Vocab Unit 9

impunity

freedom from punishment

mien

(n.) air, manner; appearance; expression

penal

having to do with punishment

pertinent

(adj.) related to the matter at hand, to the point

predominant

(adj.) the greatest in strength or power; most common

prodigy

(n.) something wonderful or marvelous; something monstrous or abnormal; an unusual feat; a child or young person with extraordinary ability or talent

recluse

(n.) a person who leads a life shut up or withdrawn from the world

renown

fame, glory

defile

(v., trans.) to make unclean or dirty, destroy the purity of; (v., intrans.) to march in a single line or in columns; (n.) a narrow passage; gorge, canyon

dire

dreadful, causing fear or suffering, warning of trouble to come, demanding immediate action to avoid disaster

disarming

(adj.) charming, tending to get rid of unfriendliness or suspicion

disgruntled

(adj., part) in bad humor, discontented, annoyed

encroach

(v.) to advance beyond the usual or proper limits, trespass

endow

(v.) to furnish, equip, provide with funds or some other desirable thing or quality

fend

(v.) to ward off, resist; to get along, manage

apt

(adj.) suitable, fitting, likely; quick to learn

awry

(adj., adv.) in a turned or twisted position or direction; wrong, out of the right or hoped-for course

bludgeon

(n.) a short club used as a weapon; (v.) to strike with a heavy club; to use force or strong arguments to gain some point

capitulate

(v.) to end resistance, give up, surrender, throw in the towel

chafe

(v.) to warm by rubbing; to wear sore by rubbing; to feel annoyance or dissatisfaction, annoy, irk; to strain or press against; (n.) a sore or injury caused by rubbing