Vocab Test 2

ENG40

peremptory (adj)

cannot be denied, decisive

* not open to appeal or discussion; final

squalor (noun)

misery, filth, wretched

concede (verb)

to admit as true or correct (after first resisting to it)

omnipotence (noun)

having all the power or strength

credibility (noun)

the quality of believable, trustworthy

tantamount (adj)

as good as, equivalent to

cordial (adj)

courteous, friendly, sincere

reticent (adj)

reluctant, to say little, quiet

* not revealing one's thoughts or feelings easily

converged (verb)

come together, meet in a point

panacea (noun)

remedy, cure, solution (for difficulties or diseases)

criterion (noun)

standard of judgement, rule

* criteria is the plural of the word

aesthetic (adj)

referring to emotions, good taste

indifference (noun)

lack of interest, concern, or sympathy

decorum (noun)

proper action, conformity

* etiquette

cursory (adj)

hasty, skim over, superficial, not detailed

depravity (noun)

wickedness, moral  corruption

coercion (noun)

attempt to persuade by using force or constraint

discrepancy (noun)

inconsistency, variance between two or more things

modest (adj)

humble, not boastful

cynical (adj)

doubt sincerity, distrustful  of human sincerity or integrity

pensive (adj)

deeply reflective, thoughtfully sad

sedentary (adj)

moving little, keep sitting (literally)

cryptic (adj)

hidden meaning, secret

peripheral (adj or noun)

outer boundary, less important

bequeath (verb)

to hand down, pass on

eloquently (adverb)

fluent, expressive speech

curtail (verb)

reduce, cut short, diminish (smth)

delineated (verb)

describe with detail and precision

deterrent (noun)

restrain, hold back, hinder

* a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something

benevolent (adj)

desire to help others, generous

debilitating (adj)

to make weak or feeble

venerate (verb)

respect highly, honor

tenuous (adj)

not substantial, little importance, weak link, not strong

pithy (adj)

brief, concise, profound

trepidation (noun)

fear, anxiety, dread, shaking

callous (adj)

unfeeling, insensitive, showing cruel disregard for others

elucidate (verb)

make clear, explain, clarify

\

anarchy (noun)

chaos, disorder, rebellion

eclectic (adj)

from various sources, styles

* deriving ideas, styles, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources

dissipate (verb)

scatter, spread out, disperse

* cause to disappear (with reference to a feeling or other intangible thing)

facetious (adj)

amusing, not serious

* treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humour

disparity (noun)

inequality, difference

enmity (noun)

feelings of hostility, hatred

contempt (noun)

strong feelings of disapproval

* the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.

doctrines (noun)

teachings, principles

elusive (adj)

hard to express or define

scrutiny (noun)

analysis, close examination

divulge (verb)

to make known, reveal

serenity (noun) ; serene (adj)

the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled