vocab

allocate def

to set apart or designate for a special purpose; to distribute

ardent def

very enthusiastic, impassioned

assiduous def

persistent, attentive, diligent

brash def

prone to act in a hasty manner; impudent

capricious def

subject to whims or passing fancies

chastise def

to inflict physical punishment as a means of correction; to scold severely

copious def

abundant; plentiful; wordy, verbose

deviate def

to turn aside; to stray from a norm

emaciated def

unnaturally thin

exult def

to rejoice greatly

gnarled def

knotted, twisted, lumpy

indemnity def

a payment for damage or loss

inkling def

a hint; a vague notion

limpid def

clear, transparent; readily understood

omnipotent def

almighty, having unlimited power or authority

palatable def

agreeable to the taste or one's sensibilities; suitable for consumption

poignant def

deeply affecting, touching; keen or sharp in taste or smell

rancor def

bitter resentment or ill-will

sophomoric def

immature and overconfident; conceited

spontaneous def

arising naturally; not planned or engineered in advance

accede def

to yield to; to assume an office or dignity

brandish def

to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion

comprise def

to include or contain; to be made up of

deft def

skillful, nimble

destitute def

deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in

explicit def

definite, clearly stated

extirpate def

to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally

inopportune def

coming at a bad time

ironic def

suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens

musty def

stale, moldy; out-of-date

officious def

meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority

ominous def

unfavorable, threatening, of bad omen

pinnacle def

a high peak or point

premeditated def

considered beforehand, deliberately planned

rampant def

growing without check, running wild

solace def

comfort, relief; to comfort, console

stately def

dignified, majestic

supple def

bending easily; bending with agility; readily adaptable; servile

suppress def

to stop by force, put down

venal def

open to or marked by bribery or corruption

abhor def

to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

amend def

to change in a formal way; to change for the better

buffet def

to slap or cuff; to strike repeatedly; to drive or force with blows; to force one's way with difficulty; a slap, blow

chaos def

great confusion, disorder

commodious def

roomy, spacious

corrosive def

eating away gradually, acidlike; bitterly sarcastic

discern def

to see clearly, recognize

extant def

still existing; not exterminated, destroyed, or lost

implicate def

to involve in; to connect with or be related to

inter def

to bury, commit to the earth; to consign to oblivion

martinet def

a strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules

obviate def

to anticipate and prevent; to remove, dispose of

renegade def

one who leaves a group; a deserter, outlaw

reprehensible def

deserving blame or punishment

somber def

dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit

squalid def

filthy, wretched, debased

turbulent def

disorderly, riotous, violent; stormy

vociferous def

loud and noisy; compelling attention

voluminous def

of great size; numerous; writing or speaking at great length

waive def

to do without, give up voluntarily; to put off temporarily, defer

animosity def

strong dislike; bitter hostility

apathy def

a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest

apprehensive def

fearful or anxious, especially about the future

commend def

to praise, express approval; to present as worthy of attention

compatible def

able to get along or work well together

condolence def

an expression of sympathy

consecrate def

to make sacred, hallow; to set apart for a special purpose

decrepit def

old and feeble; worn-out, ruined

deride def

to ridicule, laugh at with contempt

ingenuous def

innocent, simple; frank, sincere

multifarious def

having great variety; numerous and diverse

obsolete def

out-of-date, no longer in use

omnivorous def

eating every kind of food; eagerly taking in everything, having a wide variety of tastes

parsimonious def

stingy, miserly; meager, poor, small

quandary def

a state of perplexity or doubt

recalcitrant def

stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority

reprisal def

an injury done in return for injury

revel def

to take great pleasure in; a wild celebration

stultify def

to make ineffective or useless, cripple; to have a dulling effect on

suave def

smoothly agreeable or polite; pleasing to the senses

acquiesce def

to accept without protest; to agree or submit

allure def

to entice, tempt; to be attractive to; a strong attraction; the power to attract, charm

askew def

twisted on one side, crooked; disapprovingly

blithe def

cheerful, lighthearted; casual, unconcerned

contentious def

quarrelsome, inclined to argue

covet def

to desire something belonging to another

crestfallen def

discouraged, dejected, downcast

disheveled def

rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorder

exponent def

one who advocates, speaks for, explains, or interprets

garrulous def

given to much talking, tediously chatty

insuperable def

incapable of being overcome

lamentable def

to be regretted or pitied

misnomer def

an unsuitable or misleading name

profess def

to affirm openly; to state belief in; to claim, pretend

respite def

a period of relief or rest

retribution def

a repayment; a deserved punishment

sinuous def

winding, having many curves; lithe and flexible

sonorous def

full, deep, or rich in sound; impressive in style

vanguard def

the foremost part of an army; the leading position in any field

wastrel def

a wasteful person, spendthrift; a good-for-nothing