Sadlier Level H Unit 8 Vocab

aberration

aberration

(noun) a departure from what is proper, right, expected, or normal; a lapse from a sound mental state syn: anomaly, deviance, divergence

ad hoc

(adjective) for this specific purpose; improvised syn: impromptu, extempore, expedient (adverb) with respect to this

bane

(noun) the source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison

bathos

(noun) the intrusion of commonplace or trite material into a context whose tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality; the lowest phase, nadir; an anticlimax, comedown

cantankerous

(adjective) ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get along or deal with syn: irascible, irritable ant: affable

casuistry

(noun) the determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principles; specious argument syn: sophistry

de facto

(adjective) actually existing or in effect, although not legally required or sanctioned (adverb) in reality, actually syn: actual

depredation

(noun) the act of preying upon or plundering syn: looting, pillaging, robbing

empathy

(noun) a sympathetic understanding of or identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of someone or something else

harbinger

(noun) a forerunner, herald (verb) to herald the approach of

hedonism

(noun) the belief that the attainment of pleasure is life's chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure syn: indulgence

lackluster

(adjective) lacking brillance or vitality; dull

malcontent

(adjective) discontented with or in open definace of prevailing conditions (noun) such a person syn: dissident, agitator, troublemaker

mellifluous

(adjective) flowing sweetly or smoothly; honeyed syn: dulcet, sweet-sounding

nepotism

(noun) undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one's relatives

pander

(verb) to cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others syn: fulfill (noun) a person who does this

peccadillo

(noun) a minor sin or offense; a trifling fault or shortcoming syn: misdemeanor, delinquecy, indiscretion

pièce de résistance

(noun) the pricipal dish of a meal; the principal event incident, or item; an outstanding accomplishment syn: masterpiece, magnum opus

remand

(verb) to send or order back; in law, to send back to jail or to a lower court

syndrome

(noun) a group of symptoms or signs that collectively characterize or indicate a disease, disorder, abnormality, etc.