Vocabulary Words 1-80

For the class of Ms. Halverson. Should be effective for studying, with tests and flashcards - Sriram

allay

to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve

bestial

beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility

convivial

festive, sociable, having fun together, genial

coterie

a circle of acquaintances; a close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest

counterpart

a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement

demur

to object or take exception to; an objection

effrontery

shameless boldness, impudence

embellish

to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details

ephemeral

lasting only a short time, short-lived

felicitous

appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy

furtive

done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen

garish

glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way

illusory

misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality

indigent

needy, impoverished

inordinate

far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive

jettison

to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome

misanthrope

a person who hates or despises people

pertinacious

very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied

picayune

of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded

raiment

clothing, garments

allege

to assert without proof or confirmation

arrant

throughgoing, out-and-out; shameless, blatant

badinage

light and playful conversation

conciliate

to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent

countermand

to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first

echelon

one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a steplike formation or arrangement

exacerbate

to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful

fatuous

stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way

irrefutable

impossible to disprove; beyond argument

juggernaut

a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path

lackadaisical

lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted

litany

a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list

macabre

grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject

paucity

an inadequate quantity, scarcity, death

portend

to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of

raze

to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out

recant

to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract

saturate

to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully

saturnine

of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood

slough

to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud; a mire; a state of depression

acclamation

(n.) a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval

bucolic

(adj.) characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral

calumniate

(v.) to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously

chary

(adj.) extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffident

collusion

secret agreement or cooperation

dilettante

(n.) a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj.) superficial

imperturbable

(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady

increment

(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition

mandate

(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order

paltry

(adj.) trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy

paroxysm

(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion

pedantry

(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details

peregrination

(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country

redolent

(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura

refulgent

(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent

shibboleth

(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism

tyro

(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill

unremitting

(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless

vacillate

(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will

vituperative

(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding

askance

(adv.) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval

attenuate

(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value

benign

(adj.) gentle, kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant

cavil

(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism

charlatan

(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack

decimate

to kill or destroy a large part of

foible

(n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw

forgo

(v.) to do without, abstain from, give up

fraught

(adj.) full of or loaded with; accompanied by

inure

(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure

luminous

(adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating

obsequious

marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons

obtuse

(adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression

oscillate

(v.) to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver

penitent

(adj.) regretful for one's sins or mistakes. (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing

peremptory

(adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial; determined, resolute

rebuff

(v.) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n.) a curt rejection, a check

reconnoiter

(v.) to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection

shambles

(n.) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess

sporadic

(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order