English IV Vocabulary – Set 1A to Set 3D (Lecture Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards drawn from the lecture notes (Sets 1A–3D).

luxuriate

to grow profusely, thrive; to develop extensively; to indulge oneself.

cortege

a train of attendants; a procession, especially a funeral procession.

hearth

a brick, stone, or concrete area in front of a fireplace; fireside or home.

rout

to cause to run away; to defeat completely.

sanctimonious

hypocritically pious or devout; making a show of sanctity.

pitch

a black viscous substance obtained from the distillation of organic materials; tar.

dirge

a song or hymn of grief or lamentation; especially a funeral or memorial rite.

voracity

the state of being voracious; having a huge appetite or greed.

disconcerted

in a state of unsettled or disturbed; thrown off balance.

wan

pale or sickly looking; pallid.

gamut

the entire range or scope of something.

pettifogging

placing undue emphasis on petty details; nitpicky.

discomfiture

state of perplexity and embarrassment.

esprit de corps

a common spirit existing in members of a group; camaraderie.

revile

to speak abusively about; to harshly criticize.

uncanny

strange or mysterious; eerie.

decorum

proper behavior or conduct; good taste in conduct.

acrid

sharp, harsh or unpleasantly pungent in taste or odor.

restive

stubbornly resisting control; marked by impatience or uneasiness.

insatiable

incapable of being satisfied.

laconic

using a minimum of words; concise.

glower

to look or stare with sullen annoyance or anger; to scowl.

banal

lacking originality or freshness; dull.

oblique

slanting direction; indirect or not straightforward.

idyll

a simple descriptive work in poetry or prose that deals with rustic life or pastoral scenes; a peaceful or idealized mood.

benediction

a blessing; the invocation of a blessing, especially in religious rites.

solace

comfort or consolation; (as a verb) to comfort or console.

equanimity

evenness of mind under stress.

quixotic

foolishly impractical; romantic or chivalrous to a fault.

implacable

not capable of being appeased or pacified.

disquietude

anxiety or agitation; a state of uneasiness.

apathetic

showing little emotion or concern; indifferent.

surreptitiously

done in a secret or stealthy way.

aberration

a deviation from the norm; a departure from what is typical.

superfluous

exceeding what is necessary or sufficient; unnecessary.

spendthrift

a person who spends money wastefully.

plucky

brave and spirited.

incredulous

skeptical; unwilling to believe.

precarious

dependent on chance circumstances; unstable or insecure.

imprudent

not prudent; lacking good judgement.

whim

a sudden, impulsive idea or notion.

caprice

a sudden, impulsive, or unpredictable notion or action.

lucrative

producing wealth; profitable.

unassailable

not open to attack or doubt; undeniable.

compel

to drive or urge; to force.

dissimulation

the act of hiding under a false appearance; feigning.

deprave

to corrupt morally.

prevaricate

to deviate from the truth; to equivocate.

scurrilous

coarse, vulgar, and abusive; slanderous.

obstinate

stubborn; not easily subdued.

inexorable

unrelenting; impossible to stop or persuade.

amicable

friendly and peaceable.

apparition

a ghostly figure; a spectre.

unscrupulous

lacking moral principles; unprincipled.

incubus

an evil spirit that lies on sleepers; a nightmare; a burden.

repudiate

to reject as false or to disown; to refuse to accept.

heedless

careless or thoughtless; not paying attention.

abyss

a bottomless pit or deep chasm; immeasurably deep.

timorous

fearful or timid.

lascivious

lustful or lewd.

iniquity

immoral or unfair behavior; injustice.

promulgate

to proclaim or make widely known.

posthaste

with all possible speed; immediately.

mountebank

a dishonest person who sells quack medicines; a swindler.

beguiled

led by deception; charmed or misled.

anthropophagy

cannibalism; the act of eating human flesh.

flinty

hard-hearted or unyielding; like flint.

corrigible

able to be corrected or improved.

cuckold

a man whose wife is unfaithful.

paragon

a model of excellence or perfection.

egregious

conspicuously bad or offensive.

odious

extremely unpleasant or hateful.