world lit vocab

edify

instruct or improve (a= confuse)

felicity

joyfulness or happiness

veracity

state of being truthful and straightforward

paragon

a perfect example of something, epimone (a: imperfection)

kitsch

low quality, but with a style people find funny in an ironic way, camp (a: classy)

cognizant

being aware of something, conscious (a: ignorant)

ethereal

extremely delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world, angelic (a: substantial)

ephemeral

lasting a very short time, momentary (a: permanent)

decry

to publicly denounce or criticize

fetter

to restrain or chain (a: free)

demagogue

a leader seeks support by appealing to prejudice rather then reason

largesse

generosity in giving money or large gifts s: altruism

wane

to decrease in vigor, power, or size

bombastic

high-level language that holds little meaning

levity

humor or frivolity, esp when discussing a serious matter

boon

a helpful or beneficial thing s: treasure a: curse

jettison

to throw away s: toss a: keep

prattle

to talk at length in a foolish way s: babble a: state

commodious

roomy and comfortable s: spacious a: cramped

nadir

the lowest point in the fortunes of a person s: pit a: peak

prodigious (adj.)

impressively great in extent, size, or degree s:immense a: small

reverent (adj.)

feeling or showing deep, solemn respect s: devout a: disrep

insolvent

unable to pay ones debt’s a: rich s: broke/bankrupt

savant (adj.)

an esp intelligent person a: dolt s: genius

spurn

to reject with hatred s: scorn a: accept

fastidious

very attentive to detail s: perfectionistic a:careless

duplicity

deceitfulness s:deception a: honesty

hackneyed

lacking significance because of overuse s: unoriginal a: new

esoteric

understood by only a small, specialized audience s: obscure a: simple

cherubic

having the childlike innocence or plump prettiness of a young angel s: adorable a: devilish

abate

to become less intense or widespread s: ease a: worsen

clemency

a decision not to punish someone s:mercy a: cruelty

lurid

presented in shocking or sensational terms s:tawndry a: discreet/restrained

gall

bold, disrespectful behavior s: nerve a: humility

kinetic

related to motion s: animated/active a: still

mottled

covered with spots or patches of color s:speckled a: solid/unblemished

accentuate

to make more noticeable s:emphasize a: hide

nascent

just beginning to come into existence s: dawning a: ending

disparage

to regard as being worthless s: belittle a: value/cherish

parish

a person who is, or should be, excluded s: outcast a: insider

sequester

to remove or hide away s: isolate a: include

caustic

sarcastic in a scathing way s: bitter a:sweet

unwieldy

difficult to carry or move s: bulky a: light

coalesce

to come together and form one mass or a whole s: merge a: divide

expedite

to happen sooner or more quickly s: accelerate a: delay

wily (adj)

skilled at gaining an advantage, especially deceitfully s:sneaky/sly a: honest/open

nebulous (adj)

unclear or vague s:hazy/cloudy a: sharp/defined

distend (v)

to cause bloating by stretching something from the inside s: swell/ balloon a: compress/shrink

heretic (n)

a person who hold an opinion that is add odds with what is generally accepted s: nonconformist/ heathen a: conformist/ believer

diminutive (adj)

extremely or unusually small s: tiny/ petite a: large/ enormous

adulation (n)

excessive admiration or praise s: worship/ flattery s: hatred/ criticism

bristle (v)

to react defensively, typically by drawing back s: withdraw/ flinch a: attack/ pounce

laud (v)

to highly praise, especially in public s: celebrate/ lionize a: mock/ lampoon

obtuse (adj)

slow to understand s: thick/ opaque a: quick/ clear

tome (n)

a large, heavy book, usually filled with academic knowledge s: volume/ classic a: flier/ leaflet

banal (adj)

so lacking in originality as to be obvious or boring s: trite/overused a: fresh/innovative

parsimony (n)

the quality of being unwilling to spend money or use resources; extreme frugality. s: cheapness/frugality a: generosity/lavishness

indolent (adj)

wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy. s: lazy/sluggish a: energetic/active

chastise

to reprimand severely s:rebuke/berate a: praise/celebrate

fallible

capable of making mistakes or being wrong s:imperfect/flawed a: perfect/certain

progeny (n)

the descendants of a person s: offspring/children a: parent/ancestor

veneer (n)

an attractive appearance hiding one’s real nature s: mask/façade a: reality/ authenticity

carouse (v)

to enjoy oneself with other in a noisy, lively way s: frolic/party a:grieve/mourn

supercilious (adj)

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others s: conceited/snobby a: humble/modest

immutable (adj)

unchanging over time or unable to be changed s: permanent/rigid a: flexible/alterable

svelte (adj)

slender and elegant s:trim/willowy a: thick/heavy

effrontery (n)

rude or disrespectful s:gall/shameless a:respect/obedience

undulate (v)

to move with a smooth, wavelike motion s:flow/fluctuate a:stay/hold

rescind

to revoke or cancel a law s:repeal/void a: establish/enforce

elusive (adj)

difficult to find, catch or achieve s:fleeting/mysterious a: definite/stable

circuitous (adj)

longer than the most direct way s:roundabout/meandering

disaffected (adj)

dissatisdied and no longer willing to support people in authority s:alienated/disgruntled a:contented/satisfied

anachronistic (adj)

belonging to a different time period s:misplaced/inconsistent a:timely/appropriate

ebullient (adj)

cheerful and full of energy s: joyful/bubbly a:solemn/depressed

feral

in a wild state s:untamed/savage a:domesticated/trained