Vocabulary for Achievement 5th Course: Lessons 16-30

arbitration

The process in which parties involved in a dispute allow an impartial party to settle their differences.

attaché

A person assigned to serve in a specific capacity on a diplomatic mission.

consul

A diplomatic official who represents his or her own government's economic interests in a foreign country and assists fellow citizens living or traveling there.

covenant

A binding agreement; a legal contract.

discretion

a. The quality of using good judgment and self-restraint; the quality of acting wisely based on awareness of the potential consequences of one's actions.

b. The ability or power to decide responsibly.

entente

An understanding or agreement between two or more political powers, providing for a common course of action or policy.

insular

a. Suggestive of the isolated life on an island.

b. Having a narrow viewpoint.

Machiavellian

Cunning, deceitful, and underhanded in business or politics; aiming to maintain power by whatever means necessary.

protocol

A code of correct conduct.

status quo

The existing condition or state of affairs.

culminate

a. To reach the highest point or degree.

b. To come to completion; to end.

eclipse

a. To exceed or go beyond; to diminish others in importance or fame.

b. To obscure or darken.

epitome

An example; a perfect representative of a type.

impeccable

Having no flaws; perfect; incapable of wrongdoing.

inimitable

Impossible to imitate or copy; unique.

optimum

a. adj. Most favorable or advantageous; best.

b. n. The point at which something is most favorable.

peerless

Having no match; incomparable.

quintessence

The purest essence of something; the most typical example.

sublime

a. adj. Impressive; awe inspiring; supreme.

b. n. Something awe inspiring.

zenith

The peak.

affront

a. v. To insult intentionally and openly.

b. n. An open or intentional offense, slight, or insult.

altercation

A noisy or an intense quarrel.

bellicose

Warlike in manner or temperament; eager to fight; aggressive.

breach

a. n. A break in friendly relations; an estrangement.

b. n. A violation of a law, an obligation, or a promise.

c. v. To violate a law, an obligation, or a promise.

contentious

a. Given to quarreling; argumentative.

b. Involving or likely to cause argument; controversial.

decimate

To destroy or kill a large part of a group.

dissension

Difference of opinion; disagreement; discord.

rancor

Bitter, long-lasting resentment; deep-seated ill will; enmity.

retribution

a. Something justly deserved.

b. Something given or demanded in repayment, especially as punishment or revenge.

schism

A separation or division into opposing groups or factions; discord or discontent.

apocryphal

a. Doubtful; of questionable origin, authorship, or authenticity.

b. False; fictitious or erroneous.

bona fide

a. Authentic; genuine; not counterfeit or copied.

b. Done in good faith without any attempt to deceive; sincere.

candor

Honesty, frankness, or sincerity of expression; openness.

cant

a. Hypocritically moralistic language.

b. Monotonous speech filled with platitudes.

c. The special vocabulary of a sect, group, or profession; jargon.

charlatan

A person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or ability; a quack or fraud.

chicanery

A deception by trickery; a trick.

feign

To pretend or represent falsely.

insidious

a. Working or spreading harmfully in a subtle or stealthy way.

b. Beguiling or alluring but secretly harmful; treacherous.

rectitude

Moral uprightness; righteousness.

veritable

Real or genuine; actual.

accrue

To increase, accumulate, or come about as a result of growth.

arbiter

a. A person chosen to judge or decide a disputed issue.

b. A person who has the power to judge at will.

audit

a. To examine, verify, or correct the financial accounts of.

b. A review of records or financial accounts to check their accuracy.

c. To attend a course without requesting or receiving academic credit.

cartel

A group of independent businesses formed to control production, pricing, and marketing of goods.

collateral

a. Property that is pledged as security for a loan if the loan is not repaid, the property is taken.

b. Serving to support or corroborate.

c. Of a secondary nature; subordinate.

commodity

a. An item of trade or commerce, especially an agricultural or a mining product.

b. Something or someone valuable and useful.

conglomerate

a. A corporation made up of a number of companies that operate in different fields.

b. To form or gather into a mass or whole.

liquidate

a. To settle a debt, claim, or other obligation by selling property or goods.

b. To convert assets into cash.

lucrative

Producing wealth; profitable.

security

a. A document showing ownership or something owed; a stock or bond.

b. Something deposited or given as assurance of the fulfillment of an obligation; a pledge; collateral.

adulterate

To make impure by adding improper, inferior, or unnecessary ingredients.

bane

a. A cause of great harm, ruin, or death.

b. A source of constant annoyance or frustration.

boon

A benefit or blessing, especially one that is timely.

inimical

a. Harmful; injurious.

b. Unfriendly; hostile.

malevolent

a. Having or showing ill will; wishing harm to others; malicious.

b. Having an evil or a harmful influence.

panacea

A remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all.

pernicious

Tending to cause death or great harm.

salutary

a. Helpful or designed to be helpful; remedial.

b. Favorable to health; wholesome.

toxic

Poisonous; capable of causing injury or death by chemical means.

vitiate

To reduce the value, quality, or effectiveness of.

auspices

Sponsorship, support, or protection.

auspicious

a. Favorable; promising success.

b. Marked by success; prosperous.

circumspect

Cautious; prudent; mindful of circumstances and potential consequences.

despicable

Deserving of scorn, contempt, or a low opinion.

introspective

Contemplating one's own thoughts, and feelings; self-examining.

perspicuous

Clearly expressed; easy to understand.

specious

Seemingly true, but actually false.

spectacle

a. An impressive public performance or display.

b. A public display of bad behavior.

specter

a. A ghost or spirit.

b. A haunting or disturbing image or possibility.

spectrum

a. A band showing different wavelengths of color or sound, arranged in order.

b. A broad range of related qualities or ideas.

complicity

Involvement as an accomplice in a crime or wrongdoing.

deploy

a. To position troops or people strategically or systematically.

b. To put into use or action.

explicate

To explain; to make clear the meaning of something.

explicit

a. Fully and clearly expressed; leaving nothing implied.

b. Readily observable.

implicate

a. To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly.

b. To have as a consequence; to entail.

implicit

a. Implied or understood though not directly expressed.

b. Unquestioning; without doubt or reservation.

inexplicable

Difficult or impossible to explain or account for.

replica

a. A copy or reproduction of a work of art, especially one made by the original artist.

b. A copy or reproduction, especially one that is smaller than the original.

supple

a. Easily bent; limber; pliant.

b. Changing or yielding readily; compliant; adaptable.

supplicant

A person who asks, prays, or begs humbly and earnestly.

adjudicate

a. To hear and settle a case through a judicial procedure.

b. To settle a dispute.

affidavit

A written statement made under oath before an official.

confidant

A person trusted with secrets or private matters.

conjure

a. To produce or summon, as if by magic.

b. To call to mind an image or a memory.

fealty

Faithfulness; allegiance.

fiancé

A man to whom a woman is engaged to be married.

fidelity

a. Faithfulness to obligations, duties, or vows.

b. The degree to which a sound or image is accurately reproduced.

infidel

A person who does not accept a particular faith or religion.

jurisprudence

The philosophy and science of law or a division of the law.

perjure

To deliberately lie or testify falsely under oath.

ambivalence

a. The presence of conflicting or opposing ideas or feelings.

b. Uncertainty or indecisiveness as to which course to follow.

avail

a. v. To be of use or advantage to; to help.

b. n. Use, benefit, or advantage.

countervailing

Acting against something so as to cancel its effect; counteractive.

evaluate

To judge or determine the value of.

evince

To show or demonstrate clearly.

invaluable

Priceless; having a value too great to be measured.

prevail

a. To be greater in strength or influence; to triumph; to win out.

b. To be in use or effect; to be current.

c. To persuade successfully.

valedictorian

The student who has the highest academic rank in a class and who usually delivers the graduation speech.

valiant

Brave; possessing courage and boldness.

vanquish

To defeat; to overcome, conquer, or subdue.