English III Vocab list 9

Aloof

reserved, distant

altercation

an argument, dispute

amble

to stroll, walk

bourgeois

middle class

commendable

worthy of praise

compel

to force

elocution

the art of public speaking

elucidate

to clarify

flabbergasted

astounded, stupefied

flaccid

limp

immutable

not susceptible to change

impervious

unable to be penetrated, unaffected

limpid

clear, easily understood

lithe

graceful, flexible, supple

noisome

foul, offensive, particularly to the sense of smell

notoriety

infamy, known in bad regard

placid

calm, tranquil

plethora

a great number, an abundance

refrain

to hold oneself back, forbear

reiterate

to repeat

sordid

dirty

stagnant

still, not flowing

uncanny

of supernatural character or origin

uniform

unvarying, conforming to one principle

voluminous

large, ample

abrupt

sudden; quick and unexpected

corrupt

changed from good to bad; vicious

disrupt

break apart; cause disorder

erupt

burst or break out

incorruptible

inflexibly honest

interrupt

break into or between

rupture

break; hostility

bactericide

substance that kills bacteria

biocide

substance that destroys living organisms

fractricide

act of killing one’s brother

fungicide

substance that kills a fungus or inhibits its growth

genocide

deliberate extermination of a racial or cultural group

germicide

substance that kills germs

herbicide

substance that kills plants

homicide

killing of one human by another

infanticide

act of killing an infant

insecticide

substance that kills insects

matricide

act of killing one’s mother

patricide

act of killing one’s father

pesticide

substance that kills rats, insects, bacteria, etc.