HSPT Vocabulary

Contingent

a- dependent on events not yet known

Consummate

v/a- to achieve, or something utter or perfect

abate

v- to reduce in amount, intensity, degree, etc.

abject

a- wretched, hopeless, humiliating

abnegation

n- the act of rejecting or renouncing something

abscond

v- to depart and hide oneself secretly

accolade

n- award or ceremonial embrace

accoutrement

n- an additional item of equipment or dress

acquiesce

v- to accept passively

acrimonious

a- angry and bitter

acumen

n- good judgment; mental sharpness

adulterate

v/a- to debased or debased by added inferior material

aggrandise

v- To make greater or enhance

alacrity

n- briskness, liveliness

alfresco

a- located in open air

altruistic

a- having or showing unselfish concern for others

amalgamate

v- to merge into a single body

ameliorate

v- to improve

amorphous

a- lacking a clear form or having no focus/structure

angling

n- fishing with a hook and line, or to seek something indirectly

annex

v/n- to add another part, or an addition

aplomb

n- complete composure of self-assurance

arable

a- suitable for ploughing or producing crops

arcane

a- mysterious or requiring secret knowledge to be understood

ardent

a- expressing great feeling

arduous

a- requiring great exertion

ascetic

n/a- one who denies oneself worldly pleasure, or self-disciplined

aspersion

n- derogatory comment or criticism

assiduous

a- persevering

asunder

a- into separate parts; apart

augmented

v- made larger

auspices

n- support

auspicious

a- suggesting future success is likely

autonomous

a- having the power of self- government

avaricious

a- greedy

ballast

n- heavy, stabilizing material, or anything giving stability

banal

a- devoid of originality

baron

n- a feudal vassal under direct grant from the king

beleaguered

v/a- surrounded by military forces or trouble

belligerent

a- aggressively hostile

bemoan

v- to express distress over

bilious

a- pertaining to nausea or bad-tempered

blithe

a- joyous; casual

brevity

n- shortness of time, or expressing much in a few words

cajole

v- to persuade by flattery or promises

capacious

a- capable of holding much

capillary

a- slender

capitulate

v- to surrender unconditionally; unwillingly

castigate

v- to reprimand severely

charlatan

n- someone who claims to have more knowledge or skills than they posess

chauvinism

n- blind patriotism or discriminating against other groups

circumlocution

n- an indirect way of speaking or expressing an idea

circumvent

v- to avoid, especially illegally or cleverly

clamorous

a- shouting or talking loudly

clemency

n- showing forgiveness or mildness, especially while punishing someone

coagulate

v- to thicken from a fluid to a mass

cognizant

a- understanding something

compunction

n- a feeling of guilt

conjecture

n- a guess or theory without proof

connive

v- to plan secretly, or knowingly let something harmful happen

consternation

n- a feeling of dismay resulting in confusion

constituent

n/a- a component, an element

construe

v- to deduce by interpretation

countenance

n/v- appearance in the face, or approval or support

cudgel

n/v- a short, thick stick used as a weapon or to hit with a cudgel

culpable

a- deserving of blame

dearth

n- an inadequate or dear supply

decadence

n- a state of low behavior or morals in a society

decry

v- to publicly denounce or criticize

deferential

a- showing respect

defunct

a- no longer in existence or functioning

derelict

a/n- abandoned, or a person abandoned by socicety

deride

v- to laugh at dismissively

desultory

a- jumping from one thing to another sporadia

diffident

a- lacking confidence in one’s own ability

dignitary

n- a person who holds high rank

disparate

a- fundamentally different

dogma

n- an official system of principles

domicile

n- a residence

dour

a- unyielding or gloomy

duress

n- compulsion through violence

ebullient

a- energetic and lively

edict

n- a decree issued by authority and backed by law

edifice

n- a large, imposing structure or long-established system

elicit

v- to produce or get something

elucidate

v- to explain

emaciated

a- being very thin or weak

embezzlement

n- taking money or property one has been entrusted with for one’s own personal use

enervate

v- to destroy the strength of something or someone

ephemeral

a- lasting for a short time

erudite

a- demonstrating great learning or knowledge

espouse

v- to involve oneself in a cause