Vocab 15

entice (base word)

(v) To lead on by arousing hope or desire

beguile

charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way

repel

drive or force (an attack or attacker) back or away

repulse

drive back (an attack or attacking enemy) by force

bait the hook

taking the necessary preparations in order to trick/coax successfully

entreat (base word)

(v) To ask or petition earnestly

beseech

ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something

urge

try earnestly or persistently to persuade (someone) to do something

cap in hand; hat in hand

humbly asking for a favor

envisage (base word)

(v) To have a mental image of something, especially when the thing does not yet exist; to conceive of

envision

imagine as a future possibility; visualize

epithet (base word)

(n) a. a Word or phrase used to describe or characterize someone or something (The expression need not be derogatory.)

b. A term of abuse or contempt

desingation

the choosing and naming of someone to be the holder of an official position

appellation

a name or title

moniker

a name

obscenity

an extremely offensive word or expression

hurl brickbats at

a criticism or rude comment

equanimity (base word)

(n) Calmness or evenness of temper

serenity

the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled

sangfroid

composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances

fretfulness

irritable, restless

agitation

a state of anxiety or nervous excitement

hysteria

exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement

equitable (base word)

(adj) Fair or just

inequitable

unfair; unjust

equanimity

mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation

evenhanded

fair and impartial in treatment or judgment

biased

unfairly prejudiced for or against someone or something

bias

prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair

erudite (base word)

(adj) Deeply learned, especially in a specialized area

ignorant

lacking knowledge or awareness in general

a pundit

an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called on to give opinions about it to the public

esoteric (base word)

a. Understood by or intended for only a select few.

b. Difficult to understand.

occult

not easily apprehended or understood

private

belonging to or for the use of one particular person or group of people only

arcane

understood by few; mysterious or secret

unfathomable

incapable of being fully explored or understood

cryptic

having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure

inscrutable

impossible to understand or interpret

exoteric

(especially of a doctrine or mode of speech) intended for or likely to be understood by the general public

accessible

easily understood or appreciated

ethical (base word)

(adj) In accordance with accepted principles of right and wrong

the puritan work ethic

the view that hard work is a signifier of one's election (salvation) and that diligence in one's work is pleasing to God

ethos

the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations

unscrupulous

having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair

dirty pool

dishonest, unfair, or unsportsmanlike conduct

ethnic (base word)

(adj) Relating to a small but distinct social group within the popu-lation. (The group in question is usually distinguished from the rest of the population by its particular religious, racial, national, or cultural character.)

euphemism (base word)

(n) The substitution of a relatively inoffensive term for one that is considered too harsh, unpleasant, or blunt

exacerbate (base word)

(v) To increase the bitterness or severity of; to irritate

agitate

make (someone) troubled or nervous

mitigate

make less severe, serious, or painful

mollify

appease the anger or anxiety of (someone)

allay

diminish or put at rest

assuage

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

rub salt in an open wound

to make a difficult situation even worse for someone

pour oil on troubled water

to try to make peace between people who are arguing

exalt (base word)

(v) To elevate in power, position, character, or the like

ennoble

give (someone) a noble rank or title

upgrade

raise (something) to a higher standard, in particular improve (equipment or machinery) by adding or replacing components

debase

reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade

degrade

treat or regard (someone) with contempt or disrespect

abase

behave in a way that belittles or degrades (someone)

exemplary (base word)

(adj) a. Worthy of imitation

b. Serving as a model, illustration, or warning

sterling

(of a person or their work, efforts, or qualities) excellent or valuable

paragon

a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality

epitome

a person or thing that is a perfect example of a particular quality or type

exigency (base word)

(n) A state of urgency or a situation demanding immediate attention; the pressing needs caused by such a crisis

a troubleshooter

a skilled worker employed to locate trouble and make repairs in machinery and technical equipment

designation

the choosing and naming of someone to be the holder of an official position

e, ec, ex

out of, from

fac, fic, fact, fect

do, make

-fy

to make, cause to be, render, to become, be made

-ology

study of something

Ornithology

the scientific study of birds

Ontology

the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being

Teleology

the explanation of phenomena in terms of the purpose they serve rather than of the cause by which they arise

Penology

the study of the punishment of crime and of prison management

Philology

the branch of knowledge that deals with the structure, historical development, and relationships of a language or languages

Tautology

the saying of the same thing twice in different words, generally considered to be a fault of style (e.g., they arrived one after the other in succession)

Entomology

the branch of zoology concerned with the study of insects

Osteology

the study of the structure and function of the skeleton and bony structures

Tetralogy

a group of four related literary or operatic works

bowdlerize

to remove offensive passages of a play, novel, etc

unflappable

keeping calm (you cant shake me up)