REVERA 2000-2100

A set of key vocabulary terms and definitions drawn from the lecture’s three-page notes to aid exam preparation.

prohibit

to forbid an action or person by authority or law

secession

formal withdrawal from an alliance, federation, or organization

partition

the act or state of dividing into parts; to divide into parts

predicate

to proclaim, declare, affirm, or assert

apex

the highest point of something; peak

dismay

fear resulting from the awareness of danger; the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles

genteel

marked by refined taste and manners

bombast

pompous or pretentious talk or writing

obscure

not clearly understood or expressed; not drawing attention

ameliorate

to make better; get better

mischief

reckless or malicious behavior that causes annoyance or discomfort; the quality or nature of being harmful or evil

backslide

to relapse into bad habits or undesirable activities

incorporate

to unite or merge with something already existing

oblivion

the state of being forgotten or disregarded; total forgetfulness

expeditious

characterized by speed and efficiency; prompt

amplitude

large or full measure; abundance

accrue

to grow by addition; come into possession of

tactical

of, relating to, or constituting actions carefullyplanned; showing adroit planning

circumstantial

(of evidence) pointing indirectly toward guilt; incidental or detailed

understate

to represent as less significant or important

consummate

having or revealing supreme mastery or skill

flighty

guided by whim; unpredictably excitable

cipher

a message written in secret code; a secret method of writing

menagerie

an unusual and varied group of people, animals, or things

concur

to accord in opinion; agree

restitution

a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury

meddle

to intrude in others’ affairs; interfere unwantedly

discredit

to injure the reputation of; cause to be distrusted

imperceptible

too slight or subtle to be perceived by the senses

replenish

to fill again; refill something emptied

voluptuous

full of luxury and pleasure; sensuously pleasing

rancid

(of odor or taste) rank, unpleasant, and stale; disagreeable

viscous

thick and sticky in consistency, viscid

credible

capable of being believed; plausible

withhold

to hold back; refrain from giving

debilitate

to make weak; enfeeble

quash

to put down by force; suppress or declare invalid

slipshod

careless, untidy, or slovenly

stagestruck

obsessed with the desire to become an actor; enthralled by theater

retrograde

moving backward; having a backward motion; retiring retreating

intemperance

excessive indulgence in alcohol or passions; lack of moderation

rationalization

the justification of one’s actions by logic or reason

clairvoyant

having foresight; perceiving things beyond normal senses

solemn

characterized by seriousness or sincerity

acquit

to pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

dissident

one who disagrees or dissents; disagreeing in opinion

blithe

carefree, happy, and light-hearted

ramification

a complex or unwelcome consequence of an action

lackluster

lacking brilliance or radiance; dull

initiative

an introductory act or step; leading action

inadvertent

unintentional; accidental

bashful

shy; easily embarrassed

snippet

a small piece or extract from something

remorse

deep and painful regret for wrongdoing

transcend

to go beyond the limits of; surpass

elite

a group enjoying superior status; selected as the best

stifling

oppressively hot or humid; forceful prevention or suppression

summation

the process of adding things together

resolute

firm in purpose or belief; determined

incursion

a sudden invasion or attack

exalt

to raise in rank or status; praise highly

abdicate

to give up power, duties, or obligations

palatable

acceptable to taste or mind; agreeable

opportunist

a person who exploits circumstances for self-advantage

exquisite

of extreme beauty; elegantly refined

exasperate

to make very angry; aggravate or worsen

asylum

an institution for care of children, elderly people, etc; a place of safety

polarize

to divide into sharply opposing factions or groups

peripheral

outer area; related to the key issue but not of central importance

infectious

likely to spread or influence others in a rapid manner

conjecture

an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information

scrutiny

critical observation or examination

erosion

gradual destruction or diminution of something

theatrical

exaggerated and excessively dramatic

gargantuan

huge and bulky; of great mass

famish

to suffer or cause extreme hunger; starve to death

qualitative

relating to quality or standard of something rather than quantity

commandeer

to seize for public or military use

urgent

requiring immediate action or attention

accustomed

usual or habitual; customary

appease

to calm or pacify by acceding demands

speculate

to engage in thought or reflection; mediate; guess

linger

to stay longer than expected, reluctant to leave

acquiesce

to accept reluctantly but without protest

renegade

one who deserts a cause; a rebel or outlaw

sympathetic

characterized by, feeling, showing compassion or understanding

patron

one who supports financially; a regular customer

karma

destiny or fate resulting from one’s actions

impeach

to bring charges against ; charge a public official with an offense or misdemeanor commited while in office

fodder

raw material; people seen as readily available and of little value

introvert

a shy, reticent, self-focused person

murky

dark, gloomy, or unclear; vague

appendage

a part joined to something larger

minuscule

extremely small

embellish

to make more beautiful; add decorative details

stringent

demanding strict attention to rules; rigorous

panacea

a hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases

edifying

providing moral or intellectual instruction

imperative

of vital importance; required

compendium

a concise but comprehensive summary of a larger work; a combined variety of works