vocab U8-11

Annotation

a critical or explanatory note or comment, especially for a literary work

Covert

hidden, disguised, purposefully kept secret; sheltered, secluded

Debonair

pleasant, courteous, lighthearted; smooth and polished in manner and appearance

Efficacious

effective, producing results

Fortuitous

accidental, occurring by a happy chance

Gist

the essential part, main point, or essence

Gratuitous

freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted

Procrastinate

to delay, put off until later

Recondite

exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding

Sedentary

characterized by or calling for continued sitting; remaining in one place

Contingent

likely but not certain to happen, possible; dependent on uncertain events or conditions

Corroborate

to confirm, make more certain, bolster, substantiate, verify

Discursive

passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling

Disseminate

to scatter or spread widely

Dowdy

poorly dressed, shabby; lacking smartness and good taste

Gauche

awkward, lacking in social graces, tactless, clumsy

Heresy

an opinion different from accepted belief; the denial of an idea that is generally held sacred

Palpable

capable of being touched or felt, easily seen, heard, or recognized

Perceptive

having sympathetic insight or understanding, capable of keen appreciation

Salient

leaping, jumping, or springing forth; prominent, standing out, conspicuous

Abate

to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, become less

Adulation

praise or flattery that is excessive

Astute

shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

Egregious

conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense)

Irresolute

unable to make up one’s mind, hesitating

Nebulous

cloudlike, resembling a cloud; vague, confused, indistinct

Pretentious

done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably

Recapitulate

to review a series of facts; to sum up

Resuscitate

to revive, bring back to consciousness

Supposition

something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

Bovine

resembling a cow or ox; sluggish, unresponsive

Corpulent

fat; having a large, bulky body

Dispassionate

impartial; calm, free from emotion

Dissension

disagreement, sharp difference of opinion

Dissipate

to cause to disappear; to scatter, dispel; to spend foolishly

Gauntlet

an armored or protective glove; a challenge

Hypothetical

based on an assumption or guess; used as a provisional or tentative idea

Relegate

to place in a lower position; to assign, refer, turn over; to banish

Subservient

subordinate in capacity or role; submissively obedient

Susceptible

open to; easily influenced; lacking in resistance