Sadlier-Oxford Vocab Level H - Unit 1

adjunct

(noun)

something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic

(adjective)

added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity

syn: associate, addition, accessory

bellwether

(noun)

the male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in a desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends

syn: ringleader, initiator, barometer

ant: follower, imitator, emulator

caterwaul

(verb)

to howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel

(noun)

a harsh or noisy cry; a racket

syn: whine, screech

chimerical

(adjective)

absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible

syn: visionary, quixotic, pie-in-the-sky

ant: realistic, down-to-earth, practicable

effete

(adjective)

lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out or exhausted; sterile or unable to produce; out-of-date

syn: decadent, enfeebled

ant: thriving, burgeoning, vigorous, dynamic

fait accompli

(noun)

an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action

syn: accomplished fact

hidebound

(adjective)

narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative

syn: intolderable, inflexible

ant: open-minded, tolerant, progressive, liberal

hierarchy

(noun)

any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc.

syn: chain of command

laissez-faire

(adjective)

a philosophy or practice characterized by a usually deliberate abstention from direction or interference, especiallt with individual freedom of choice and action

syn: noninterventional, nonrestrictive, hands-off

liturgy

(noun)

a religious service or rite; the form of a ritual or other act of public worship

syn: observance

morass

(noun)

a patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand

syn: bog

ant: solid ground, bedrock, terra firma

noisome

(adjective)

offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious

syn: fetid, noxious, vile, loathsome

ant: wholesome, sweet-smelling

oblivious

(adjective)

forgetful; unaware

syn: insensible

ant: aware, cognizant, mindful, alert

poltroon

(noun)

a base coward

syn: craven, dastard, “chicken”

ant: stalwart, gallant

proselyte

(noun)

a convert; a disciple

syn: novice, neophyte

ant: master, teacher, guide, guru

quasi

(adjective)

resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely

syn: kind of, as if

ant: totally, completely, actually, in fact

raillery

(noun)

good-humored ridicule; teasing

syn: persiflage

ribald

(adjective)

irreverently mocking; coarse, vulgar, or indecent in language

syn: risque

ant: seemly, proper, decorous

supine

(adjective)

lyng flat on one's back; listless or lethargic; apathetic or passive

syn: prone, prostrate; intert

ant: upright, erect, perpendicular, vertical

vignette

(noun)

a short description or sketch; a picture or illustration with edges that gradually shade off; a decorative design on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter

syn: thumbnail sketch, anecdotes

ant: epic, full-length treatment