Chapter 1 Core Vocab I 1-50

ambivalent

having mixed or opposing feelings at the same time

anomaly

deviation from the norm or what is expected

anomalous

atypical, full of anomalies

sarcastic

mocking, derisive, taunting, stinging

sardonic

mocking, derisive, taunting, stinging

snide

mocking, derisive, taunting, stinging

dearth

a scarcity or shortage of something

paucity

a scarcity or shortage of something

prattle

to speak in a foolish manner, to babble incessantly

wry

dry; humorous with a clever twist and a touch of irony

droll

dry; humorous with a clever twist and a touch of irony

unconventional

not ordinary or typical; charactered by avoiding customary conventions and behaviors

unorthodox

not ordinary or typical; charactered by avoiding customary conventions and behaviors

meticulous

extremely careful; very exacting

painstaking

extremely careful; very exacting

fastidious

extremely careful; very exacting

audacious

fearlessly, often recklessly daring; very bold

indifferent

marked by a lack of interest or concern; nonchalant

apathetic

marked by a lack of interest or concern; nonchalant

diffident

hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence; unassertive; shy; retiring

self-effacing

hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence; unassertive; shy; retiring

pragmatic

practical; sensible; not idealistic or romantic

evocation

an imaginative recreation of something; a calling forth

presumptuous

talking liberties; brashly overstepping one’s place; impertinently bold; displaying effrontery

recalcitrant

stubbornly resistant and defiant; obstinate; obdurate; refractory; disobedient

boon

a timely benefit; blessing

bane

a source of harm and ruin

clandestine

secret; covert; not open, not aboveboard

surreptitious

secret; covert; not open, not aboveboard

affable

agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly

amiable

agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly

genial

agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly

gregarious

agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly

austere

having no adornment or ornamentation; bare; not ornate

austerity

great self-denial, economy, discipline; lack of adornment

altruism

unselfish concern for the welfare of others

ambiguity

the quality or state of having more than one possible meaning; doubtful; equivocal

ambiguous

unclear; uncertain; open to more than one interpretation; not definitive; dubious

upbraid

to express disapproval; to scold; to rebuke; to censure

reproach

to express disapproval; to scold; to rebuke; to censure

castigate

to express disapproval; to scold; to rebuke; to censure

nostalgia

a wistful sentimental longing for a place or time in the past

conjecture

an inference based upon guesswork; a supposition

obsolete

no longer in use; outmoded in design or style

archaic

no longer in use; outmoded in design or style

antiquated

no longer in use; outmoded in design or style

auspicious

very favorable

propitious

very favorable

gafee

a blunder; a faux pas; a clumsy social or diplomatic error

impasse

a deadlock; stalemate; failure in reach an agreement

anachronism

the false assignment of an event, person, scene, or language to a time when the event, person, scene, or word did not exist

belie

to contradict; to prove false, used of appearances that are misrepresentative

mitigate

to relieve; to lessen; to ease

mollify

to relieve; to lessen; to ease

assuage

to relieve; to lessen; to ease

alleviate

to relieve; to lessen; to ease

covet

to strongly desire; to crave

covetous

grasping, greedy, eager to obtain something; avaricious

antithesis

the direct or exact opposite; extreme contrast; antipode

antithetical

exactly opposite; antipodal

prototype

an original model; an initial design

aloof

detached; distant physically or emotionally; reserved; standing near but apart

trite

unoriginal; commonplace; overused; cliched

hackneyed

unoriginal; commonplace; overused; cliched

banal

unoriginal; commonplace; overused; cliched

platitudinous

unoriginal; commonplace; overused; cliched

insipid

unoriginal; commonplace; overused; cliched

antecedent

a preceding event; a forerunner; a precursor

plausible

believable; credible

implausible

unbelievable; uncredible

prudent

careful; cautious; sensible

aesthetic

relating to the nature of beauty, art, and taste; having a sense of what is beautiful, attractive, or pleasing

paradox

a seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless expresses a truth

enigmatic

mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling

inscrutable

mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling

acquiesce

to comply; to agree; to give in

naive

unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly credulous; unsophisticated; immature; inexperienced; ingenuous

gullible

unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly credulous; unsophisticated; immature; inexperienced; ingenuous

autonomy

independence; self-governance

autonomous

acting independently, pr having the freedom to do so; not controlled by others

futile

completely useless; doomed to failure; in vain

indigenous

native to an area

endemic

native to an area

ubiquitous

characterized by being everywhere; omnipresent; widespread; pervasive

prevalent

characterized by being everywhere; omnipresent; widespread; pervasive

pandemic

an epidemic that is geographically widespread and affect a large proportion of the population

fortitude

strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage