joy luck club vocab

arpeggio(noun)

A chord whose notes a played in rapid succession

avant-garde(adj/noun)

radically new or original; any creative group involved in innovation(especially in the arts)

barb(noun)

pointy structure that prevents things like arrows or fish hooks difficult to remove; an aggressive remark directed at someone intended to have an affect

betrothed(adj)

to be pledged to marry

docile(adj)

easily handled/managed; calm

dowry(noun)

money or property bought given by a woman to a husband in marriage

guileless(adj)

free of deceit

haggle(verb)

negotiate over a price, terms of agreement, etc.

innuendo(noun)

an often malicious/inappropriate indirect implication

inviolable(adj)

incapable of being transgressed or dishonored; kept free of violation or criticism

kowtow(noun)

bending of the knees in a servile manner; to try and gain favor by cringing/flattering; surrender

lilting(adj)

characterized by a buoyant rhythm; happy, sweet-sounding cadence

listless(adj)

lacking zest or vivacity

longevity(noun)

property of being long-lived

malignant(adj)

dangerous to health; showing malicious intent and a desire to hurt

penance(noun)

voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing

penance(noun)

voluntary self-punishment in order to atone for some wrongdoing

verbatim(adv/adj)

using exactly the same words

Yin(noun)

dark, negative feminine principle in chinese dualistic cosmology

pretext(noun)

something to conceal plans