Chap 8

acquiesce

to give in, to comply

affinity

a natural attraction or feeling of kinship

blasphemous

grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred, profane

buttress

v. make stronger or defensible; n. a support or prop

circumspect

prudent; discreet

corroboration

confirmation that some fact or statement is true

deplete

to use up gradually

despotic

ruling oppressively and absolutely; tyrannical

emaciated

extremely thin; wasted away

empirical

derived from experiment and observation rather than theory

extraneous

not essential or vital

fallow

plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow; land left unseeded; to plow but not seed

homogeneous

of the same kind; similar; uniform

hyperbole

extravagant exaggeration

incontrovertible

indisputable; not open to question

irascible

irritable, easily angered, cranky, cross

laconic

brief and concise to the point of rudeness

magnanimity

having a lofty, generous, and courageous spirit

obsequious

attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; overly submissive and eager to please

proliferation

an increase in number, multiplication

scrupulous

very principled, very careful and conscientious (having scruples)

sublime

exalted, noble, uplifting

surreptitious

(adj.) Stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation

veracity

devotion to the truth

zeal

enthusiasm, fervor to accomplish some end or goal