Unit 8-10

allege

to assert without proof or confimation

echelon

(n.) one of a series of grades in an organization or field of activity; an organized military unit; a steplike formation or arrangement

exacerbate

to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful

irrefutable

impossible to disprove; beyond argument

lackadaisical

(adj.) lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted

macabre

(adj.) grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject

paucity

an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth

portend

(v.) to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of

recant

(v.) to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed, renounce, retract

saturate

(v.) to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity; to satisfy fully

Acclamation (n.)

(n.) a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval

Collusion (n.)

secret agreement or cooperation

Dilettante

(n.) a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj.) superficial

Imperturbable

(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady

Increment

(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition

Mandate

(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order

Paltry

(adj.) trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy

Unremitting

(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless

Vacillate

(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will

Vituperative

(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding

attenuate

(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value.

benign

(adj.) gentle, kind, forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant.

decimate

(v.) to kill or destroy a large part of.

foible

(n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw.

forgo

(v.) to do without, abstain from, give up.

luminous

(adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing, illuminating.

obtuse

(adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding.

penitent

(adj.) regretful for one’s sins or mistakes; (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing.

shambles

(n) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess.

sporadic

(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order.