Adjectives Words

A comprehensive collection of vocabulary terms and definitions derived from the provided lecture notes covering linguistics, biological directions, and descriptive adjectives.

Saditty

putting on or marked by airs of superiority arrogant, conceited, uppity

Bicameral

(of a legislative body) having two branches or chambers.

Temperate

mild temperature

Cynical

believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.

Conspicuous

obvious, visible

Apathetic

showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Lotic

of, relating to, or living in actively moving water

Lentic

of, relating to, or living in still waters

Immiscible

not forming a homogeneous mixture when added together (e.g. oil and water)

Profuse

(especially of something offered or discharged) exuberantly plentiful; abundant.

• "I offered my profuse apologies"

Copious

abundant in supply or quantity.

Colloquial

used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not literary or formal

Sanguine

(1) organic or positive, especially in a bad situation

(2) a blood red color

Choleric

bad tempered or irritable

Phlegmatic

having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition

Stolid

calm, dependable, and showing little emotion/animation

Nascent

just coming into existence and beginning to show signs of future potential

Akin

of similar character, related to by blood

Convoluted

(1) extremely complex and difficult to follow (2) intricately folded, twisted, or coiled

Amicably

in a friendly and peaceable manner.

Callow

(of a young person) inexperienced and immature.

Stately

having a dignified, unhurried, and grand manner; majestic in manner and appearance.

Bosh

something regarded as absurd; nonsense.

• mid 19th century: from Turkish boş ‘empty, worthless’

Nubile

(1) (of a young woman) sexually attractive.

(2) (of a young woman) sexually mature; old enough for marriage.

Venal

showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery.

Obstinate

(1) stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.

(2) (of an unwelcome phenomenon or situation) very difficult to change or overcome.

Unregenerate

(1) not spiritually reborn or converted; not regenerate

(2) not reformed (as in one's political or social views); unreconstructed (like still following Stalin all your life); obstinate, stubborn

Headstrong

self-willed and obstinate.

Medial

situated in the middle.

Rostral

situated or occurring near the front end of the body, especially in the region of the nose and mouth or (in an embryo) near the hypophyseal region.

Caudal

of or like a tail; at or near the tail or the posterior part of the body.

Lateral

(1) of, at, toward, or from the side or sides.

(2) a side part of something, especially a shoot or branch growing out from the side of a stem.

Ventral

of, on, or relating to the underside of an animal or plant; abdominal.

Dorsal

of, on, or relating to the upper side or back of an animal, plant, or organ.

Vapid

offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging.

Pendulous

hanging down loosely.

Unrequited

(of a feeling, especially love) not returned or rewarded.

Palliative

(of a medicine or form of medical care) relieving symptoms without dealing with the cause of the condition. 

• Doubles as a noun too

Verboten

forbidden, especially by an authority.

Capricious

given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

Heavy handed

(1) clumsy, insensitive, or overly forceful

(2) using too much of something.

Uncouth

(1) (of a person or their appearance or behavior) lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.

(2) (especially of art or language) lacking sophistication or delicacy.

(3) archaic (of a place) uncomfortable, especially because of remoteness or poor conditions.

Racy

(1) (of speech, writing, or behavior) lively, entertaining, and typically mildly titillating sexually.

(2) (of a person or thing) showing vigor or spirit.

(3) (of a wine, flavor, etc.) having a characteristic quality in a high degree.

(4) (of a vehicle or animal) designed or bred to be suitable for racing.

Risque

slightly indecent and liable to shock, especially by being sexually suggestive.

Bawdy

dealing with sexual matters in a comical way; humorously indecent.

Reticent

not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.

• Reticence

Haphazard

lacking any obvious principle of organization.

• Haphazardly

Somber

(1) dark or dull in color or tone; gloomy

(2) oppressively solemn or sober in mood; grave.

Hallowed

(1) made holy; consecrated

(2) greatly revered and honored.

• Hallow is verb

Capacious

having a lot of space inside; roomy.

Malign

(1) evil in nature, influence, or effect : injurious

(2) to utter injuriously misleading or false reports about : speak evil of

• +malignant +malignly

Malevolent

(1) having, showing, or coming from intense often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred

(2) productive of harm or evil

Benevolent

marked by kindness or generosity : disposed to doing good

Virulent

(1) marked by a rapid, severe, and destructive course; badly infectious

(2) full of hate/malice

Lethargic

affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic, low energy

Touch and go

(1) unpredictable as to outcome; uncertain

(2) landing on a runway and taking off again without coming to a full stop. usually for training so many landings to be practiced in a short time

Bygone

belonging to or happening in a past time

Outmoded

no longer modern, useful, or necessary

Mickle/Muckle

very large

• could also be a noun.

Yellow-bellied

not having courage : cowardly

Antithetical

directly opposed

Obsequious

obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

Ingratiating

intended or adopted in order to gain favor : flattering

• Maybe Synonym: sycophantic

Intemperate

(1) having or showing a lack of self-control; immoderate

(2) given to or characterized by excessive indulgence, especially in alcohol.

Scrupulous

(1) extremely careful to do what is right or moral

(2) punctiliously exact : painstaking; like attentive to detail

• scruple - an ethical consideration or principle that inhibits action; to show reluctance on grounds of conscience

  • Verb and noun

Ephemeral

lasting for a very short time; (chiefly of plants) having a very short life cycle.

Crass

foolishly insensitive and coarse; offensive

Multiparous

(1) having given birth one or more times before in the past

(2) producing many or more than one at a birth (especially animals)

Precarious

(1) dependent on chance circumstances, unknown conditions, or uncertain developments

(2) in danger because not firmly fixed; likely to fall or suffer harm

Heady

having a powerful effect, making you feel slightly drunk or excited

Aural

of or relating to the ear or to the sense of hearing

Deft

skillful, especially smart and quick

Arduous

difficult and strenuous

Garish

(1) excessively or disturbingly vivid

(2) offensively or distressingly bright : glaring

(3) tastelessly showy : flashy

Dilapidated

decayed, deteriorated, or fallen into partial ruin especially through neglect or misuse

• Dilapidate is also a verb

Silver tongued

marked by convincing/persuasive and eloquent expression

Poignant

(1) deeply affecting : touching; especially painfully affecting the feelings : causing a strong feeling of sadness

(2) pervasive/sharp, especially in taste or smell

• Pronounced poinyent

Exorbitant

exceeding the customary or appropriate limits in intensity, quality, amount, or size, especially of prices or demands

Erudite

having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying : possessing or displaying erudition

• Eh roo dyte

Hapless

unfortunate/unlucky

• “Hapless car buyers that have been scammed”

• One definition of Hap = luck / fortune (archaic)

  • Another definition of Hap = cover or wrap with a blanket or warm clothes. (Scottish English). You can use it like the word Wrap(ped)

Astute

having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage; clever and strategic

Burgeoning

beginning to grow or increase rapidly; flourishing.

Inundated

(1) overwhelmed

(2) flooded

Satellite

(1) something that is separated from or on the periphery of something else but is nevertheless dependent on or controlled by it, especially a country or state politically or economically dependent on/controlled by another.

(2) a celestial body orbiting another of larger size; can be artificial (the communications devices that are sent up) or natural (what the moon is to earth)

• Satellite country, satellite office

Clad

being covered or clothed 

• “ivy-clad buildings", “clad in red silk pajamas”

Brilliant

(1) very bright, shining, radiant, glittering

(2) excellent

(3) smart

Empirical

based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.

Dirigible

(1) capable of being steered

(2) noun airship (think of a zeppelin or blimp)

Derelict

(1) abandoned especially by the owner or occupant; rundown, in bad condition

(2) failing to do what should be done; negligent

(3) derogatory noun really poor and homeless and destitute

(4) a piece of property, especially a ship, abandoned by the owner and in poor condition.

Decrepit

same thing as dilapidated, but can also refer to a person worn out by old age

Destitute

(1) without the basic necessities of life; lacking possessions and resources especially suffering extreme poverty

(2) not having (a specified thing), especially something desirable?

• A lake destitute of fish, a city destitute of commerce

True-blue

unwavering in one's commitment; extremely loyal.

Laconic

(of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words.

Immutable

not capable of or susceptible to change

Bodacious

excellent, admirable, or attractive.

Abstruse

difficult to comprehend; recondite, obscure

Recondite

(of a subject or knowledge) little known; abstruse, difficult to understand

Specious

having a false look of truth or genuineness; sophistic (plausible but fallacious)

• Someone who does this with their arguments can be called a sophist (saw fist)

Hyperbolic

of, relating to, or marked by language that exaggerates or overstates the truth : of, relating to, or marked by hyperbole

Scanty

limited or less than sufficient in degree, quantity, or extent

• Can be used to describe revealing clothing

• Scantily, scantiness