Vocab #13

extremely difficult to understand

abstruse

an open or intentional insult; a slight; to insult to one's face; to face in defiance, confront

affront

a false rumor, fabricated story

canard

excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up

captious

aware, knowledgeable, informed; having jurisdiction

cognizant

regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent

contrite

the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct

cynosure

well behaved, dignified, socially proper

decorous

to think it appropriate or suitable to one's dignity to do something; to condescend

deign

thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit or vitality; arid and uninteresting

desiccated

the power to produce a desired result

efficacy

to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence, assume form

engender

light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound)

ethereal

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

facade

revolting in a unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead

ghoulish

not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible

incongruous

a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end

machination

to hypnotize, entrance; to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch

mesmerize

disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach

opprobrium

generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized, inferred

putative