First Semester Vocab - English 2 KAP

appalled

greatly dismayed or horrified

belligerently

hostile and aggressive

doggedly

having or showing tenacity and grim persistence

intolerant

narrow-minded about cherished opinions; unwilling to tolerate difference of opinion

meek

quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.

naive

(of a person or action) showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.

petty

of little importance; trivial

sadism

deriving of pleasure from inflicting cruelty on others

subservient

prepared to obey others unquestioningly

superficial

trivial; shallow; existing only on the surface and showing little depth

acquit

declare a person on trial not guilty as a result of a unanimous jury vote

alibi

an excuse, real or fictional, that a person could not have committed a crime

alleged

a person maintained by police to have committed a crime, but not yet declared guilty by a jury; alleged criminals are legally innocent until proven guilty

convict

declare a person guilty of a crime as a result of a unanimous jury vote

deliberate

to consider carefully by listening to, and arguing with, others' points of view

evidence

that which helps to prove or disprove a claim

hung jury

if a jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict, a hung jury is declared, and the jury selection process begins all over again

innocent until proven guilty

all American citizens are innocent until proven guilty; the prosecution (team fighting to convict the plaintiff) bears the "burden of proof" that the defendant is guilty

juror

one of the 12 members of a jury; peers of the person on trial

motive

the likely reason a defendant might have committed a crime

premeditated

determined or decided in advance

reasonable doubt

uncertainty as to a criminal defendant's guilt; the level of certainty a juror must have to find a defendant guilty of a crime

suspect

a person believed likely (by police) to have participated in a crime

testimony

the evidence a witness provides in court

verdict

the decision reached by a jury: guilty or not guilty

Downstage

the area near the footlights

Upstage

the area away from the footlights

Stage right

when an actor faces the audience, stage right is to his/her right

Stage left

when an actor faces the audience, stage left is to his/her left

imperiously

in a manner showing arrogant superiority

mollify

gain the good will of; make something more temperate: acceptable, or suitable by adding something else

precede

be earlier in time; go back further; be the predecessor of

derision

extremely unpleasant; repulsive

fawning

attempting to win favor by flattery

rapt

feeling great delight and interest

indignation

a feeling of righteous anger

belligerently

characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight

monotonous

sounded or spoken in a tone unvarying in pitch

jar

move or cause to move with a sudden jerky motion

feign

pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury)

imperceptibly

in a way that is so slight, gradual, or subtle as not to be perceived

odious

extremely unpleasant; repulsive

proclivity

a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing

hone

refine or perfect (something) over a period of time; sharpen (a blade)

insidious

proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects; treacherous, crafty

intutitive

using or based on what one feels to be true even without conscious reasoning; instinctive

subside

become less intense, violent, or severe; lapse into silence or inactivity

incessantly

without interruption; constantly

status quo

the existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues

warily

cautiously, carefully; in a way that shows a lack of trust, suspiciously

Astray

away from the correct path or direction

Excursion

a short journey or trip, especially one engaged in as a leisure activity

Ineradicable

unable to be destroyed or removed

Oblige

make (someone) legally or morally bound to an action or course of action

Bewilder

to confuse or puzzle completely; perplex

Placid

pleasantly calm or peaceful; unruffled; tranquil; serenely quiet or undisturbed

Afflict

cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble greatly or grievously

Exalt

hold (someone or something) in very high regard; think or speak very highly of.

Hasten

be quick to do something

Importunity

persistence, especially to the point of annoyance

Tumultuous

making a loud, confused noise; uproarious