apex

Abstract

adj. theoretical; impersonal

Adverse

adj. unfavorable; antagonistic

Aesthetic

adj. having to do with artistic beauty; artistic

Aggregate

n. sum total; a collection of separate things mixed together

Appreciate

v. to increase in value

Appropriate

v. to take without permission; to set aside for a particular use

Arbitrary

adj. random; capricious

Chronic

adj. constant; lasting a long time; inveterate

Classic

adj. top notch; of the highest quality; serving as a standard or model

Cognitive

adj. dealing with how we know the world around us through our senses; mental

Compelling

adj. forceful; causing to yield

Comprehensive

adj. covering or including everything

Consensus

n. unanimity or general agreement

Conventional

adj. common; customary; unexceptional

Definitive

adj. conclusive; providing the last word

Discrete

adj. unconnected; separate; distinct

Document

v. to support with evidence, especially written evidence

Domestic

adj. having to do with the household or family; not foreign

Eccentric

adj. not conventional; a little kooky; irregular

Eminent

adj. well known and respected; standing out from all others in quality or accomplishment; outstanding

Empirical

adj. relying on experience or observation; not merely theoretical

Explicit

adj. clearly and directly expressed

Fuel

v. to stimulate; to ignite; to kindle, as if providing with fuel

Genre

n. a type or category, especially of art or writing

Hierarchy

n. an organization based on rank or degree; pecking order

Ideology

n. a system of social or political ideas

Implement

v. to carry out

Indigenous

adj. native; originating in that area

Integral

adj. essential; indispensable

Mandate

n. a command or authorization to do something; the will of the voters as expressed by the results of an election

Mode

n. method of doing; type; manner; fashion

Novel

adj. new; original

Obscure

adj. unknown; hard to understand; dark

Orthodox

adj. conventional; adhering to established principles or doctrines, especially in religion; by the book

Parody

n. a satirical imitation

Partisan

n. one who supports a particular person, cause, or idea

Patent

adj. obvious

Premise

n. an assumption; the basis for a conclusion

Profound

adj. deep (in several senses)

Proximity

n. nearness

Qualify

v. to modify or restrict

Renaissance

n. a rebirth or revival

Rigorous

adj. strict; harsh; severe

Robust

adj. strong and healthy; vigorous

Singular

adj. unique; superior; exceptional; strange; unusual

Static

adj. stationary; not changing or moving

Subtle

adj. not obvious; able to make fine distinctions; ingenious; crafty

Synthesis

n. the combining of parts to form a whole

Tangible

adj. touchable; palpable

Uniform

adj. consistent; unchanging; the same for everyone

Viable

adj. capable of living; workable

Affinity

sympathy; attraction; kinship; similarity

Afford

to give; to supply; to confer upon

Alleviate

to relieve, usually temporarily or incompletely; to make bearable; to lessen

Ambiguous

unclear in meaning; confusing; capable of being interpreted in different ways

Analogy

a comparison of one thing to another; similarity

Autonomous

acting independently

Benevolent

generous; kind; doing good deeds

Benign

gentle; not harmful; kind; mild

Blatant

unpleasantly or offensively noisy; glaring

Catalyst

in chemistry, something that changes the rate of a chemical reaction without itself being changed; anyone or anything that makes something happen without being directly involved in it

Champion

to defend; to support

Chronicle

a record of events in order of time; a history

Coherent

holding together; making sense

Complement

to complete or fill up; to be the perfect counterpart

Contingent

dependent; possible

Discreet

prudent; judiciously reserved

Distinct

separate; different; clear and unmistakable

Dormant

inactive; as though asleep; asleep

Dubious

full of doubt; uncertain

Eclectic

choosing the best from many sources; drawn from many sources

Emulate

to strive to equal or excel, usually through imitation

Endemic

native; restricted to a particular region or era; indigenous

Equitable

fair

Fiscal

pertaining to financial matters; monetary

Foster

to encourage; to promote the development of

Futile

useless; hopeless

Hypothetical

uncertain; unproven

Infamous

shamefully wicked; having an extremely bad reputation; disgraceful

Inherent

part of the essential nature of something; intrinsic

Integrate

to combine two or more things into a whole

Ironic

meaning the opposite of what you seem to say; using words to mean something other than what they seem to mean

Latent

present but not visible or apparent; potential

Manifest

visible; evident

Medium

the means by which something is conveyed or accomplished; a substance through which something is transferred or conveyed; the materials used by an artist

Notorious

famous for something bad

Objective

unbiased; unprejudiced

Paradox

a true statement or phenomenon that nonetheless seems to contradict itself; an untrue statement or phenomenon that nonetheless seems logical

Pedestrian

unimaginative; banal

Precedent

an earlier example or model of something

Pristine

original; unspoiled; pure; perfectly clean and untouched; uncontaminated

Protagonist

the leading character in a novel, play, or other work; a leader or champion

Redundant

unnecessarily repetitive; excessive; excessively wordy

Regime

a governing power; a system of government; a period during which a government is in power

Relentless

continuous; unstoppable

Sinister

evil; wicked

Stringent

strict; restrictive

Subordinate

lower in importance, position, or rank; secondary

Superficial

on the surface only; shallow; not thorough

Tentative

experimental; temporary; uncertain