Vocab List #5 Yeh

acquiesce

(v) to accept, agree, or comply quietly and without protest, frequently implying reluctant consent [Even though Leah strongly disagreed with the new rule to wear matching socks, she chose to acquiesce rather than risk losing his job by arguing]

assail

(v) to make a violent physical attack, to criticize someone strongly, or to trouble someone intensely

austere

(adj) stern, severe, or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

OR simple, plain, or unadorned, lacking luxuries and comforts

colloquial

(adj) informal, conversational, and characteristic of everyday speech rather than formal writing or speakin

consternation

(n) sudden, alarming feeling of dread, confusion, or dismay that leaves someone feeling helpless or bewildered

Disquisition

(n) formal, long, and detailed discourse, treatise, or essay that investigates a specific subject thoroughly

dissertation

(n) a long, formal, and structured research paper, usually written as a requirement for a doctoral degree (PhD) or master’s program

ebb

(n) the movement of the tide flowing out to sea, or a general decline, fading, or lessening in intensity

embosomed

(v) to shelter, enclose, or surround something closely, often protectively [The tiny village was embossed in a deep valley, surrounded on all sides by protective,towering mountains.]

ennui

(n) a feeling of listlessness, utter weariness, and general dissatisfaction resulting from a lack of interest, excitement, or activity [Despite his immense wealth, he suffered from a deep sense of ennui, finding no excitement in any of his expensive hobbies.]

exordium

(n) the introductory part of a speech, treatise, or literary composition [The speaker’s exordium was so captivating that the audience was hooked before he even reached the main point of his speech.]

glibly

(adv) speaking, acting, or writing with a smooth, easy fluency that is often superficial, insincere, or deceitful [He glibly promised to finish the project by morning, but his casual tone made me doubt he understood the difficulty of the task.]

gregarious

(adj) someone who is fond of company, sociable, or outgoing [Being naturally gregarious, Mark was always the life of the party and struggled when he had to spend an evening alone.]

hoary

(adj) very old, ancient, and often trite or overused [The hoary old hermit had a beard as white as the frost on the trees outside his cabin.]

imbibed

(v) to have consumed liquids, absorbed moisture, or taken in/retained ideas or knowledge [As a student in Paris, she imbibed the local culture as thirstily as she drank the espresso at the sidewalk cafes.]

impermanence

(n) the quality, state, or fact of being temporary, fleeting, or not lasting forever

indolence

(n) habitual laziness, sloth, or an avoidance of activity and work [The natural indolence meant that he spent most of his weekends lying on the couch instead of finishing his chores.]

jargon

(n) the specialized technical terminology, idioms, or vocabulary used by a specific group, profession, or hobby, which is often difficult for outsiders to understand

machinations

(n) crafty, secret, or devious plans designed to achieve a goal, usually involving manipulation or evil intent

magistrate

(n) a civil officer or lay judge with authorized, often limited, judicial powers to handle minor cases, conduct preliminary hearings, or issue warrants [The local magistrate presided over the small-claims court, ensuring that the law was upheld in minor disputes.]

perturb

(v) to make someone anxious, worried, or unsettled, or to throw something into disorder [Nothing seemed to perturb the calm surgeon, not even the unexpected complications during the operation.]

portmanteau

(n) a literary device and linguistic term for a new word formed by blending the sounds and meanings of two or more existing words [The word “brunch” is a portmanteau that cleverly blends “breakfast” and “lunch”.]

prig

(n) a person who is smugly self-righteous, arrogant, and irritatingly meticulous about propriety, morality, or rules

quay

(n) a solid, man-made structure built along the edge of a harbor, river, or waterway [The fishermen tied their boats to the stone quay and began unloading the day’s catch onto the dock.]

remissness

(n) the state or quality of being negligent, careless, or slack in performing duties, obligations, or tasks [The security guard’s remissness in leaving the gate unlocked allowed the thieves to enter the building easily.]

remonstrate

(v) to present reasons in opposition to something, often through formal protest, objection, or complaint [The players gathered to remonstrate with the referee, loudly protesting the unfair penalty call.]

sanguinary

(adj) involving or causing much bloodshed, gory, or bloodthirsty [The battle was a sanguinary affair, leaving the fields soaked in red and the hospitals overflowing with the wounded.]

sedulous

(adj) shows dedication, diligence, and careful perseverance [Through sedulous study and tireless practice, Trudy eventually became the best twirler in the country.]

snubbed

(v) to deliberately treat someone with disdain, reject them, or ignore them rudely [She felt deeply insulted when her former friend snubbed her at the gala, walking past without even a nod of recognition.]

sophisms

(n) a plausible but deliberately fallacious or misleading argument, often used to deceive or win a debate through clever rhetoric rather than sound logic [The lawyer relied on clever sophisms that sounded logical but were actually designed to deceive the jury.]

squalidness

(n) the state or quality of being filthy, wretched, or sordid, typically resulting from poverty or neglect [The squalidness  of the squat little cottage in the woods, with its peeling paint and lack of running water, was heartbreaking to see.]

unabating

(adj) not weakening, decreasing, or losing intensity; it describes something continuing at full strength

undulation

(n) a rising and falling motion, a wavelike form, or a rhythmic, smooth movement [The gentle undulation of the wheat field in the breeze looked like green waves moving across the land.]

variegated

(adj) marked with different colors, spots, or streaks (e.g., leaves) or something characterized by variety and diversity [The garden was filled with variegated ivy, its leaves a beautiful mix of dark green white, and yellow.]

wantonness

(n) quality of being reckless, unrestrained, immoral, or lewd [The wantonness of the vandals was shocking, as they destroyed the park equipment for no reason other than sheer contempt.]