English Midterm Vocab

approbation

expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise

assuage

to make easier or milder, relieve

coalition

a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose

decadence

Decline, decay, or deterioration

elicit

to draw forth, bring out from some source

expostulate

to attempt to dissuade someone from some course of decision by earnest reasoning

hackneyed

used so often to lack freshness

hiatus

a gap opening break

innuendo

a hint, indirect suggestion or refrence often in a deragotory sense

intercede

to plead on behalf of someone else to serve as a third part go between a disagreemetn

jaded

wearied worn out dulled

lurid

causing shock horror, gruesome, ghastly

meritorious

worthy deserving of recognition

petulant

peevish annoyed by anything easily upset

prerogative

a special right or privilege

provincial

pertaining to an outlying area local narrow in ind outylook a person with a narrow point of view

simulate

to make a pretense of imitate

transcend

to rise above or beyond exceed

umbrage

shade ast by trees foliage giving shade

unctuous

excessively smooth or smug trying too had to give an impression of sincerity

ameliorate

to improve make better correct a flaw

aplomb

poise assurance self confidence

bombastic

pompous or overblow in language big words to concel a lack of ideas

callow

without experience not fully developed

drivel

saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose foolis aimleslly talking

epitome

a summary condensed account that represents a larger reality

exhort

to urge strongly or advise earnestly

ex officio

by virture of holding a certain office

infringe

to violate trespass go beynd recognized bounds

ingratiate

to make oneself agreeeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others

interloper

one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be an intruder

intrinsic

belonging to someone or something byu its very nature is inherent

inveigh

to make a violent attack of words, strong disapproval

lassitude

wearines of body or mind, lack of energy

millennium

a period of 1000 years of great joy

occult

secret hidden from view not detectable by ordinary means to hide up cover up matters involing the supernatural

permeate

to spread through, soak through

precipitate

to fall as moisture execessive haste

stringent

strict severe rigoursly binding or sharp bitter to the taste

surmise

to think or beleiove without certain supporting evidence likely idea that lacks definite proof

abominate

to have an intense dislike or hatred for

acculturation

the modification of social patterns of one group or society by contact with those of another, adaptation

adventitious

resulting from chance rather than inherent cause

ascribe

to assign or refer attibute

circuitous

roundabout not direct

commiserate

to sympathize with have pity or sorrow for share a feeling of distress

enjoin

to direct or order, to prescribe a course of action in a authoritative way

expedite

to make easy to progress faster

expiate

to make amends, make up for

ferment

a state of great excitement agitation or turbulence, to produce alcohol by chemical action

inadvertent

resulting from or marked by lack of attention

nominal

too small to be considered seriosuly

noncommittal

not decisive unwilling to take a clear position

peculate

to steal something that has been given to ones trust

proclivity

a natural inclination or tendency

sangfroid

composure or coolness in trying circumstances

seditious

resistant to lawful authority overthrowing government

tenuous

thin slender not dense lacking clarirty

vitriolic

bitter sarcastic, like a strong acid

wheedle

to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end

affable

courteous and pleasnt easy to talk to

aggrandize

to increase in greatness to building up or intesnity appear greater

amorphous

shapeless without definite form

archetype

an original model on which something was patterned or replicated

aura

that which surrounds a person like a atmosphrere

contraband

illegal traffic smuggled goods

erudite

scholarly, learned, bookish

gossamer

thin light delicate very thin cloth

inscrutable

incapable of being understood impentrandle

insular

relating to or situated on an island narrow or isolated outlook or experience

irrevocable

incapable of being changed

propensity

a natural inclination or prediction towards

querulous

peevish, complaining, fretful

remonstrate

to argue with someone against something protest against

repudiate

to disown reject or deny the validity of

resilient

able to return to its original form quickly

reverberate

to re echo to reflect repeatadley

scurrilous

coarsely abusive vular or low , foul mouthed

sedulous

persisnt, showing determination

sleazy

thin or flimsy in texture, cheap, shoddy , ethically low

amnesty

a general pardon for any offense against government

autonomy

self government , political control

axiomatic

self evident expressing a universally accepted principal

blazon

to adorn or embellish display publicly

caveat

a warning or caution to prevent a misunderstanding

equitable

fair, just, principles of justice

extricate

to free from entanglemnts or difficulties

filch

to steal in sneaky way and in petty amounts

flout

to mock treat with contempt

fractious

tending to be troublesome unruly quarrelsome contrary unpredictable

precept

a rule of conduct or action

salutary

beneficial helpful healthy

scathing

bitterly severe withering causing great harm,

scourge

to whip or punish severly source of severe punishment

sepulchral

funereal typical of the tomb, dead vibes

sophoric

tending to cause sleep or lethargicness

straitlaced

extremely strict in regard to moral standards

transient

lasting only a short time

unwieldy

not easily carried handled or managaed because of its complexity

vapid

dull uninteresting tiresome, lacking in sharpness