English 8 Vocab - All Year

edification

something done to instruct

plausible

something that seems very likely to be true

ephemeral

lasting for a short period of time

vain

to take extreme pride in your own beauty, intelligence, or other good qualities

apparition

someone you see or think you see but who is not really there as a physical being

pretension

when you say that someone has ________, you disapprove of them because they claim or pretend that they are more important than they really are

veritable

actual, true, or real; a word often used in figurative expressions to emphasize the size, amount, or nature of something.

irreparable

damage or harm that is so bad it cannot be repaired or corrected

abashed

to feel embarrassed or ashamed

contemplate

to think about something carefully and for a long time

apathy

a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest

ignorant

Lacking knowledge or awareness; ignoring information that could improve their knowledge gap

benevolent

kind

cynical

believing the worst of human nature and motives

tyranny

cruel or oppressive use of power

dissent

n: protest

v: protest against

obstinate

stubborn

maxim

a short saying; a general truth or rule of conduct

manipulate

to control someone or something (unfairly to gain an advantage)

privilege

a special right or advantage given to only one person or group

manifest

clear or obvious

reproach

to criticize, reprimand, or scold

shrewd

tricky and clever (sometimes in a deceptive way)

vain

do something without success

conciliatory

trying to end an argument by making people feel less angry

heed

to pay attention to

oration

a formal speech

pretext

a reason that you pretend to have in order to hide your real reason or intention

incumbent

(adj.) obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of

suppress

to put down by force or authority; to silence

critique

v: to analyze, evaluate, or criticize

n: a piece of writing that analyzes, evaluates, or criticizes

convergence

the coming together of different ideas, groups, or societies; the process by which these groups stop being different and become more similar

adversity

a very difficult or unfavorable situation

subjective

based on personal experience and feelings rather than facts

liable

likely to happen; probable

oscillate

to move repeatedly from one position to another and back again; to waver

volition

to do something because you have decided for yourself that you will do it and note because someone else has told you to do it.

displacement

the removal of something or someone from its usual place or position by something or someone which then occupies that place or position

implicit

something expressed indirectly; implied

paradigm

a typical example or model for something

hysteria

a state of uncontrolled excitement, anger, or panic among a large group of people

prudent

someone who is sensible and careful

grotesque

when something is so unnatural, unpleasant, and exaggerated that it upsets or shocks you

devoid

to emphasize that someone or something has none of a quality or thing; empty

futile

when there is no point in doing something, usually because it has no chance of succeeding

bewildered

when you are very confused and cannot understand something or decide what you should do

resigned

to accept an unpleasant situation or fact because you realize that you cannot change it

defiance

a behavior or attitude that shows that you are not willing to obey someone

mitigate

to make something less unpleasant, serious, or painful

grave

an event or situation that is very serious, important, or worrying

verdant

literal: green and full of plant life

figurative: life-giving, full of life

empathy

ability to understand and share someone else's feelings

morose

moody, sulking, and bad-tempered

imperious

arrogant; acting as if you were the emperor (as if you had royal power)

reluctant

unwilling and hesitant

pugnacious

eager to argue and fight

derogatory

expressing a critical and/or disrespectful attitude

complacent

to be especially happy with (and therefore lazy about) oneself or one's actions

reprehensible

awful, irreparable, terrible, shameful, and unforgivable

reverent

feeling or showing deep respect

rapt

fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing

meager

lacking in quantity or quality; inadequate

solemn

serious; deeply sincere

indignant

shocked and angry because you think that something is unjust or unfair

crestfallen

extremely disappointed

usurp

to take over; to seize power

prodigal

adj: wastefully extravagant

n: someone who is wastefully extravagant

feign

to pretend (with the intent to decieve)

abhor

to hate or feel disgust

covet

to desire strongly (something someone else has)

obscure

adj: someone that is not widely known; something that is hard to understand

v: to prevent something from being seen, heard, or understood properly

emulate

to imitate (a person or thing admired)

mirth

joyfulness (often expressed by laughter)

irrevocable

a decision, action, or change that cannot be reversed

melancholy

an intense feeling of sadness

distress

N: a state of extreme sorrow, suffering, or pain

V: to cause extreme sorrow, suffering, or pain

scrutinize

to study or observe carefully

dearth

when there is not enough of something

pontificate

when someone states their opinions as if they are the only correct ones and nobody could possibly oppose them

deluge

a flood (or when a large number of things arrive or happen at the same time)

figuratively, an overwhelming, flood-like rush of anything

anachronistic

when you think that something is out of date or old-fashioned

disdain

when you dislike someone or something because you think that they are inferior or unimportant

placate

when you do or say something to make someone stop feeling angry

erratic

something that does not follow a regular pattern, but happens at unexpected times or moves along in an irregular way

ambivalent

when someone is uncertain whether they really want something, or perhaps they seem to want two different things at the same time

elucidate

when you make something clear and easy to understand (make it manifest)

confound

to confuse or surprise someone by showing them that their opinions or expectations of you were wrong

malevolent

describes someone who deliberately tries to cause harm or evil

rogue

\-a criminally dishonest person or someone who behaves in a way you don’t publicly approve of

\-someone or something that behaves in a way different from what you would expect

valiant

an action that is very brave and determined, though it may lead to failure or defeat. This is why it’s often paired with the word “effort”.

lament

\-to express grief or mourning

\-to feel great regret (remorse)

trite

an idea, remark, or story that is boring because it has been said or told too many times

penchant

when someone has a special liking for something, or a tendency to do something.

formidable

\-something or someone that slightly frightens you because it is great or impressive

\-something that causes dread or fear and can be hard to handle

tumultuous

\-an event or period of time involving many exciting and confusing events or feelings

\-a reaction to something - very noisy because the people involved are very happy or excited