Eng 10 Honors Vocabulary Study Set: Terms & Definitions

surrogate

Substitute, acting as a replacement

surreptitious

secret, stealthy

pneumatic

pertaining to air or gas

simian

apelike, relating to apes

treble

a high-pitched or shrill voice, tone, or sound

voluptuous

pleasurable to the senses, sensuous

undulation

a rising and falling in waves

scatological

relating to or characterized by an interest in excrement and excretion

obliquity

divergence from moral conduct

vitrified

made to look like glass

platitude

a commonplace, stale, or trite remark

abjection

a low or downcast state

paroxysm

a sudden outburst; a fit

turpitude

depravity, moral corruption

usurp

to take over; to seize power

abstemious

self denying; refraining from indulging

atonement

reparation for a wrong or injury

coquettishly

in a manner befitting a woman who flirts with men

heretical

violating accepted dogma or convention

sonder

the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own

bastion

a strong defense or fort

tumult

noisy excitement; an uproar or disturbance

vicissitude

a change or variation; ups and downs

tacit

understood or implied without being stated

taboo

excluded or forbidden from use or mention

leviathan

something enormous and powerful; a sea monster

crestfallen

discouraged, dejected, downcast

rebuke

to criticize sharply

demure

quiet and modest; reserved

corpulent

fat; having a large, bulky body

myopia

nearsightedness; lack of foresight

fervor

intense and passionate feeling

talisman

a magic charm or superstitious object for protection or luck

acrid

harsh in taste or odor; sharp in manner or temper

motif

a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition

contrite

feeling regret for having committed some wrongdoing

myriad

a countless or extremely great number

interminable

endless, so long as to seem endless

specious

deceptively attractive; seemingly plausible but fallacious

enmity

hatred, ill-will

accolade

tribute; honor; praise

aesthete

one who loves beauty in art or nature

cacophony

a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

fratricide

the killing of one's brother or sister

idiosyncratic

peculiar to one person; highly individualized

inane

without sense or meaning; silly

insidious

proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects

inveigle

to tempt or persuade by using deception or flattery

liaison

one who serves as a connection between individuals or groups; a go-between

opulent

wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose

poignance

a state of deeply felt distress or sorrow

vagary

unpredictable action or behavior

venerable

respected because of age

sanctity

the state or quality of being holy, sacred, or saintly

pungent

having a sharply strong taste or smell

patriarchal

relating to a society in which men hold the greatest legal and moral authority

irresolutely

uncertainty; without sureness

inured

accustomed to accepting something undesirable

bridle

show one's resentment or anger, especially by throwing up the head and drawing in the chin.

morii

the desire to capture a fleeting experience

convalesce

recover health after illness; recuperate

malaise

a feeling of depression, uneasiness, or queasiness

offal

waste parts of a butchered animal; refuse; garbage

evanescent

vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

ethereal

lightly, airy, heavenly

macabre

grisly, gruesome; horrible, distressing; having death as a subject

putrefaction

decomposition of body tissues.

infernal

relating to hell

expectorate

cough or spit out phlegm from the throat or lungs

cadaverous

pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse

carcass

the dead body of an animal

uncanny

strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanation

Gothic

of the middle ages; of or relating to a mysterious, grotesque, and desolate style of fiction

transgression

a violation of a law, command, or duty

lurid

causing shock or horror

folklore

the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.

behemoth

huge creature; anything very large and powerful

Banshee

In Irish folklore, a female spirit who wails to warn of impending death

familiar

Supernatural entities that would assist witches and cunning folk in their practice of magic

Samhain

In Celtic culture, a festival during which supernatural communication with the gods and the dead takes place; a precursor of Halloween.

auxiliaries

According to Plato, warriors responsible to defend the city, maintain peace, & make sure producers obey

guardians

According to Plato, people responsible for ruling the city; chosen from among the ranks of auxiliaries & known as philosopher-kings

producers

According to Plato, the largest class in society; have no share in ruling & focus on obeying; follow principle of specialization

specialization

According to Plato, the principle that every person must fulfill the societal role to which nature bests suits them

Metaphysics/Ontology

The study of what is real, of being, and of what exists

Epistemology

The study of the nature, origin, and scope of knowledge, the rationality of belief, and various related issues

interlocutor

Someone who participates in a conversation

Natural Law Theory

A theory in ethics and philosophy that says that human beings possess intrinsic values that govern their reasoning and behavior.

Deontology

Theory of ethics based on reason which mandates acting only in a way that can be universalized while respecting autonomy of all

Utilitarianism

Theory of ethics that mandates doing the action that causes the greatest good for the greatest number of people

ethical dilemma

A scenario with multiple possible decisions, each of them morally undesirable

empirical

Based on practical experience rather than theory

abstract

Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence

substantiate

Provide evidence to support or prove the truth of

surmise

Suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it

posit

To suggest something is true

immutable

Unchanging over time or unable to be changed

idle

Inactive, without purpose or effect; pointless.

faculty

An inherent mental or physical power; an aptitude or talent for doing something.

principal

First in order of importance; main