Semester One Vocab

Approbation

The expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise. An official approval.

Assuage

To make easier or milder, relieve. To quiet, calm. To put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench.

Coalition

A combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose.

Decadence

Decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay. Excessive self-indulgence.

Elicit

To draw forth, bring out from some source.

Expostulate

To attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning.

Hackneyed

Used so often as to lack freshness or originality.

Hiatus

A gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing).

Innuendo

A hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense).

Intercede

To plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement.

Jaded

Wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence).

Lurid

Causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint.

Meritorious

Worthy, deserving recognition and praise.

Petulant

Peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset.

Prerogative

A special right or privilege. A special quality showing excellence.

Provincial

Pertaining to an outlying area. Local. Narrow mind in outlook. Countrified in the sense of being limited and backward.

Simulate

To make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of.

Transcend

To rise above or beyond. To succeed.

Umbrage

Shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade. An overshadowing influence or power. Offense, resentment. A vague description.

Unctuous

Excessively smooth or smug. Trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety. Fatty, oily; pliable.

Ameliorate

To improve, make better. To correct a flaw or a shortcoming.

Aplomb

Poise, assurance. Great self-confidence. Perpendicularity.

Bombastic

Pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas.

Callow

Without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers.

Drivel

Saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose. Foolish aimless talk or thinking; nonsense.

Epitome

A summary, condensed account. An instance that represents a larger reality.

Exhort

To urge strongly. To advise earnestly.

Ex Officio

By virtue of holding a certain office.

Infringe

To violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds.

Ingratiate

To make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory way).

Interloper

One who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder.

Intrinsic

Belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part.

Inveigh

To make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval.

Lassitude

Weariness of body or mind, lack of energy.

Millennium

A period of one thousand years. A period of great joy.

Occult

Secret, hidden from view. Not detectable by ordinary means. Mysterious, magical, uncanny.

Permeate

To spread through, penetrate, soak through.

Precipitate

To fall as moisture. To bring about suddenly. To hurl down from a great height. To give distinct form to.

Stringent

Strict, severe. Rigorously or urgently binding or compelling. Sharp or bitter to taste.

Surmise

To think or believe without certain supporting evidence. To conjecture or guess.

Abominate

To detest or loathe something intensely. Example: Many people __________ the idea of animal cruelty, advocating for animal rights.

Acculturation

The process of cultural change and adaptation that occurs when individuals from one culture come into contact with another.

Historical context

This often occurs in immigrant communities as they assimilate into a new society.

Adventitious

Referring to something that occurs accidentally or sporadically, rather than being planned. Example: The ___________ nature of the discovery led to unexpected scientific advancements.

Ascribe

To attribute something to a cause or source. Example: Scholars often__________the success of the Renaissance to the rediscovery of classical philosophy and art.

Circuitous

Describing a route or journey that is longer than the most direct way. Example: The ___________ route taken by the explorers added weeks to their journey.

Commiserate

To express sympathy or sorrow for someone else's misfortune. Example: Friends often _____________ with each other during tough times.

Enjoin

To instruct or urge someone to do something, often in a formal or authoritative manner. Example: The court _________(ed) the company from continuing its harmful practices.

Expedite

To make a process happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly. Example: The manager sought to ___________ the project to meet the deadline.

Expiate

To atone for guilt or sin. Example: The character in the novel sought to __________ his past mistakes through acts of kindness.

Ferment

A state of agitation or intense activity, often used in a social or political context. Example: The ________ of ideas during the Enlightenment led to significant societal changes.

Inadvertent

Unintentional or accidental. Example: The _____________ error in the report led to a misunderstanding among the team members.

Nominal

Existing in name only; not substantial. Example: The ____________ fee for the service was much lower than expected.

Peculate

To embezzle or steal funds entrusted to one's care. Example: The accountant was found guilty of ___________ company funds over several years.

Proclivity

A natural inclination or tendency towards something. Example: She had a ____________ for languages, mastering several by the time she was an adult.

Sangfroid

Composure or coolness shown in danger or under trying circumstances. Example: The firefighter's ___________ during the rescue operation was commendable.

Seditious

Inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch. Example: The _______ pamphlets circulated during the revolution fueled public dissent.

Tenuous

Very weak or slight; lacking a sound basis. Example: The ____________ connection between the two theories made it difficult to draw conclusions.

Vitriolic

Filled with bitter criticism or malice. Example: The __________ debate between the candidates turned many voters away.

Wheedle

To use flattery or coaxing to persuade someone to do something. Example: He tried to ___________ his way into getting a promotion by complimenting his boss.

Affable

Friendly, good-natured, and easy to talk to. Example: The _________ host made everyone feel welcome at the party.

Aggrandize

To increase the power, status, or wealth of someone or something. Example: The CEO's actions were seen as an attempt to _____________ his own position within the company.

Amorphous

Lacking a clear shape or structure; vague. Example: The ____________ nature of the project made it difficult to define its goals.

Archetype

A very typical example of a certain person or thing. Example: The hero's journey is an ____________ found in many cultures' storytelling.

Aura

(n.) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality

Contraband

(n.) illegal traffic, smuggled goods; (adj.) illegal, prohibited

Erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

Gossamer

(adj.) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; (n.) a very thin, light cloth

Inscrutable

(adj.) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically

Insular

(adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

Irrevocable

incapable of being changed or called back

Propensity

(n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward

Querulous

(adj.) peevish, complaining, fretful

Remonstrate

(v.) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to

Repudiate

(v.) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

Resilient

(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

Reverberate

(v.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

Scurrilous

(v.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

Sedulous

(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination

Sleazy

(adj.) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable