Weeks 41-45

Advent

Arrival of an important event or person

allude

To suggest, hint

bogus

false, counterfeit

curry

to seek favor by flattery

denote

mean, show, indicate

impious

irreverent, lacking respect

insidious

Treacherous, sly, seductive

sanction

To certify, endorse

intrinsic

inherent, within itself

nutritive

having nourishing properties

Pall

To become dull, cease to please

potpourri

a mixture; medley

proffer

To offer for acceptance

propriety

correctness, suitability

raucous

noisy and disorderly

satiety

surfeit, excess, fullness

Shibboleth

A slogan or often repeated word or pet phrase

spate

rush, flood

substantiate

ratify, confirm

succulent

juicy

a pretty kettle of fish

a mess, trouble

the acid test

a severe test

a blind alley

a direction that leads nowhere

to twist around one's finger

to control completely

Quandary

Doubt, dilemma

Callous

Hardened, unfeeling

Expedient

Advisable, fit

Negligible

Trifling, inconsiderable

Blase

Indifferent, not responsive to excitement

To do one's heart good

To make one feel happy or better

Ennui

Boredom

Comely

Beautiful, handsome

Frenetic

Frantic, frenzied

Artifice

strategy, trickery

Diversity

Variety, change

Worth one's weight in gold

Extremely valuable, very useful

Qualm

Twinge of conscience

Expurgate

Remove objectionable parts or passages

Begrudge

To be resentful or reluctant

Artless

Innocent, naive

Gratuity

Tip

To make the best of a bad bargain

To change or go along with a poor situation

Manifest

Evident, obvious

Delve

Dig, do research

Capricious

Fanciful, whimsical

Requisite

Requirement

Replenish

To fill again, to restock

To make ends meet

To manage on a given income

roster

a list of names

stunted

checked in natural growth, held back in growth

atrophy

waste away

maim

disable, cripple

ameliorate

improve, relieve

cynic

pessimist, skeptic

unctuous

affectedly emotional

benevolent

kindly, charitable

subservient

servile

Iniquity

injustice, wickedness

Largess

gift, gratuity

criterion

model, standard, test

repent

regret, desire to make amends

mollify

pacify, appease

mercenary

motivated by desire for gain, greedy

pariah

social outcast

aloof

distant, apart, reserved

pragmatic

practical, based on experience

vestige

trace, evidence

guise

manner, appearance

to tell tales out of school

to reveal harmful secrets

a bolt from the blue

a great surprise

to lay one's cards on the table

to talk frankly

to burn the midnight oil

to study or work until very late

nullify

to abolish, cancel

deluge

to flood

futility

uselessness

carnage

slaughter

technology

applied science

libel

degradation by writing or publishing

defamatory

damaging character by false reports

plaintiff

the complaining party, in law

canard

a made up sensational story

deprecate

to express disapproval

reputed

thought, supposed, believed

frail

delicate, weak

potent

powerful, strong, intense

excoriate

to criticize severely

devout

religious, sincere

diminutive

tiny, small

profuse

overflowing, abundant

dulcet

sweet or melodious to the ear

impromptu

spur of the moment, offhand

malevolent

ill-disposed, ill-intentioned

to build upon sand

to have a poor base, or not sufficient preparation

a pretty kettle of fish

a messy situation, a problem

to toe the mark

to obey or stick to a rule or policy

to be under a cloud

to be in temporary disgrace or trouble

Wistful

longing, pensive, wishful

Raiment

Dress, clothing

Brigand

robber, bandit

Rail

Scold, use abusive language