Sadlier AP Level G Units 1-9

acclamation

(n.) a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval

synonyms: ovation, cheering, plaudits

bucolic

(adj.) characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherd, pastoral

synonyms: rustic

calumniate

(v.) to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously

synonyms: defame, libel

chary

(adj.) extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffident

synonyms: wary, skittish

collusion

(n.) secret agreement or cooperation

synonyms: conspiracy, plot, connivance, cahoots

dilenttante

(n.) a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj.) superficial

synonyms: amateur, trifler

imperturbable

(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady

synonyms: unflappable, excitable, serene, unruffled

increment

(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition

synonyms: accretion, gain

mandate

(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order

synonyms: (n.) directive

paltry

(adj.) trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy

synonyms: measly, meager, piddling, trivial

paroxysm

(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion

synonyms: fit, seizure

pedantry

(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details

synonyms: nit-picking, hairsplitting, pettifoggery

peregrination

(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country

synonyms: journey, wandering, odyssey

redolent

(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; ending to arouse memories or create an aura

synonyms: evocative, reminiscent, aromatic

refulgent

(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent

synonyms: luminous, splendid

shibboleth

(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism

synonyms: catchphrase, password, slogan

tyro

(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill

synonyms: neophyte

unremitting

(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless

synonyms: constant, incessant, unrelenting

vacillate

(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will

synonyms: seesaw; fluctuate, oscillate

vituperative

(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding

synonyms: abusive, scurrilous, insulting

Allege

(v.) to claim; to assert without proof or confirmation

Arrant

(adj.) thoroughgoing, out-and-out; shameless, blatant

Badinage

(n.) light and playful conversation; banter

Conciliate

(v.) to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify, to reconcile, make consistent

Countermand

(v.) to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first; to revoke

Echelon

(n.) rank; one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a step-like formation or arrangement

Exacerbate

(v.) to make more violent, severe, bitter or painful; intensify

Fatuous

(adj.) stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way; inane

Irrefutable

(adj.) impossible to disprove; beyond argument; undeniable

Juggernaut

(n.) a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path

Lackadaisical

(adj.) lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted

Litany

(n.) a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list

Macabre

(adj.) grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject

Paucity

(n.) an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth. lack

Portend

(v.) to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of; foretell

Raze

(v.) to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out; demolish

Recant

(v.) to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract

Saturate

(v.) to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully, drench

Saturnine

(adj.) of a gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood

Slough

(v.) to cast off, discard; to shed, to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud; (n.) a mire; a state of depression

abject

degraded; base, contemptible; cringing, servile; complete and unrelieved

syn: wretched, miserable, ignoble, sheer, utter

ant: noble, exalted

agnostic

one who believes that nothing can be known about God; a skeptic; without faith, skeptical

syn: doubter

ant: believer

complicity

involvement in wrongdoing; the state of being an accomplice

syn: connivance, collusion

ant: noninvolvement, innocence

derelict

someone or something that is abandoned or neglected; left abandoned; neglectful of duty

syn: vagrant; delinquent

ant: punctilious, conscientious, scrupulous

diatribe

a bitter and prolonged verbal attack

syn: harangue, tirade

ant: panegyric, encomium, eulogy

effigy

a crude image of a despised person

syn: figure, figurine

equity

the state or quality of being just, fair or impartial; fair and equal treatment

syn: justice, fairness, impartiality

ant: bias, unfairness, prejudice

inane

silly, empty, meaning or value

syn: idiotic, moronic, fatuous

ant: sensible, meaningful, profound

indictment

the act of accusing; a formal accusation

syn: charge, accusation

indubitable

certain, not to be doubted or denied

syn: unquestionable, indisputable

ant: questionable, debatable, dubious

intermittent

stopping and beginning again, sporadic

syn: fitful, spasmodic, random

ant: uninterrupted

moot

open to discussion and debate, unresolved, to bring up for discussion

syn: debatable, questionable, broach

ant: undebatable, indisputable, self-evident

motif

a principal idea, feature, theme, or element

neophyte

a new convert, beginner, novice

syn: tenderfoot

ant: veteran, past master, expert, pro

perspicacity

keenness in observing and understanding

syn: acumen, discernment

ant: dullness, obtuseness

plenary

complete in all aspects or essentials; absolute

syn: unrestricted

ant: limited, restricted, incomplete

surveillance

a watch kept over a person; careful, close, and disciplined observation

syn: observation, monitoring

sylvan

pertaining to or characteristic of forests; living or located in a forest

syn: arcadian

testy

easily irritated; characterized by impatience and exasperation

syn: irritable, peevish, waspish, petulant

ant: imperturbable, unexcitable

travesty

a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation; a disguise

syn: burlesque, caricature, farce

Acuity

(n.) Sharpness (particularly of the mind or senses)

Delineate

(v.) To portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail; to represent pictorially.

Depraved

(adj.) Marked by evil and corruption, devoid of moral principles.

Enervate

(v.) To weaken or lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor of; enfeeble, hamstring.

Esoteric

(adj.) Intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret.

Fecund

(adj.) Fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive.

Fiat

(n.) An arbitrary order or decree; a command or act of will or consciousness.

Figment

(n.) A fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion.

Garner

(v.) To acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away, as for future use.

Hallow

(v.) To set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify, consecrate; to honor greatly, revere.

Idiosyncrasy

(n.) A peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify.

Ignominy

(n.) Shame and disgrace.

Mundane

(adj.) Earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs; concerned with what is ordinary.

Nuance

(n.) A subtle or slight variation (as in color, meaning, quality)

Overweening

(adj.) Conceited, presumptuous; excessive, immoderate.

Penchant

(n.) A strong attraction or inclination.

Reputed

(adj.) According to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance and good reputation; (part.) alleged.

Sophistry

(n.) Reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound; a fallacy.

Sumptuous

(adj.) Costly, rich, magnificent.

Ubiquitous

(adj.) Present or existing everywhere.

Atrophy

(n.) The wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v.) To waste away.

(SYN: degeneration, deterioration, wither)

(ANT: growth, mature)

Bastion

(n.) A fortified place, stronghold.

(SYN: citadel, rampart, parapet)

Concord

(n.) A state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant.

(ANT: disagreement, strife, discord)

Consummate

(adj.) Complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v.) To bring to a state of completion or perfection.

(SYN: masterful, clinch, conclude)

(ANT: launch, initiate, begin, kick-off)

Disarray

(n.) Disorder, confusion. (v.) To throw into disorder.

(SYN: disorganization, dishevel, mess up)

(ANT: organization, order, tidiness)

Exigency

(n.) Urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency.

(SYN: requirement, crisis)

Flotsam

(n.) Floating debris; homeless, impoverished people.

(SYN: floating wreckage)

Frenetic

(adj.) Frenzied, highly agitated.

(SYN: frantic, overwrought)

(ANT: calm, controlled, relaxed, leisurely)

Glean

(v.) To gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left in a field by the reapers.

(SYN: cull, pick up)

Grouse

(n.) A type of game bird; a complaint; (v.) to complain, grumble.

(SYN: kvetch, bellyache)

Incarcerate

(v.) To imprison, confine, jail.

(SYN: intern)

(ANT: liberate, free)

Incumbent

(adj.) Obligatory, required. (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of.

(SYN: mandatory, necessary)

(ANT: optional, unnecessary)

Jocular

(adj.) Humorous, jesting, jolly, joking.

(SYN: waggish, facetious, droll)

(ANT: solemn, grave, earnest, grim)

Ludicrous

(adj.) Ridiculous, laughable, absurd.

(SYN: risible, preposterous)

(ANT: heartrending, poignant, pathetic)

Mordant

(adj.) Biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh.

(SYN: acrimonious, acidulous, sardonic, scathing)

(ANT: bland, mild, gentle, soothing)

Nettle

(n.) A prickly or stinging plant; (v.) To arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely.

(SYN: peeve, annoy, incense, gall)

(ANT: please, delight, soothe, pacify)

Pecuniary

(adj.) Consisting of or measured in money; of or related to money.

(SYN: monetary)

Pusillanimous

(adj.) Contemptibly cowardly or mean-spirited.

(SYN: lily-livered)

(ANT: stouthearted, courageous)

Recumbent

(adj.) In a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting.

(SYN: prone, supine, inactive)

(ANT: erect, energetic, dynamic)

Stratagem

(n.) A scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end.

(SYN: trick, ploy, subterfuge)