Unit 6-12 Level C

Vocab Finals for ELA

defect

(n.) an imperfection, flaw, or blemish of some kind; (v.) to desert a cause or organization

forthright

(adj.) frank, direct, straightforward

bask

(v.) to be in, or expose oneself to, pleasant warmth; to take pleasure in or derive enjoyment from

finesse

(n.) delicate skill; tact and cleverness; (v.) to accomplish something by cleverness, good judgment, or skillful evasion

pseudonym

(n.) a pen name, name assumed by a writer

articulate

(v.) To pronounce distinctly; to express well in words; to fit together into a system; (adj.) able to use language effectively; expressed clearly and forcefully

premonition

(n.) forewarning or foreboding of a future event

purge

(v.) to wash away impurities, clean up; (n.) the process of getting rid of something or someone decisively

scapegoat

(n.) a person or thing carrying the blame for others

abashed

embarrassed, ashamed, or nonplussed

aloof

(adj.) withdrawn, standing apart from others (usually as a matter of choice)

flaunt

(v.) to wave or flutter showily; to display in a conceited, offensive way

retentive

(adj.) able to hold, keep, or recall; retaining knowledge easily

genial

(adj.) cordial, pleasantly cheerful or warm

repercussion

(n.) an effect or consequence of some action or event, result; an echo or reverberation

ostracize

(v.) to exclude from a group, banish, send away

anguish

(n.) great suffering, distress, or pain; (v.) to be deeply tormented by pain or sorrow

instill

(v.) to add gradually; to introduce or cause to be taken in

rehabilitate

(v.) to make over in good form; to restore to good condition or to a former position

resolute

(adj.) bold, determined; firm

haggard

looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering

parry

to deflect or to ward off a blow

jaunty

easy and sprightly in manner or bearing

wallow

to roll about in a lazy, clumsy, or helpless way

waver

to move to and fro, become unsteady; to show lack of firmness or decision

unassuming

humble

tawdry

showy and flashy, but cheap and of poor quality

exotic

foreign, unfamiliar

stance

position

ravage

to destroy, lay waste, ruin

belittle

to make something seem less important

turncoat

traitor

attribute

characteristic

predatory

living by killing and eating other animals

doctrine

a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.

juncture

a joining together; the point at which two things are joined

convey

to make known

excise

To cut out of; remove

menial

low-level, humble work

divergent

(adj.) going in different directions; different from each other; departing from convention, deviant()

crony

(n.) a very close friend, pal, chum, buddy()

infiltrate

(v.) to pass through or gain entrance to gradually or stealthily

proxy

(n.) an agent, substitute; a written permission allowing one person to act in another's place

plummet

(v.) to plunge straight down; (n.) a weight fastened to a line

rankle

(v.) to cause anger, irritation, or bitterness (with the suggestion that the pain grows worse with time)

abut

(v.) to join at one end or to be next to; to support, prop up()

nullify

(v.) to make of no value or consequence, cancel, wipe out

scavenger

(n.) a person who collects or removes usable items from waste materials; an animal that feeds on refuse or dead bodies

cryptic

(adj.) puzzling, mystifying, or enigmatic()

attire

(n.) clothes, apparel, garb; (v.) to dress, adorn, or bedeck()

stint

(v.) to limit, be sparing or frugal; (n.) a limit or restriction; a fixed share of work or duty; a period of activity

fervent

(adj.) very earnest, emotional, passionate; extremely hot()

enmity

(n.) hatred, ill-will()

avail

(v.) to be of use or benefit to; to make use of; to take advantage of; to profit or benefit; (n.) use, benefit, or value()

proclaim

(v.) to declare publicly or officially

unflagging

(v.) tireless, continuing with vigor

stoical

(adj.) self-controlled, not showing feeling in response to pleasure or pain

perceptible

(adj.) capable of being grasped by the sense or mind

gaunt

(adj.) thin and bony, starved looking; bare, barren()

predominant

(adj.) the greatest in strength or power; most common

pertinent

(adj.) related to the matter at hand, to the point

defile

(v., trans.) to make unclean or dirty, destroy the purity of; (v., intrans.) to march in a single line or in columns; (n.) a narrow passage; gorge, canyon

apt

(adj.) suitable, fitting, likely; quick to learn

dire

(adj.) dreadful, causing fear of suffering; warning of trouble to come; demanding immediate action to avoid disaster

endow

(v.) to furnish, equip, provide with funds or some other desirable thing or quality

disgruntled

(adj., part) in bad humor, discontented, annoyed

penal

(adj.) having to do with punishment

mien

(n.) air, manner; appearance; expression

recluse

(n.) a person who leads a life shut up or withdrawn from the world

encroach

(v.) to advance beyond the usual or proper limits, trespass

disarming

(adj.) charming, tending to get rid of unfriendliness or suspicion

chafe

(v.) to warm by rubbing; to wear sore by rubbing; to feel annoyance or dissatisfaction, annoy, irk; to strain or press against; (n.) a sore or injury caused by rubbing

impunity

(n.) freedom from punishment

prodigy

(n.) something wonderful or marvelous; something monstrous or abnormal; an unusual feat; a child or young person with extraordinary ability or talent

capitulate

(v.) to end resistance, give up, surrender, throw in the towel

awry

(adj., adv.) in a turned or twisted position or direction; wrong, out of the right or hoped-for course

bludgeon

(n.) a short club used as a weapon; (v.) to strike with a heavy club; to use force or strong arguments to gain some point

renown

(n.) fame, glory

fend

(v.) to ward off, resist; to get along, manage

impending

(adj., part.) about to happen, hanging over in a menacing way

curt

(adj.) short, rudely brief

habituate

(v.) to become used to; to cause to become used to

entail

(v.) to put a burden on, impose, require, involve; to restrict ownership of property by limiting inheritance; (n.) such a restriction

engross

(v.) to occupy the complete attention, absorb fully

transition

(n.) a change from one state or condition to another

barter

(n.) an exchange in trade; (v.) to exchange goods

devise

(v.) to think out, plan, figure out, invent, create

accord

(n.) agreement, harmony; (v.) to agree, be in harmony or bring into harmony; to grant, bestow upon

vitality

(n.) strength, energy, liveliness; the capacity to live and develop; the power to ensure or survive

trepidation

(n.) fear, fright, trembling

personable

(adj.) pleasing in appearance or personality, attractive

rue

(v.) to regret, be sorry for; (n.) a feeling of regret

dexterous

(adj.) skillful in the use of hands or body; clever

veritable

(adj.) actual, true, real

vex

(v.) to annoy, anger, exasperate; to confuse, baffle

scoff

(v.) to make fun of; show contempt for

ferret

(n.) a kind of weasel; (v.) to search or hunt out; to torment, badger

whimsical

(adj.) subject to odd ideas, notions, or fancies; playful; unpredictable

upbraid

(v.) to blame, scold, find fault with