Lang Lit II H - Quarter 1 Vocab

Abtruse (adj)

difficult to understand; obscure

amity (n)

friendship, peaceful relations, mutual understanding between people

arrogant (adj)

having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one’s importance or abilities

averse (adj)

having a strong dislike of or opposition to something

bolster (v)

support or strengthen; prop up

• clemency (n)

mercy or leniency granted to a person, typically in legal context

contingent (adj)

subject to change + occurring or existing only under certain circumstances

cupidity (n)

an excessive desire for wealth or possessions; greed

desultory (adj)

lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm

dissolution (n)

the breaking up or dissolving of something - could be a physical substance, a legal relationship, or an organization

emulate (v)

to strive to equal or surpass someone or something - implies a degree of copying and effort

euphemism (n)

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one that may be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarassing

fastidious (adj)

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

garish (adj)

obtrusively bright and showy; lurid

heed (v)

to pay attention to, take notice of, or give careful consideration to

impetuous (adj)

acting or done quickly and without thought or care

incredulous (adj)

unwilling or unable to believe something

insolent (adj)

showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect

jeopardy (n)

danger of loss, harm, or failure

legacy (n)

something handed down from the past - could by physical object, tradition, set values, etc.

malefactor (n)

a person who commits a crime or some other wrong

mitigate (v)

make less severe, serious, or painful

nurture (v)

a process of caring for and encouraging the growth and development of something - typically a child or living organism

optimist (n)

a person who tends to be hopeful and confident about something or the future

pervade (v)

(usually a smell) spread through and be perceived in every part of

preclude (v)

prevent from happening; make impossible

proximity (n)

nearness or closeness in space or time

recluse (n)

a person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people

revere (v)

feel deep respect or admiration for something

seditious (adj)

inciting or causing people to revel against the authority of a state or monarchy

stealth (n)

the ability to act secretly or unobserved - avoiding detection

tangent (n)

a completely different line of thought or action

trite (adj)

a remark, opinion, or idea, that is overused and has little importance; lacking originality or freshness

vacillate (v)

alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; indecisive

wane (v)

to decrease in size, strength, or intensity, or to gradually decline in power, importance, or influence

affable (adj)

friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to

anitquated (adj)

old-fashioned, outdated

assail (v)

make a violent attack on something

belie (v)

fail to give true notion or impression of something, fail to fulfill or justify

candor (n)

being open and honest; frankness

complacent (adj)

showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself and ones achievements

converge (v)

tend to meet at a point

daunted (adj)

make someone feel intimidated or apprehensive

digress (v)

leave the main subject or topic temporarily in speech or writing

dogmatic (adj)

inclined to lay down principles as inconvertibly true; opinionated, assertive

enigma (n)

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, difficult to understand

expurgate (v)

remove matter thought to be unsuitable from a text or account; censor

fledgling (n)

someone new to something; immature, inexperienced, underdeveloped

gravity (n)

extreme or alarming importance; seriousness

hyperbole (n)

extreme exaggeration for emphasis or effect, not taken literally

inadverdent (adj)

something done without intention, awareness, or realization

infamy (n)

the state of being well know for some bad quality or deed; ill repute

intractable (adj)

hard to control or deal with

jubilant (adj)

feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph

loath (adj)

reluctant; unwilling (NOT LOATHE WHICH MEANS HATE)

meager (adj)

lacking in quantity or quality; scant, limited

mundane (adj)

lacking interest or excitement; dull

obscure (adj)

not discovered or known about; uncertain

paragon (n)

a person or thing that is a model of excellence

phlegmatic (adj)

having unemotional or clam disposition; calm, composed

pretentious (adj)

attempting to impress by acting like you have more importance, talent, culture, than what you have; showy, ostentatious

quandary (n)

a state of uncertainty or perplexity

reprove (v)

reprimand or censure someone; scold, rebuke

sanction (v)

give official approval or impose a penalty on

slander (n)

the utterance of false and damaging statement that harms someones reputation

subtle (adj)

not obvious, often required careful attention

tenacious (adj)

keep firm hold on something; persistent, determined, forceful

ubiquitous (adj)

present, appearing, or found everywhere

vapid (adj)

offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging

wax

cover or teat something to polish it OR make a recording of something

alienate (v)

1. cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged

2. transfer ownership (property rights) to another person or group

arbitrary (adj)

based on a random choice or personal whim rather than any actual reason

astute (adj)

having or showing ability to accurately assess a situation and spin it in one’s favor

benign (adj)

gentle and kindly; not harmful in effect

censure (v)

express severe disapproval in a formal statement or manner

composure (n)

the state of being calm and in control of oneself

cordial (adj)

warm and friendly

deplore (v)

feel or express strong disapproval

disdain (n)

the feeling that someone is unworthy of one’s respect or consideration

elated (adj)

erratic (adj)

not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable

extraneous (adj)

irrelevant or unrelated to subject

fulminate (v)

to complain loudly and angrily

harbor (v)

to give shelter, conceal or hide something

imminent (adj)

about to happen

incompatible (adj)

two things incapable of existing together because of opposite character

infer (v)

deduce or include information from evidence and reasoning rather than explicit statements

irascible (adj)

having or showing tendency to be easily angered

laconic (adj)

(of a person, speech, style of writing) using little words

lucid (adj)

easily understood, mentally clear or rational

mellifluous (adj)

(of voice or words) sweet, musical, pleasant to hear

novelty (n)

being new, original, a small inexpensive toy

obtuse (adj)

annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand

penury (n)

extreme poverty

ponderous (adj)

slow and clumsy because of great weight

profound (adj)

describing something with extreme, intense, deep qualities

rampant (adj)

(something unwelcome or unpleasant) flourishing or spreading unchecked

reserve (n)

a supply of commodity not need for immediate use but available if needed

scrutinize (v)

examine or inspect closely and thoroughly

sporadic (adj)

occurring at irregular intervals or only in few places