Unit 5 Tier 2

abridge

(v.) to shorten a book, play, etc.

adept

(adj.) good at doing something difficult

blight

(1) (n.) something that hurts growth or well-being; (2) (n.) a plant disease

cliché

(n.) an overused expression

conundrum

(n.) a confusing problem or question that is very difficult to solve; a puzzle

deleterious

(adj.) harmful and damaging

disillusion

(v.) to destroy someone’s belief in or good opinion of someone or something

embed

(v.) to place one thing firmly into something else

esoteric

(adj.) understood or enjoyed by only a few people with a special knowledge or interest; obscure

fastidious

(1) (adj.) being careful that every detail of something is correct; (2) (adj.) not liking things to be dirty or untidy

forebode

(v.) to give a strong feeling that something bad is coming

hackneyed

(adj.) used too often and therefore boring

imperative

(adj.) very important and needing immediate attention or action

infamous

(adj.) well known for being bad or evil

intrinsic

(adj.) belonging to or part of the real nature of something or someone

jovial

(adj.) very cheerful and friendly

lyric

(adj.) expressing a person’s personal feelings and thoughts, especially in a way suggestive of song

morose

(adj.) unhappy, bad-tempered, and not talking very much

outmoded

(adj.) no longer fashionable or useful

penchant

(n.) a special liking for something

perverse

(adj.) showing deliberate determination to behave in a way that most people think is wrong, unacceptable, or unreasonable

preeminent

(adj.) superior to all others; outstanding

pundit

(n.) an expert on a particular subject who often talks about it in public

reign

(1) (v.) to rule as a king or queen; (2) (v.) (of an idea or feeling) to be dominant

rudiments

(n.) the most basic and essential facts of a situation

stern

(adj.) serious and severe

terminate

(v.) to end; to make something end

tyrant

(n.) a cruel and oppressive dictator

urbane

(adj.) good at knowing what to say and how to behave in social situations; sophisticated

virulent

(1) (adj.) extremely dangerous or harmful and quick to have an effect; (2) (adj.) showing strong negative and bitter feelin