Unit 10

askance

with suspicion or disapproval

attenuate

become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude

benign

kind disposition or manner

cavil

raise of trivial objections

charlatan

a flamboyant deceiver

decimate

kill in large numbers

foible

a minor weakness or peculiarity in someone’s character

forgo

do without or cease to hold or adhere to

fraught

filled with or attended with

inure

cause to accept or become hardened to

luminous

softly bright or radiant

obsequious

attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery

obtuse

slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity

oscillate

move or swing from side to side regularly

penitent

feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds

peremptory

putting an end to all debate or action

rebuff

a deliberate discourteous act

reconnoiter

explore, often with a goal of finding something or somebody

shambles

a condition of great disorder

sporadic

recurring in scattered or unpredictable instances