Sadlier Level F Vocab Units 4-6

affable

(adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to

aggrandize

(v.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater

amorphous

(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion

archetype

(n.) an original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example of a particular type of person or thing

aura

(n.) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality

contraband

(n.) illegal traffic, smuggled goods; (adj.) illegal, prohibited

erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

gossamer

(adj.) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; (n.) a very thin, light cloth

inscrutable

(adj.) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically

insular

(adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

irrevocable

(adj.) incapable of being changed or called back

propensity

(n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward

querulous

(adj.) peevish, complaining, fretful

remonstrate

(v.) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to

repudiate

(v.) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

resilient

(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

reverberate

(v.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

scurrilous

(adj.) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed

sedulous

(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination

sleazy

(adj.) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable

amnesty

a pardon (from judgement)

autonomy

independence, self-government

axiomatic

self-evident

blazon

to adorn or embellish

caveat

warning

equitable

fair

extricate

to free, to disentangle

filch

to steal

flout

to mock

fractious

tending to argue or cause discord

precept

a rule of conduct or action

salutary

beneficial

scathing

bitterly severe

scourge

to whip, punish severely

sepulchral

funereal, typical of the tomb

soporific

causing sleep

straitlaced

extremely strict

transient

temporary, fleeting

unwieldy

difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight

vapid

Dull

anomalous

(adj.) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usualSynonyms: aberrant

aspersion

(n.) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defamingSynonyms: innuendo, calumny, denigrationAntonyms: endorsement, testimonial, praise

bizarre

(adj.) extremely strange, unusual, atypicalSynonyms: grotesque

brusque

(adj.) abrupt, blunt, with no formalitiesSynonyms:tactlessAntonyms: tactful

cajole

(v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promisesSynonyms: wheedle

castigate

(v.) to punish severely; to criticize severelyrebuke upbraid chastise

contrive

(v.) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or planconcoct

demagogue

(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain powerSynonyms: firebrand

disabuse

(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinkingSynonyms: undeceive, enlighten, set straightAntonyms: deceive, delude, pull wool over one's eyes

ennui

(n.) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredomSynonyms: languor, listlessness

fetter

(n.) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains; (v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent

heinous

(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful

immutable

(adj.) not subject to change, constantantonym: fickle

insurgent

(n.) one who rebels or rises against authority; (adj.) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on

megalomania

(n.) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of realitySynonyms: delusions of grandeur

sinecure

(n.) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job

surreptitious

(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraudSynonyms: furtive, covert, clandestine

transgress

(v.) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a lawSynonyms: overstep, exceed, trespass, errAntonyms: obey, toe the line

transmute

(v.) to change from one nature, substance, or form to anotherSynonyms: transform, convert, translate, metamorphoseAntonyms: maintain unchanged, preserve

vicarious

(adj.) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of anotherSynonyms: surrogate, substitute, imagined, secondhandAntonyms: real, actual, firsthand