Sadlier Unit 1 Vocab

adjunct

(noun): something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic (adjective): added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity

SYN: (n.) associate, addition, accessory

bellwether

(noun): the male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in a desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends

SYN: ringleader, initiator, barometer ANT: follower, imitator, emulator

caterwaul

(verb): to howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel (noun): a harsh or noisy cry; a racket

SYN: (v.) whine; (n.) screech

chimerical

(adjective): absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible

SYN: visionary, quixotic, pie

effete

(adjective): lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn

fait accompli

(noun): an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action

SYN: accomplished fact

hidebound

(adjective): narrow

hierarchy

(noun): any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc.

SYN: chain of command

laissez

faire

liturgy

(noun): a religious service or rite; the form of a ritual or other act of public worship

SYN: observance

morass

(noun): a patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one in entrapped, as in quicksand

SYN: bog ANT: solid ground, bedrock, terra firm

anoisome

(adjective): offensive or disgusting; foul

oblivious

(adjective): forgetful; unaware

SYN: insensible ANT: aware, cognizant, mindful, alert

poltroon

(noun): a base coward

SYN: craven, dastard, "chicken" ANT: stalwart, gallant

proselyte

(noun): a convert; a disciple

SYN: novice, neophyte ANT: master, teacher, guide, guru

quasi

(adjective): resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely

SYN: kind of, as if ANT: totally, completely, actually, in fact

raillery

(noun): good-humored teasing

ribald

(adjective): irreverently mocking; coarse, vulgar, or indecent in language

SYN: risque ANT: seemly, proper, decorous

supine

(adjective): lying flat on one's back; listless or lethargic; apathetic or passive

SYN: prone, prostrate, inert ANT: upright, erect, perpendicular, vertical

vignette

(noun): a short description or sketch; a picture or illustration with edges that gradually shade off; a decorative design on the title page of a book at the beginning or end of a chapter

SYN: thumbnail sketch, anecdote ANT: epic, full