Unit XII Vocabulary

Ab**jure**

**(v)** to renounce, repudiate under oath; to avoid, shun

**synonyms**: forswear, retract, recant, abstain from

**antonyms:** affirm, avow, aver, profess

**ac**rid

**(adj)** harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper

**synonyms:** irritating, stinging, bitter, caustic

**antonyms:** gentle, soothing, mild

au**gust**

**(adj)** majestic, inspiring admiration and respect

**synonyms:** stately, dignified, exalted, venerable

**antonyms:** humble, base, mean, lowly, abject

**ca**llous

**(adj)** emotionally hardened

**synonyms:** insensitive, unsympathetic, thick-skinned

**antonyms:** sensitive, compassionate, tenderhearted

clan**des**tine

**(adj)** secret, concealed, underhanded

**synonyms:** covert, furtive, surreptitious, stealthy

**antonyms:** open, overt, undisguised, aboveboard

com**punc**tion

**(n)** remorse, regret

**synonyms:** scruple, qualm, misgiving, contrition

**antonyms:** shamelessness, insouciance, nonchalance

confla**gra**tion

**(n)** a large destructive fire

**synonyms:** holocaust, wildfire

**antonyms:** deluge, flood

e**la**ted

**(adj)** in high spirits, jubilant; extremely pleased

**synonyms:** overjoyed, ecstatic, tickled pink

**antonyms:** depressed, crestfallen, despondent, blue

in**del**ible

**(adj)** not able to be erased or removed; memorable

**synonyms:** lasting, permanent, unforgettable

**antonyms:** erasable, impermanent, ephemeral

in**dul**gent

**(adj)** yielding to the wishes or demands of others

**synonyms:** lenient, permissive, tolerant, liberal

**antonyms:** strict, severe, inflexible, hard-nosed

in**vet**erate

**(adj)** firmly established, long-standing; habitual

**synonyms**: persisting, chronic, dyed-in-the-wool

ir**rel**evant

**(adj)** not to the point, not applicable or pertinent

**synonyms:** inapplicable, immaterial, beside the point

**antonyms**: pertinent, material, apropos, germane

noc**tur**nal

**(adj)** of or occuring at night; under cover of darkness

**synonyms**: nighttime

**antonyms**: daytime, diurnal

**plat**itude

**(n)** a commonplace, stale, or trite remark

**synonyms**: cliché, truism, bromide

**antonyms**: epigram, quip, witticism, bon mot

quell

**(v)** to subdue, put down forcibly

**synonyms**: suppress, pacify, squelch, quash, crush

**antonyms**: incite, provoke, arouse, foment, stir up

qui**esc**ent

**(adj)** inactive; at rest

**synonyms**: still, inert, motionless, dormant, tranquil

**antonyms**: active, thriving, lively, bustling, volatile

**ru**minate

**(v)** to meditate, think about at length; to chew the cud

**synonyms:** ponder, reflect, mull over, muse

**tac**it

**(adj)** unspoken, silent; implied, inferred

**synonyms**: unexpressed, unvoiced, understood, implicit

**antonyms**: explicit, express, specific

**tan**gible

**(adj)** capable or being touched; real, concrete

**synonyms**: perceptible, actual, evident, palpable

**antonyms**: immaterial, imperceptible, insubstantial

**tren**chant

**(adj)** incisive, keen; forceful, effective; cutting, caustic; distinct, clear-cut

**synonyms**: penetrating, cutting, telling, acute

**antonyms**: dull, bland, insipid, vapid, imperceptive