Sadlier Connect Level H Unit 2

aegis

(noun) protection; patronage; sponsorship

syn. auspices

apprise

(verb) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice

syn. acquaint

ant. keep secret, withhold information

bibulous

(adjective) fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent

syn. inebrious

ant. abstemious, temperate

claque

(noun) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or a performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat

syn. fan club, flatters

ant. critics, detractors, slanderers

deracinate

(verb) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of 

syn. extirpate, eradicate, expunge

ant. implant, nurture, foster, instill

exegesis

(noun) an explanation or critical interpretation

syn. analysis, explication

ant. mystification

indigenous

(adjective) originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent

syn. endemic, domestic, homegrown

ant. foreign, alien, exoteric, imported

lachrymose

(adjective) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious

syn. tearful, doleful, dolorous

ant. dry-eyed, merry, hilarious

lexicon

(noun) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium

syn. wordbook, glossary

melee

(noun) a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling

syn. fracas, brawl, scuffle, donnybrook

ant. friendly chat, peace & quiet

microcosm

(noun) a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system

syn. epitome, world in little

ant. macrocosm, cosmos, totality

miniscule 

(adjective and noun) very small tiny; lower case letter

syn. infinitesimal, insignificant

ant. huge, massive, monumental

obfuscate

(verb) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder

syn. muddy the waters

ant. eludicate, explicate, clarify

paternalism

(noun) the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children

syn. benevolence, solicitude, fatherliness

polarize

(verb) to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrastingpostitions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern

syn. split, alienate, estrange

ant. unite, unify, reconcile

purview

(noun) the range, extend, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute

syn. orbit

sanguine

(adjective) having ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

syn. flushed, rosy

ant. bloodless, ashen, pessimistic, gloomy

solecism

(noun) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake

syn. misusage, blunder

vassal

(noun/adjective) a person under the protection of a feudal lord, to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant; subservient

syn. minion

ant. overlord

verisimilitude

(noun) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable

syn. realism, lifelikeness, authenticity