English 10H - Cumulative Vocab

emulate

to try to be equal to or better than; to imitate

precocious

developed earlier than usual; especially mentally

dilettante

one who studies art or science for mere amusement

pernicious

causing injury; wicked or evil

gadfly

a person who annoys others, esp. by rousing them from complacency

purloin

to steal

terse

brief; to the point

pugnacious

eager and ready to fight; quarrelsome

galvanize

to startle into sudden activity

charlatan

one who pretends to have more knowledge than they really have, especially in the field of medicine

parsimonious

too economical; stingy

effigy

an image of a person or thing; usually a crude image of a hated person

magnamious

noble; generous in forgiving; free from petty feelings or acts

adulation

excessive praise or admiration

exhort

to use words or arguments to incite one to good deeds

abate

to lessen in violence or intensity

humility

absence of vanity

avid

eager; extremely interested

inscrutable

cannot be easily understood; mysterious

decorum

conformity to accepted standards of conduct; proper behavior

coerce

to compel by force; to force a person to do something against their will

enamored

to be in love with

motley

made up of different, dissimilar parts; being of many colors

grandiloquent

speaking in a pompous style

heresy

a religious belief opposed to the established doctrine

jaundiced

prejudiced; cynical

vindicate

to clear of guilt or blame

pusillanimous

cowardly; fearful

jocose

joking; humorous

odium

hatred; the state of being hated

mundane

of this world and not of heaven; common, worldly; not spiritual

adamant

unyielding; firm in opinion

raillery

good-humored ridicule; banter

furtive

done in a stealthy or secretive manner

amicable

friendly; peaceable

latent

present, but not active; hidden

comely

attractive or handsome; pleasing at the sight

myriad

a very large number; of a highly varied nature

temerity

recklessness, boldness

apathy

lack of interest

expedient

the best means to do something under a given set of, especially if it will bring about personal gain

verbose

using more words than necessary; wordy

castigate

to criticize or punish for the purpose of correction

bigot

one who is intolerant of another’s beliefs, opinions, or values

droll

amusing in an odd way

acrimony

harsh temper or bitter feeling

credence

belief or trust

audacity

insolence; rude boldness

ignominy

public shame, disgrace, or dishonor

austere

stern, severe, plain

agrarian

having to do with farms, farmers, or the use of land

rabble

a disorderly crowd, a mob; the lowest class of people

anathema

a greatly disliked, hated person or thing; a curse, or a person cursed

dolorous

mournful, sad

gauche

lacking social grace

gregarious

fond of the company of others; belonging to a flock

incarcerate

to put into prison; to confine

strident

harsh sounding

dogmatic

stating an opinion in an authoritative or arrogant manner

laudable

worthy of praise; commendable

enigma

a puzzling or seemingly inexplicable situation, person, etc.

diffident

lacking in self-confidence; shy

extradite

to turn a prisoner over to the jurisdiction of another country or state where the crime was allegedly committed

cajole

to persuade with false promises and flattery

appease

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

cynical

inclined to distrust or deny the goodness or sincerity of human motive

acquit

to find not guilty of a fault or crime

obstreperous

boisterous, unruly

arduous

difficult; requiring much effort; strenuous

gargantuan

of huge or extraordinary size and power

raconteur

a person skilled at telling stories or anecdotes

indiscreet

not wise or judicious; imprudent, as in speech or action

bawdy

indecent; humorously obscene

libation

an alcoholic drink

quell

to put an end to; to allay or quiet

clement

1. merciful; lenient 2. mild, as weather

bask

to lie in or be exposed to warmth

pandemonium

a wild disorder, noise or confusion

banter

teasing; good-natured joking

divulge

to tell, to reveal (as a secret)

expound

to explain; to set forth point by point; to interpret

connoisseur

an expert; a critical judge in matters of culture, food, or wine

intrepid

without fear; brave

chastise

to punish severely

exodus

a mass movement, exit, or departure of a group

avarice

excessive greed; desire for wealth

demagogue

a leader who appeals to the emotions and prejudices of people, especially to advance his own power

inert

having no power to act or move; inactive

rancor

extreme hatred or ill will

omniscient

having unlimited knowledge; knowing everything