Pre IB Vocab English II

Supplicant

A respectable, humble beggar who asks for something often from a person of authority to them.

Aegis

The protection or backing of a person or organization. Can also been seen as a godly figure or supportive authority.

Apportion

Divide and allocate; often seen when someone is deciding who to place the blame of an accident on.

Libation

An offering to a god or statue; often a liquid or drink.

Sordid

Morally wrong or unjust, icky actions. Someone may act inappropriately.

Gossamer

A fine, filmy substance that is so light it is almost weightless.

Jocund

Full of or showing high-spirited emotion.

Apt

Appropriate or suitable in the circumstances.

Deference

Humble submission and respect.

Adamant

Refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind.

Brazen

Bold and without shame.

Visage

A person's face, with reference to the form or proportions and features.

Refuse

Refers to waste material, garbage, or trash.

Forlorn

Pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely.

Congenial

(Of a person) pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests that are similar to one's own.

Impregnable

(Of a fortified position) unable to be captured or broken into.

Engulf

(Of a natural force) sweep over (something) so as to surround or cover it completely.

Bough

A main branch of a tree.

Circumvent

Find a way around (an obstacle).

Cordial

Warm and friendly.

Fastidious

Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.

Ameliorate

Make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.

Inexorable

Impossible to stop or prevent.

Countenance

Accepting or reluctant agreement.

Poignant

Evoking a keen sadness or regret; (even just a strong/ deep emotion).

Capitulate

Cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender.

Inure

Accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.

Vehemence

The display of strong feeling; passion.

Indelible

Not able to be forgotten or removed.

Penury

Extreme poverty; destitution.

Obdurate

Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.

Abhor

Regard with disgust and hatred.

Erroneously

In a mistaken way; incorrectly.

Repugnance

Intense disgust.

Capricious

Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.

Pernicious

Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.

Reverberate

(Of a loud noise) be repeated several times as an echo.

Mercurial

(Of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.

Lamentation

The passionate expression of grief or sorrow; weeping.

Beseech

Ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat.

Drivel

nonsense

Harangue

Lecture (someone) at length in an aggressive and critical manner.

Thwart

Prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.

Compendium

A collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, especially in a book or other publication.

Invariably

In every case or on every occasion; always.

Pugnacious

Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.

Adherent

Someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas.

Vapid

Offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging.

mutable 

Liable to change.

Myriad

A countless or extremely great number.

Gesticulate

Use gestures, especially dramatic ones, instead of speaking or to emphasize one's words.

Tableaux

A group of models or motionless figures representing a scene from a story or from history; a tableau vivant.

Archaic

Very old or old-fashioned.

Specious

Superficially plausible, but actually wrong.

Urbane

Courteous and refined in manner (typically used by a man).

Sanguine

Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation.

Inordinate

Unusually or disproportionately large; excessive.

Aureole

A circle of light or brightness surrounding something, especially as depicted in art around the head or body of a person represented as holy.

Zealot

A person who is fanatical and uncompromising in pursuit of their religious, political, or other ideals.

Fitfully

Not regularly or continuously; intermittently.

Supersede

take the place of

dissemble

conceal one’s true motives, feelings, or beliefs

repudiate

refuse to accept or be associated with

apoplectic

overcome with anger

burly

large and strong

hapless

unfortunate (often a person)

homely

unattractive in appearance

proclivity

a tendency to choose or do something regularly

supercilious

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

vacuous

having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless

sycophant

a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage

anachronistic

belonging or appropriate to a period other than that being portrayed

occult

beliefs and practices involving supernatural forces

edify

instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually

galvinize

shock or excite (someone) into taking action

paucity

the presence of something only in small or insufficient quantities; scarcity

colloquially

in the language of ordinary or familiar conversation; informal

visceral

relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect

eschew

deliberately avoid using; abstain from

capacious

having a lot of space inside; roomy