vocab midterm exam

Tantalize

to torment someone with something they want without ever giving it to them

Remiss

negligent, derelict, lackadaisical, or neglectful

Nemesis

one who constantly works to ensure another's downfall

Placid

tranquil, calm

Wary

cautious and alert

Verbose

using more words than necessary

Myriad

an immense number

Superfluous

excessive, nonessential

Dilettante

someone who develops a superficial interest in an area of art or music without being a true expert

Faux pas

an act or comment with embarrassing social consequences

Platonic

describes a close relationship that has no romantic or sexual basis

Nonchalant

giving off a sense of calmness and coolness

Zeitgeist

the mood of a particular time period as captured by ideas and culture

Precedent

something that sets an example for how things are done in the future

Prepossessing

attractive and charming

Draconian

extremely strict, as laws or rules

Rapport

understanding and similar feelings that exist between people or groups

Gauche

clumsy and socially awkward

Passe

no longer in fashion

Sans

typically a facetious way of saying "without"

In lieu of

in place of, substitute

Schadenfreude

delight taken in another's misfortune

dogmatic

claiming one's opinion as though it were the unarguable truth

didactic

trying to instruct or impart knowldge, but typically in a way that is slightly condescending

retract

to take back a statement or an offer

assertive

willing to advocate for oneself, confident

repudiate

to reject, to renounce

adamant

unyielding; not giving in

voracious

having an extremely large appetite

ascetic

denying oneself simple pleasures, typically for religious reasons

abstemious

refraining from drinking or eating to much

insatiable

describing a hunger that cannot be satisfied

sate

to satisfy in terms of consuming enough

gourmand

a person who enjoys eating fine food, typically to excess

ravenous

extremely hungry; insatiable

hoodwink

to decieve

charlatan

someone who pretends to have knowledge so they don't hoodwink you

steadfast

firmly devoted

bilk

to cheat or swindle; usually involving money

ruse

a clever trick

bamboozle

to cheat or deceive

stalwart

loyal and reliable

fidelity

faithfulness; loyalty

lionize

to treat as a celebrity

deprecate

to express disapproval

derisory

derisive, putting down someone or something

hail

to praise or acclaim, usually loudly

approbative

Expressing approval.

pejorative

describing words or phrases that has a negative association

kudos

praise given for a job well done

venerate and rever

to respect deeply

belittle

to insult, put down

commend

to praise

indolence

laziness

vivacious

lively and animated

alacrity

cheerful promptness in response

industrious

Hardworking; diligent

lackadaisical

lazy and unenthusiastic

feckless

unmotivated, incompetent, irresponsible

bustle

to move about actively

portmanteau

a word formed by parts of two other distinct words

brunch

a late morning meal that has elements of both breakfast and lunch

neologism

new word or expression

archaic

describing a very old word, typically no longer in use

eponymous

named after a person

bombastic

describing someone whose speech is inflated and self-important

cryptic

intentionally vague or mysterious

turgid

describing writing that is bombastic and puffed up

lucid

clear; easy to understand

oblique

indirect (describing communication)

sesquipedalian

a person inclined to using very long words

erudite

Displaying scholarly knowledge

pedagogue

a teacher, especially a strict one

exuberant

highky enthusiastc