H English 10 Semester 1 Vocab

inscrutable

impossible to understand or interpret

haphazard

marked by lack of plan, order, or direction

avuncular

similar to an uncle

eccentric

deviating from conventional or accepted usage or conduct especially in odd or whimsical ways

malleable

adaptable, pliable, ductile

recalcitrant

stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority

conjecture

guess or surmise, using incomplete information

poignant

painfully affecting the feelings, deeply moving

industrious

diligent or busy

amiable

agreeable, having a friendly and sociable disposition

harbinger

one that announces or foreshadows what is coming, precursor

admonishment

to warn gently, reprove with a warning

inferno

a place or state that resembles or suggests hell

pulverize

to reduce as by grinding or crushing to very small particles

mollify

to soothe in temper or reduce intensity, appease

fatalism

the belief that events are determined by fate

dilapidated

fallen into partial ruin and decay

flimflam

deception and fraudulence

discretion

quality of being discreet, prudence or free will

calamity

great distress or misfortune, affliction

capricious

a sudden whim or fancy, an inclination to do something impulsive

nefarious

very wicked and evil, bad or immoral

skirmish

a minor engagement in war, a minor dispute

fetid

having an offensive smell, bad stench

burly

strongly and heavily built, husky, brawny, beefy

embezzlement

to steal money by falsifying records

avid

craving eagerly, enthusiastic in pursuit of interest

malice

desire to cause injury or distress to another

entreaty

a plea, an earnest request

instigate

to goad or urge forward, provoke or incite

demeaning

causing someone to lose their dignity

kin

an individual's relatives

dogged

marked by stubborn determination

meek

overly submissive or compliant, goes along with others

sadist

to delight in cruelty

intolerant

unwilling to grant freedom of expression

appalled

overcome with shock or dismay

naive

lacking worldly wisdom or experience

bigot

one who regards or treats members of a group with hatred and intolerance

subservient

submissive and controlled by authority

acquittal

a setting free from the charge of an offense by verdict, sentence or other legal process

defendant

a person required to defend themselves in a legal action or suit

prosecution

the party whom the criminal proceedings are instituted or conducted

burden of proof

the responsibility of the prosecution to prove to the jury the guilt of the accused

ignorant

lacking knowledge

unanimous

being in complete agreement

unconcious

according to Freud, a reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories

infallible

free from error, absolutely dependable

arrogance

overbearing pride, a lack of regard for others

avenger

person who seeks revenge for a wrongdoing

hobble

walk around with awkwardly or with a limp of some sort

sanctimonious

making a show of being morally superior to other people

reasonable doubt

a real doubt, based upon reason and common sense after careful

and impartial consideration of all the evidence, or lack of evidence, in a case