English Vocabulary #1-3

ambiguous

(adj.) 1. open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal 2. lacking clearness or definiteness; obscure; indistinct

ambivalent

(adj.) 1. Exhibiting or feeling the coexistence of opposing attitudes or someone

august

(adj.) inspiring awe, reverence, or admiration; majestic

brusque

(adj.) abrupt and curt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt.

comely

(adj) 1. Pleasing and wholesome in appearance; attractive 2. suitable; seemly

deluge

1. (n.) A great flood or a heavy downpour 2. Something that overwhelms as if by a great flood 3. (v) To overrun with water; inundate 4. To overwhelm with a large number or amount; swamp

despondent

(adj.) - feeling or expressing depression; dejected.

facade

(n.) - 1. the face of a building; 2. an artificial or deceptive appearance; put on a facade of sincerity

haggard

(adj.) having a gaunt, wasted, or exhausted appearance, as from prolonged suffering, exertion, or anxiety

harry

(v.) persistently harass or carry out attacks against; exhaust by repeated demands

homely

(adj.) not pretty or handsome; unattractive in appearance

judicious

(adj.) - Having or exhibiting sound judgment; prudent

lacuna

(n.) - 1. An empty space or missing part; a gap 2. Anatomy - A cavity, space, or depression, especially in bone, containing cartilage or bone cells.

paean

(n.) 1. A song of joyful praise or exultation 2. A fervent expression of joy or praise 3. An ancient Greek hymn of thanksgiving or invocation, especially to Apollo.

ruddy

(adj.) - 1. Having a healthy, reddish color; reddish; rosy 2. Chiefly British Slang Used as an intensive: "You ruddy liar!" (John Galsworthy).

scion

(n.) 1. A descendant or heir, especially of a wealthy or prominent family 2. Botany A detached shoot or bud from a plant that is joined to a rootstock in grafting.

travail

(n.) 1. Work, especially when arduous or involving painful effort; toil 2. Tribulation or agony; anguish 3. The labor of childbirth 4. (intr. v.) 1. To work strenuously; toil 5. To be in the labor of childbirth

vanguard

(n.) 1. The foremost position in an army or fleet advancing into battle 2. The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement

venerate

(tr.v.) To regard with deep respect or reverence.

visage

(n.) - 1. face or facial expression of a person 2. appearance; aspect

abomination

(noun) anything greatly disliked or abhorred; a cause of disgust

audacity

(noun) boldness or daring, especially with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions.

avarice

(noun) extreme desire for wealth

deft

(adj) dexterous; nimble; quick and skillful; adroit

deign

"(verb) to do something one consider beneath one's dignity; condescend"

harbinger

(noun, verb) one that foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner or herald; to signal the approach of

impertinent

(adj) - impudent, insolent

improvident

(adj) lacking foresight; incautious; unwary; not providing for the future; rash

indignation

(n) - anger aroused at something perceived as unjust or or mean

languid

(adj) - lacking energy; listless

pandemonium

(noun) wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar.

preclude

(v.) 1. to make impossible, as by action taken in advance; prevent 2. To exclude or prevent (someone) from a given condition or activity

raucous

(adj.) - boisterous and disorderly

rebuke

(verb, noun) to criticize sharply, reprimand; an expression of strong disapproval

specious

(adj) - having deceptive attraction; having false ring of truth

tenuous

(adj) - insubstantial, flimsy, precarious

tirade

(n) - angry, often denunciatory speech

trepidation

(n) - dread, apprehension

vehement

(adj) - characterized by forcefulness of expression or intensity of emotion; fervid

voluble

"(adj) marked by a ready flow of speech, as in the words rolled from someone's mouth; fluent"

alacrity

(n) - 1. Cheerful willingness; eagerness. 2. Speed or quickness; celerity

ameliorate

(v) - to make or become better; to improve

blithe

(adj) - 1. Carefree and lighthearted 2. Showing a lack of due concern; casual

deplore

(v) - 1. To express strong disapproval of; condemn 2. To express sorrow or grief over 3. to regret, bemoan

derelict

(adj) 1. deserted by an owner or keeper; abandoned; run-down; dilapidated 2. negligent; failing to do what should be done: derelict in his duty

effect

(v) - to bring about, make happen, cause or accomplish

ennui

(n) - Listlessness and dissatisfaction resulting from lack of interest; boredom: "The servants relieved their ennui with gambling and gossip about their masters" (John Barth).

epistolary

(adj) - associated with letters; composed of letters

evince

(v) - to show evidence of; reveal; manifest; sentences

fastidious

(adj) - 1. Showing or acting with careful attention to detail: a fastidious scholar; fastidious research. 2. Difficult to please; exacting 3. Excessively scrupulous or sensitive, as in taste, propriety, or neatness:

fortitude

(n) - Strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage.

indefatigable

(adj) - Having or showing a capacity for persistent effort; not tiring or relenting

inexorable

(adj) - Impossible to stop, alter, or resist; inevitable 2. Not capable of being persuaded by entreaty; relentless

intransigent

(adj) - Refusing to moderate a position, especially an extreme position; uncompromising

lugubrious

(adj) - Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree.

onerous

(adj) - Troublesome or oppressive; burdensome.

predilection

(n) - A special liking for something; a preference

sublime

(adj) 1. Characterized by nobility; majestic. 2. Of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth; not to be excelled, supreme 3. Inspiring awe; impressive

surreptitious

(adj) - Obtained, done, or made by clandestine or stealthy means

sycophant

(n) - A person who attempts to gain advantage by flattering influential people or behaving in a servile manner