lessons 7-8

aspersions

attacks on a person's character or honesty; damaging or unfavorable remarks

compunction

a strong uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt; a sting of conscience or pang of guilt

derision

hateful or mocking laughter; ridicule

disapprobation

moral disapproval

ostracize

to banish or exclude from a group; to shun

rebuke

a. to criticize sharply

b. strong criticism

revulsion

a sudden, intense feeling of disgust

scurrilous

vulgar, coarse, or abusive in expression; foul-mouthed

spurn

to reject scornfully

vitriolic

intensely and bitterly harsh; stinging

accountable

a. responsible; required to answer for one's actions

b. explainable

assiduous

giving constant attention; hard-working; conscientious

default

a. failure to complete a task or meet an obligation

b. a situation that remains in effect unless specifically set in some other way

c. to fail to meet an obligation

feckless

a. ineffective; feeble; useless

b. careless and irresponsible

incumbent

a. imposed as a duty or an obligation

b. currently holding an office or a position

c. a person currently holding a position or an office

liability

a. a legal responsibility or obligation

b. something that holds one back; a handicap

mandatory

required or commanded by authority

negligence

neglect; lack or proper care or attention

onerous

difficult to bear, carry, or do; troublesome; burdensome

remiss

lax or careless in attending to duty