Vocab 1-3

cavort (verb)

to leap, dance, or play in a lively way

credence (noun)

belief or trust that something is true

decry (verb)

to express strong disapproval of

dissemble (verb)

to hide your true feelings or intentions

distraught (adjective)

very worried, upset, or agitated

eulogy (noun)

a speech of high praise for someone who has died

evince (verb)

to show or display clearly

exhume (verb)

to dig something up from the ground

feckless (adjective)

ineffective, irresponsible, and lacking purpose

murky (adjective)

dark, gloomy, and unclear

nefarious (adjective)

wicked, evil, or criminal

piquant (adjective)

having a pleasantly sharp or spicy taste

primordial (adjective)

existing from the very beginning of time

propinquity (noun)

nearness in time, place, or relationship

substantive (adjective)

important, meaningful, and having a solid basis

unwonted (adjective)

not usual or expected

utopian (adjective)

idealistic but often impractical

verbiage (noun)

an excessive amount of confusing words

verdant (adjective)

green with grass or vegetation

viscous (adjective)

thick and sticky

accost (verb)

to approach and speak to aggressively

animadversion (noun)

a critical or disapproving comment

avid (adjective)

extremely eager or enthusiastic

brackish (adjective)

slightly salty and unpleasant to drink

celerity (noun)

speed, swiftness

devious (adjective)

dishonest, tricky, or not straightforward

gambit (noun)

a strategic action to gain an advantage

halcyon (adjective)

calm, peaceful, and happy

histrionic (adjective)

overly dramatic or theatrical

incendiary (adjective)

designed to cause fires or stir up conflict

maelstrom (noun)

a powerful whirlpool; a situation of chaos

myopic (adjective)

shortsighted; lacking foresight

overt (adjective)

open, obvious, and not hidden

pejorative (adjective)

expressing disapproval or criticism

propriety (noun)

correct or appropriate behavior

sacrilege (noun)

disrespectful treatment of something sacred

summarily (adverb)

quickly and without delay

suppliant (adjective/noun)

asking humbly; a person who asks humbly

talisman (noun)

an object thought to have magic powers

undulate (verb)

to move with a smooth, wavelike motion

acquisitive

(adjective) - eager to acquire things, especially wealth

arrogate

(verb) - to claim or seize something without right

banal

(adjective) - ordinary and not interesting

belabor

(verb) - to work on or discuss something excessively

carping

(adjective) - tending to find fault and complain

coherent

(adjective) - logical and consistent

congeal

(verb) - to change from liquid to solid, to thicken

emulate

(verb) - to imitate with effort to equal or surpass

encomium

(noun) - formal expression of high praise

eschew

(verb) - to deliberately avoid or shun

germane

(adjective) - relevant and appropriate to the subject

insatiable

(adjective) - impossible to satisfy

intransigent

(adjective) - refusing to change one's views

invidious

(adjective) - likely to cause resentment or anger

largesse

(noun) - generosity in giving gifts or money

reconnaissance

(noun) - military observation of a region

substantiate

(verb) - to provide evidence to support

taciturn

(adjective) - reserved and uncommunicative

temporize

(verb) - to delay or avoid making a decision

tenable

(adjective) - able to be maintained or defended