Vocab 10

askance

(adv.) with suspicion, distrust, or disapproval

attenuate

(v.) to make thin or slender; to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value

benign

(adj.) gentle kind; forgiving, understanding; having a favorable or beneficial effect; not malignant

cavil

(v.) to find fault in a petty way, carp; (n.) a trivial objection or criticism

charlatan

(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability; a pretender, impostor, or quack

decimate

(v.) to kill or destroy a large part of

foible

(n.) a weak point, failing, minor flaw

forgo

(v.) to do without, abstain from, give up

fraught

(adj.) full of or loaded with; accompanied by

inure

(v.) to toughen, harden; to render used to something by long subjection or exposure

luminous

(adj.) emitting or reflecting light, glowing; illuminating

obsequious

(adj.) marked by slavish attentiveness; excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons

obtuse

(adj.) blunt, not coming to a point; slow or dull in understanding; measuring between 90 and 180 degrees; not causing a sharp impression

oscillate

(v.) to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm; to fluctuate or waver

penitent

(adj.) regretful for one's sins or mistakes; (n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing

peremptory

(adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal; offensively self-assured, dictatorial; determined, resolute

rebuff

(v.) to snub; to repel, drive away; (n.) a curt rejection, a check

reconnoiter

(v.) to engage in reconnaissance; to make a preliminary inspection

shambles

(n.) a slaughterhouse; a place of mass bloodshed; a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess

sporadic

(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals, having no set plan or order