English Vocabulary Lessons 1-9 (Midterm Exam Review)

abhor

to detest, loathe, hate strongly

adamant

unyielding; firm in opinion

altercation

a heated argument

ambivalent

being uncertain, unable to decide between two opposing points of view; indecisive

amicable

friendly; peaceable

apathy

lack of interest

appease

to make calm or quiet; to give in to the demands of

arduous

difficult; requiring much effort; strenuous

audacity

insolence; rude boldness

avarice

excessive greed; desire for wealth

avid

eager; extremely interested

bawdy

indecent; humorously obscene

befuddle

to confuse; to perplex

cajole

to persuade with promises and flattery; coax

candid

outspoken, blunt; straightforward, honest

caustic

biting, sharp, severe, sarcastic; able to burn or corrode

chaos

complete disorder

chastise

to punish severely

circumvent

to bypass or go around; to avoid by cleverness

clandestine

secret

cliche

a worn-out idea or overused expression

coerce

to force a person to do something against his or her will; compel

collaborate

to work with another toward a goal; to cooperate with an enemy

complacent

pleased with oneself or one’s deeds; contented

concur

to be of the same opinion; to agree with

condone

to forgive or overlook an offense by treating the wrongdoer as if there had been nothing wrong

connive

to cooperate secretly in a wrongdoing

connoisseur

an expert; an authority

contrite

showing regret and sorrow, usually for having committed some wrongdoing; remorseful, repentant

copious

abundant; large in number or quantity

crass

coarse, stupid, tasteless

credence

belief or trust

culmination

the apex, highest point; completion, finish

cult

a fad-like devotion to a person, thing or idea; a group of people bound together by the same thing, person or ideal

cynical

inclined to distrust or deny the goodness or sincerity of human motives; distrustful

decorum

conformity to accepted standards of conduct; proper behavior; etiquette

destitute

extremely poor; lacking necessities like food and shelter

dilemma

a difficult choice; especially a choice between two equally undesirable alternatives

divulge

to reveal something private or secret

docile

easy to teach or manage; submissive, compliant

dogmatic

stating an opinion in an authoritative, superior, or arrogant manner

emaciated

extremely thin, wasted away

emulate

to imitate; to try to equal or better

enamored

to be in love with

enhance

to increase; to raise to a higher degree or quality

enigma

a puzzling or seemingly inexplicable situation, person, etc.

enraptured

to be delighted; thrilled

enunciate

to pronounce words clearly and distinctly

ethnic

of or having to do with races or classes of people and their language, culture, history, etc.

evoke

to call forth; to draw forth