Rhetoric & Style (H) Unit 1-5 Vocab

Sophomore Semester 1 Finals

affected

behaving in an artificial way to impress people

ambiguous

open to more than one interpretation

ambivalence

the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes

disparage

to belittle, speak slightingly of; to undervalue

engender

to produce, cause, or bring about

flummox

to confuse

inherent

Existing as a natural part

neophyte

(n.) a new convert, beginner, novice

presumptuous

assuming too much; arrogant

propensity

a natural inclination

recalcitrant

stubbornly disobedient

squalid

filthy

ascetic

practicing self-denial

buttress

to support

concede

(v.) to admit as true; to yield, submit

epitome

a typical example

lament

to mourn

obscure

difficult to understand; partially hidden

charlatan

(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack

prodigal

(adj.) wastefully extravagant; lavishly or generously abundant; (n.) one who is wasteful and self-indulgent

inert

unable to act or move; inactive; sluggish

reticent

silent; reserved

subtle

not obvious

dearth

(n.) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine

autonomous

self-governing; independent

banal

hackneyed, trite, commonplace

diffident

lacking self-confidence

elusive

hard to grasp

hasten

to hurry

idiosyncrasy

a peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify

precedent

an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.

proponent

One who argues in favor of; supporter

mercurial

quick, shrewd, and unpredictable

quell

calm; pacify

surmount

to overcome, rise above

spurious

not genuine; false

anomaly

deviation from what is normal

affinity

an attraction to

buttress

to support

enumerate

list; mention one by one

effervesce

bubble, fizz

furtive

secretive

galvanize

startle, excite, shock, electrify

infer

to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply

lackadasical

(adj.) lacking spirit or interest, halfhearted

paradigm

a model; an example

teem

be full of or swarming with

recant

To formally withdraw

audacity

excessive boldness, rashness, daring

conventional

(adj.) in line with accepted ideas or standards; trite

depravity

moral corruption; wickedness

enigmatic

mysterious, inexplicable, puzzling

entail

(v.) to put a burden on, impose, require, involve; to restrict ownership of property by limiting inheritance; (n.) such a restriction

gratuitous

(adj.) freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted

malleable

easy to shape or bend

opine

to express an opinion

prolific

(adj.) abundantly productive; abundant, profuse

rectify

to make right, correct

venerable

worthy of respect

supplant

to take the place of, supersede