Vocab Level E Unit 14

alacrity

(noun) a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action

syn: promptness, willingness, dispatch, celerity

alleviate

(verb) to relieve, make more bearable

syn: lesson, lighten, allay, mitigate, assuage

antithesis

(noun) the direct opposite, a sharp contrast

syn: contrary

appall

(verb) to fill with dismay or horror

syn: shock, stun, stupefy, horrify

bellicose

(adjective) warlike in manner or temperament; quarrelsome

syn: aggressive, combative, belligerent

disparage

(verb) to belitte, speak slightingly of; to undervalue

syn: degrade, decry, run down, underrate

dissonant

(adjective) not in harmony; disagreeing, at odds

syn: grating, strident, unmelodious, irreconcilable

droll

(adjective) amusingly odd

syn: comical, humorous, whimsical, zany

edict

(noun) an order issued by someone in authority

syn: command, decree, proclamation

elucidate

(verb) to clarify, explain

syn: interpret, expound, explicate

laud

(verb) to praise

syn: hail, extol, glorify, exalt

loll

(verb) to act in a lazy manner; to lounge; to recline, droop

syn: loaf, loiter

loquacious

(adjective) talkative, wordy; fond of talking

syn: gossipy, long-winded

magnanimous

(adjective) generous in forgiving, above small meanness

syn: unselfish, charitable, noble, bighearted

mandatory

(adjective) required, obligatory

syn: compulsory, requisite, imperative

nondescript

(adjective) ordinary, not outstanding; not easily classified

syn: plain, unremarkable, unimpressive

phlegmatic

(adjective) slow-moving, sluggish; unemotional

syn: lethargic, indolent, torpid, stolid, impassive

rescind

(verb) to repeal, cancel

syn: withdraw, revoke, retract, annul

vivacious

(adjective) lively, sprightly, full of energy

syn: spirited, animated

whet

(verb) to sharpen, put an edge on; to make keen or eager

syn: hone, excite, stimulate