English vocab for leaving cert

ambivalence

the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes

esoteric

intended for or understood by only a small group

ephemeral

lasting a very short time

provocative

Causing disturbance or excitement

omniscient

all-knowing

elusive

difficult to find, catch, or achieve

perverse

(adj.) inclined to go against what is expected; stubborn; turned away from what is good and proper

idiosyncratic

peculiar to the individual

emphatic

expressing something forcibly and clearly

valour

courage

propensity

a natural inclination or tendency

apathy

lack of interest or emotion

compassionate

Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.

penultimate

next to last

exoteric

known externally; readily understandable

effusive

Overflowing with words or feelings

serville

overly submissive

Haptic

relating to the sense of touch

modicum

a small amount of something

preeminent

standing out above others; superior

conjecture

an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information

gulosity

excessive appetite : greediness.

to exact

take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs

Redemption

the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.

eponymous hero

the central character for whom the play is named

platitude

stale; overused expression

caveat

a warning or caution

peripatetic

wandering from place to place, especially on foot

bereft

deprived of

machination

an evil design or plan

promposity

the trait of self importance

self-aggrandizement

the action or process of promoting oneself as being powerful or important

conflation

the act of grouping things together

(Lear's conflation of power and love)

hyperbolic

exaggerated

inextricable

(adj.) - hopelessly confused or tangled

cordial

warm and friendly

ad hominem

In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning "against the man."

insouciance

Casual lack of concern

(think souci en français)

obeisance

a bow or similar gesture expressing deep respect

faceitous

(adj.) humorous, not meant seriously

nostrum

a questionable remedy or scheme

refutable

deniable

erroneous

(adj.) incorrect, containing mistakes

unequivocal

absolute; certain

valiant

brave, courageous

eminent

of high reputation, outstanding

incontrovertible

unquestionable, beyond dispute

intrinsic

belonging to a thing by its very nature

Alturistic

unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others

philanthropic

charitable, giving

misconstrue

to interpret wrongly, mistake the meaning of

inprudence

ignorance

fallacious

false; misleading

albeit

although

vacillating

changing, fluctuating

insatiable

incapable of being satisfied

perturbation

disturbance

innate

inborn; natural

quagmire

marsh, difficult situation

viability

ability to exist

quisling

traitor

Istantaneous

instantly

if not me, who? if not now, when?

Emma Watson quote "if not...

inexterminable

unable to kill/eradicate

myriad

a very large number

inordinate

excessive

exacerbate

to make worse

emaciated

extremely thin; wasted away

perpetuate

to make permanent or long lasting

prepossessing

attractive or appealing in appearance

pathos

a quality that evokes pity or sadness

tyrant

a cruel and oppressive ruler

endow

to equip

filial

of or like a son or daughter

"do it trembling if you must, but do it"

Emmet fox quote: "do it....

belie

contradict; give a false impression

dissuade

to persuade not to do something

qualm

a feeling of uneasiness

beget

to produce; to make happen (comes from the term of the males role in reproduction)

discombobulated

confused

pragmatic

practical, as opposed to idealistic

Pragmatism

practicality

cynical

believing the worst of human nature and motives

voracious

desiring or consuming great quantities

cognoscent

s. n. somebody who knows a lot in a subject - an expert

slipshod

showing a lack of care or thought

evasion

an act of escaping or avoiding

to stonewall

hinder or obstruct by evasive, delaying tactics

abhor

to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

impunity

freedom from punishment

felicitate

To wish joy or happiness to, especially in view of a coming event.

ungainly

moving in a clumsy or awkward way

circumlocution

an indirect way of expressing something

attitudinize

striking an attitude just for an effect; posing

replete

full; abundant

eg) history is replete with examples of...

prevaricate

to lie or deviate from the truth

equivocate

to use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead

inimitable

not capable of being copied or imitated

careen

swerve

haphazard

marked by lack of plan, order, or direction