vocab (copy)

Percussion (n.)

1. The sharp striking of one thing against another. Instruments that make a sound when struck

Perennial (adj.)

1. Lasting for an indefinitely long time. 2. Continuing regularly. Living longer than two years, said especially of plants.

Permeate (tr. v.)

To penetrate through spaces; to spread throughout.

Persevere (intr. v.)

To hold fast to a task or purpose despite handicaps or obstacles.

Defer (tr. v.)

1. To postpone; to delay. To yield respectfully to the opinion or will of another.

Dilatory (adj.)

Tending to delay or to postpone.

Elation (n.)

Excited feelings of pride, triumph, or happiness

Infer (tr. v.)

1. To use available evidence to form a conclusion. To guess.

Contend (intr. v.)

1. To engage in a quarrel, a struggle, or rivalry. To assert; to put forward in argument.

Intent (n.)

1. Purpose. Concentrating on or dedicated to an idea or action.

Subvert (tr. v.)

To upset; to overthrow; to ruin.

Subservient (adj.)

Excessively willing to yield; submissive.

Contort (tr. v.)

To twist or bend out of shape.

Distort (tr. v.)

1. To change something to make it false. To twist something out of it's natural shape.

Retort (tr. & intr. v.)

1. To reply quickly and sharply, often as if in reply to an accusation. A quick, witty, sometimes biting reply.

Tortuous (adj.)

1. Having many twists and turns.Deceitfully roundabout; tricky.

Adversity (n.)

Hardship; misfortune.

Avert (tr. v.)

1. To turn away one's eyes. To prevent.

Introvert (n.)

A person whose thoughts and interests are directed inward.

Perverse (adj.)

Stubbornly doing something other than what is reasonable or required.

Prose (n.)

1. Ordinary speech or writing without rhyme or meter. 2.bReferring to speech or writing other than verse.

Compound

a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture.

Excerpt

a passage taken from a book, article, etc.;to take such a passage; to quote

Exhilarate

to cheer; to stimulate; to enliven

Exonerate

to free from blame

Exorbitant

excessive

Exposition

a precise statement or explanation

Expound

to set forth an explanation or view of something in detail

Impose

to forcibly place upon

Impostor

one who deceives by using a false identity

Proponent

One who argues in favor of; supporter

Extraneous

coming from the outside, foreign; present but not essential, irrelevant

Extraterrestrial

outside or originating outside the limits of the earth's atmosphere

extrovert

a person chiefly interested in things outside the self, directing thoughts outward rather inward

Mediate

to act as negotiator between opposing sides in a dispute

Mediocrity

The condition of being commonplace or ordinary, somewhere in the middle between high and low; a very ordinary person

Medium

a substance or element through which something is transmitted; a person thought to have communication with spirits of the dead

non sequitur

A statement that does not follow logically from evidence

obsequious

overly submissive and eager to please

subsequent

Coming after or later

sequester

To go into hiding; to seek solitude

coherent

sticking together; showing an orderly relation of parts

colloquial

characteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing

commiserate

to feel or express sorrow or pity (used with with)

condone

to forgive or disregard an offense

commodious

spacious, roomy, as in house

contrite

throughly remorseful and repentant of one's sins

abstain

to refrain from something by one's choice

impertinent

impudent;rude

pertinacious

holding firmly, even stubbornly, to a belief

tenacity

hanging on to something persistently or stubbornly

aptitude

a natural talent or ability; quickness in learning

inept

without skill; foolish or absurd; out of place in an inappropriate manner

adjunct

an added part not essential to the whole

conjugate

to give forms of verbs in a fixed order

injunction

an authoritative command or order

juncture

a serious state of affairs; the condition or point of being joined

subjugate

to conquer; to dominate completely

astringent

harsh or severe

strait

a narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water; a difficulty or bad position (usually plural)

stringent

severe; constricted; tight; pertaining to scarcity of money

abrasive

Harsh; rough

abound

to exist in great numbers

abscond

to leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself

abhor

to detest thorougly

abstemious

(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self-discipline

discreet

showing tact, respect, and restraint in speech or behavior

ascertain

find (something) out for certain; make sure of

discern

to percieve; to detect differences

infraction

a violation, especially of a law

infringe

to go beyond set limits

suffrage

the right to vote, or a vote itself

superlative

the highest; above the rest

superfluous

beyond what is required; extra

concise

saying or writing much in few words

herbicide

a substance for killing plants, especially weeds

precise

Clearly expressed; exact; accurate in every detail

analyze

to look at something carefully by attention to its parts

catalyst

a force or person causing action, especially without being involved or changed by the consequences

absolve

to relieve of blame or obligation; to pardon a sin

resolute

determined; unshakable

resolve

to make a firm decision about

refute

disprove

reiterate

to say again, repeat

repartee

a quick, witty reply; conversation characterized by such remarks

repertoire

the list of pieces an actor, musician, etc., is ready to perform; the skills or accomplishments of a person or group

repose

a peaceful state

reticent

reserved

ostensible

to conceal the real reason

ostentatious

showy, pretentious

improvise

to make up something without preparation

visionary

a person with original ideas about what the future will or could be like

auspicious

favorable; fortunate

introspection

examination of one's own thoughts and feelings

restrospect

Reviewing the past; considering past events

specimen

a single thing that is taken as an example of a whole category

specter

a ghost; a haunting fear of future trouble

spectrum

the distribution of characteristics of a physical system, especially bands of colors seen as a rainbow or bands of differing sound ways

speculate

To form opinions without definite knowledge or evidence; to buy or sell something to make a profit but with risk of loss

surveillance

supervision or close observation, especially of a suspected person