Vocab III Unit 8

allege (v.) (participle)

to assert without proof or confirmation

arrant (adj.)

thoroughgoing, out-and-out; shameless, blatant

badinage (n.)

light and playful conversation

conciliate (v.)

to overcome the distrust of, win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile, make consistent

countermand (v.)

to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first

echelon (n.)

;an organized military unit; a steplike formation or arrangement

exacerbate (v.)

to make move violent, severe, bitter, or painful

fatuous (adj.)

foolish in a self-satisfied way

irrefutable (adj.)

imposible to disprove; beyond argument

juggernaut (n.)

a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path

lackadaisical (adj.)

lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted (feckless)

litany (n.)

a prayer consisting of short appeals to God recited by the leader alternating with responses from the congregation; any repetitive chant; a long list

macabre (adj.)

grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject

paucity (n.)

an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth

portend (v.)

to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of

raze (v.)

to tear down, destroy completely; to cut or scrape off or out

recant (v.)

to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract

saturate (v.)

to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully

saturnine (adj.)

of a gloomy or suly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood

slough (v.)(n.)

to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary; to plod through as if through mud | a state of depression