Vocab check 12

abrogate

(v.) to repeal, cancel, declare null and void

Ambient

(adj.) completely surrounding, encompassing

Chicanery

trickery; deception

Cynosure

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

Deprecate

(v.) to express mild disapproval; to belittle

Detritus

(n.) loose bits and pieces of material resulting from disintegration or wearing away; fragments that result from any destruction

Facade

(n.) the front or face of a building; a surface appearance (as opposed to what may lie behind)

Gregarious

sociable, outgoing

Improvident

(adj.) not thrifty; failing to plan ahead

Incongruous

(adj.) not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible

Inure

(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure

Iaconic

using few words

Moribund

(adj.) dying, on the way out

Mutable

open to or capable of change, fickle

Nascent

starting to develop; coming into existence

Nepotism

(n.) undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one's relatives

Polarize

divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.

Restive

(adj.) restless, hard to manage, balky

Sequester

(v.) to set apart, separate for a special purpose; to take possession of and hold in custody

Winnow

(v.) to get rid of something unwanted, delete; to sift through to obtain what is desirable; to remove the chaff from the wheat by blowing air on it; to blow on, fan