Vocab Second Semester

analogous

comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared

brigand

a member of a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains

emissary

a person sent on a special mission, usually as a diplomatic representative

felicity

intense happiness

incendiary

(of a device or attack) designed to cause fires

• intending to stir up conflict

• very exciting

magnanimous

very generous or forgiving, esp. toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself

plight

a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation

repartee

conversation or speech characterized by quick, witty comments or replies

ubiquitous

present, appearing, or found everywhere

venerable

accorded a great deal of respect, esp. because of age, wisdom, or character

countenance

1. a person’s face or facial expression

2. support

deposition

the action of depositing something

discursive

digressing from subject to subject

disdain

extreme contempt or disgust for something or somebody

epigram

a concise, witty, and often paradoxical remark or saying

feign

to give a false appearance of, to represent falsely; pretend to

laconic

using few words; expressing much in few words; concise

mien

air, bearing, or demeanor, as showing character, feeling

veracity

habitual observance of truth in speech or statement; truthfulness

wry

dryly humorous, often with a touch of irony; misdirected; abnormally twisted or bent to one side; crooked

confound

to perplex or amaze, esp. by a sudden disturbance or surprise; bewilder; confuse; to contradict or refute

curate

(noun) a member of the clergy employed to assist a rector or vicar; any ecclesiastic entrusted with the cure of souls, as a parish priest. (verb) to act as curator of; organize and oversee

ethereal

light, airy, or tenuous. of or pertaining to the upper regions of space

gambol

to leap about playfully; frolic

mutability

liable or subject to change or alteration, fickle, constantly changing

nascent

beginning to exist or develop

nonplused

(verb) to render utterly perplexed; puzzle completely. (noun) a state of utter perplexity

pedantic

overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, esp. in teaching

quail

to lose heart or courage in difficulty or danger; shrink with fear

rhetorical

used for, belonging to, or concerned with mere style or effect

fatuous

foolish or inane, esp. in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly; unreal; illusory

febrile

pertaining to or marked by fever; feverish

furtive

taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret

incredulous

not credulous; disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical

interminable

incapable of being terminated; unending; monotonously or annoyingly protracted or continued; unceasing; incessant; having no limits

obliquely

having a slanting or sloping direction, course, or position; inclined; Devious, misleading, or dishonest

pernicious

causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful; deadly; fatal

sardonic

characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering

ultimatum

a final, uncompromising demand or set of terms issued by a party to a dispute, the rejection of which may lead to a severance of relations or to the use of force

writhe

to twist the body about, or squirm, as in pain, violent effort, etc; to shrink mentally, as in acute discomfort

astute

of keen penetration or discernment; sagacious; clever; cunning; ingenious; shrewd

beseech

to implore urgently; to beg eagerly for; solicit

capitulate

to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms

deprecating

to express earnest disapproval of; to urge reasons against; protest against (a scheme, purpose, etc.) to depreciate; belittle

glean

to gather slowly and laboriously, bit by bit; to learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly

obfuscate

to make something obscure or unclear, especially by making it unnecessarily complicated; to make something dark or hard to see

pathos

the quality in something that makes people feel pity or sadness; feeling of pity, especially when they are expressed in some way

primeval

at or from ancient, original stages in the development of something; primitive, or arising from instinct rather than thought

salubrious

beneficial to or promoting health or well-being

solicitous

expressing an attitude of concern and consideration; full of eagerness and anticipation to do something, paying very careful attention to detail

albeit

used to ad information that is different to what you have already said

bereft

deprived of somebody or something loved or valued; lacking in something desirable or necessary; filled with a sense of loss

gratis

received or given without cost or payment

intercession

the action of pleading on somebody’s behalf; the action of attempting to settle a dispute; prayer to God, a god, or saint on behalf of somebody or something

lineaments

a feature or contour of a face; a characteristic feature, especially of something immaterial

presage

a sigh or warning of a future event; a feeling that a particular thing, often something unpleasant, is about to happen; significance with regard to future events

prodigal

spendthrift or extravagant to a degree bordering on recklessness; giving or producing something in large amounts

prolixity

tiresome wordiness

sinecure

a job or position that provides a regular income but requires little or no work; a church office whose holder is paid but is not required to do pastoral work

visage

somebody’s face or facial expression; the appearance or look of something

accordant

being in agreement or harmony; consonant

accouterments

an accessory item of equipment or dress. often used in the plural

deportment

a manner of personal conduct; behavior

exposition

a systematic interpretation or explanation (usually written) of a specific topic

impugn

to challenge as false (another’s statements, motives, etc.); cast doubt upon

impute

to relate to a particular cause or source; attribute the fault responsibility to

parapet

a low wall along the edge of a roof or balcony

pertinacity

persistent determination

temperance

moderation of self-restraint in action, statement etc.; self-control

viands

articles or dishes of food, now usually of a choice or delicate kind

brevity

shortness of time or duration; briefness

copious

large in quantity or number; abundant; plentiful

gout

a painful inflammation of the big toe on the foot

habiliments

the special dress or garb associated with an occasion or office. often used in the plural

irksome

annoying; irritation; exasperation; tiresome

ponderous

lacking grace or fluency; labored and dull

scrupulous

having scruples; having or showing a strict regard for what one considers right; principled

sundry

various; miscellaneous

timorous

full of fear; fearful

transcendent

going beyond ordinary limits; surpassing; exceeding

amorous

strongly attracted or disposed to love, especially sexual love

benign

having a kindly disposition; gracious

dissolute

lacking moral restraint; indulging in sensual pleasures or vices

ebullient

overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited

entourage

a group of attendants or associates, as of a person of rank or importance

extol

to praise highly; laud; eulogize

languid

lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow

meet

fitting; proper

resolute

firmly resolved or determined; set in purpose or opinion

turgid

inflated, overblown, or pompous; bombastic

chastening

a rebuke for making a mistake

corporeal

having material or physical form or substance

derive

to reason by deduction; establish by deduction

dubious

fraught with uncertainty or doubt

equivocal

open to two or more interpretations; or of uncertain nature or significance or (often) intended to mislead

errant

straying away from the right course, or from accepted standards

goad

a pointed instrument used to prod into motion

languor

a relaxed comfortable feeling

resplendent

having great beauty or splendor

ruminate

to reflect deeply on a subject