Vocabulary Workshop Level G Unit 13

abstruse

(adj.) extremely difficult to understand

affront

(n.) an open or intentional insult; a slight; (v.) to insult to one's face; to face in defiance , confront

canard

(n.) a false rumor, fabricated story

captious

(adj.) excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up

cognizant

(adj.) aware, knowledgeable, informed; having jurisdiction

contrite

(adj.) regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt

cynosure

(n.) the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct

decorous

(adj.) well behaved, dignified, socially proper

deign

(v.) to think it appropriate or suitable to one's dignity to do something

desiccated

(adj.) thoroughly dried out; arid and uninteresting

efficacy

(n.) the power to produce a desired result

engender

(v.) to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence

ethereal

(adj.) light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly

facade

(n.) the front of a building; a surface appearance

ghoulish

(adj.) revolting in an unnatural or morbid way

incongruous

(adj.) not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible

machination

(n.) a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some end

mesmerize

(v.) to hypnotize, entrance; to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch

opprobrium

(n.) disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach

putative

(adj.) generally regarded as such; reputed; inferred