion

ominous

being or exhibiting an omen; portending evil or harm; foreboding; threatening; inauspicious

opaque

blocking the passage of radiant energy and especially light

opportunist

a person who practices opportunism, or the policy of adapting actions, decisions, etc.

optimist

a person who is inclined to be hopeful and to expect good outcomes

opulence

wealth; affluence; luxuriousness

orator

one distinguished for skill and power as a public speaker

ostentatious

attracting or seeking to attract attention, admiration, or envy often by gaudiness or obviousness; overly elaborate or conspicuous

pacifist

someone who opposes war or violence as a means of settling disputes

partisan

one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance to a party, cause, or person; strong supporter

peripheral

of, relating to, or being the outer part of the field of vision; supplementary

perpetuate

make (something, typically an undesirable situation or an unfounded belief) continue indefinitely

pervasive

existing in or spreading through every part of something

pessimism

an inclination to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions, and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome

phenomena

an observable fact or event; an object or aspect known through the senses rather than by thought or intuition

philanthropist

one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare

piety

fidelity to natural obligations (as to parents); dutifulness in religion

placate

to soothe or mollify especially by concessions; appease; make (someone) less angry or hostile

ponderous

of very great weight; unwieldy or clumsy because of weight and size

pragmatic

relating to matters of fact or practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters; not theoretical

preclude

prevent from happening; make impossible; rule out in advance

precocious

exceptionally early in development or occurrence

predator

an organism that primarily obtains food by the killing and consuming of other organisms; a person who ruthlessly exploits others.

predecessor

one that precedes; a person who has previously occupied a position or office to which another has succeeded

presumptuous

failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate; overstepping due bounds

pretentious

making usually unjustified or excessive claims of value or standing; expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature

prevalent

generally or widely accepted, practiced, or favored; widespread

prodigal

spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant

profane

to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt; secular; vulgar

profound

having intellectual depth and insight; something that is very deep

profusion

lavish expenditure; great quantity; abundance

proliferation

to grow by rapid production of new parts, cells, buds, or offspring

prolific

producing young or fruit especially freely; fruitful

provincial

one living in or coming from a province; lacking the polish of urban society; narrow

proximity

nearness in space, time, or relationship; closeness

prudent

marked by wisdom or judiciousness; shrewd political management; frugal; thoughtful for the future

qualified

fitted for a given purpose; competent; certified

quandary

a state of perplexity or doubt

ramble

to move aimlessly from place to place; talk or write aimlessly

rancor

bitter, rankling resentment or ill will; hatred; malice.

ratify

to approve and sanction formally; confirm

rebuttal

a refutation or contradiction

recluse

marked by withdrawal from society; solitary

turmoil

a state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, disturbance or commotion

undermine

to subvert or weaken insidiously or secretly; errode; lessen power

uniformity

the quality or state of being consistent in conduct or opinion

unwarranted

lacking adequate or official support; not justified or authorized

usurp

to seize and hold in possession by force or without right; seize

vacillate

to waver in mind, will, or feeling; fluctuate

venerate

to regard with great respect; worship; revere

verbose

containing more words than necessary; wordy

vigor

active bodily or mental strength or force; good health

vilify

to say unpleasant things to cause to have a bad opinion of something; defame

vindicate

to free from allegation or blame; justify

virtuoso

one who excels in the technique of an art

volatile

characterized by or subject to rapid or unexpected change; explosive; evaporative

whimsical

resulting from or characterized by whim or impulsive action; playful; fanciful

zealot

a fanatical partisan; somebody who is uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals