Unit 1-3 Vocab Test

Adjunct

(n). Something added to something else as helpful or useful be not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic.

(adj). Added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity.

Bellwether

(n). The male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in a desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends.

Caterwaul

(v). To howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel

(n). A harsh or noisy cry; a racket

Chimerical

(adj). Absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible

Effete

(adj). Lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn out or exhausted; sterile or unable to produce; out of date

Fait accompli

(n). An accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action.

Hidebound

(adj). Narrow minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative.

Hierarchy

(n). Any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order if rank, wealth, class, etc.

Liturgy

(n). A religious service or rite; the form of a ritual or other act of public worship.

Mirage

(n). Something illusionary, without substance, or without a basis in reality; an illusion.

Morass

(n). A patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand

Noisome

(adj). Offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious

Oblivious

(adj). Forgetful, unaware

Poltroon

(n). A base coward

Proselyte

(n). A convert; a disciple

Quasi

(adj). Resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely

Raillery

(n). a good humored ridicule; teasing

Ribald

(adj). Irreverently mocking, coarse, vulgar, or indecent in language

Supine

(adj). Lying flat on ones back; listless or lethargic; apathetic or passive

Vignette

(n). A short description or sketch; a picture or illustration with edges that gradually shade off; a decorative design on the title page of a boon or at the beginning of or end of a chapter

aegis

(noun) protection; patronage; sponsorship

apprise

(verb) to inform of; to make aware of

bibulous

(adj.) fond of or inclined to drink

claque

(noun) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirer

deracinate

(verb) to pull up by the roots; to uproot or dislocate

eleemosynary

(adj.) charitable; dependent upon or supported by charity; derived from or provided by charity

indigenous

(adj.) originating in the country or region where found; native; inherent

lachrymose

(adj.) mournful; given to tears or weeping

lexicon

(noun) a dictionary of a language

melee

(noun) a confusing struggle; a violent free-for-all

microcosm

(noun) a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as a model of a larger group or system

minuscule

(noun) very small; tiny

obfuscate

(verb) to confuse or bewilder (by design)

paternalism

(noun) the practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father with his children

polarize

(verb) to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions

purview

(noun) the range, extent, or scope of something

sanguine

(adj.) having a ruddy complexion; having a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

solecism

(noun) a substandard or ungrammatical usage

vassal

(noun) a person under the protection of a feudal lord; a subordinate or dependate; a servent

verisimilitude

(noun) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely or probable

ancillary

(adj). subordinate or supplementary

bowdlerize

(v). to remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film, etc.)

condescend

(v). to come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner

cozen

(v). to trick; to cheat or swindle

enclave

(n). an enclosed district, region, or area inhabited by a particular group of people or having a special character

forte

(n). a person's strong point; what a person does best

gratis

(adj). free; (adv). without charge

icon

(n). a representation or image of a sacred personage, often considered sacred itself; an image or picture; a symbol; a graphic symbol on a computer monitor display; an object of blind devotion

interstice

(n). a small, narrow space between things or parts of things

macrocosm

(n). the universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something

Mountebank

(N). A trickster or swindler; a char

paean

(n). a song of prase, joy, or triumph

persiflage

(n). lighthearted joking, talk, or writing

pragmatic

(adj). concerned with practical considerations or values; dealing with actions and results rather than with abstract theory; stiff in one's opinions

quizzical

(adj). puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal

rapacity

(n). inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one's desires by force, extortion, or plunder

schism

(n). a formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions

therapeutic

(adj). having the power to heal or cure; beneficial

virtuoso

(n). a brilliant performer; a person with masterly skill or technique; (adj). masterly or brilliant

Plethora

(N.) over fullness, superabundance