Vocab Level G unit 4

atrophy

(n.) the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v) to waste away

syn: degeneration

ant: mature

bastion

(n) a fortified place, stronghold

SYN: citadel, rampart, parapet

Concord

(n.) a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant

consummate

(adj.) complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection

SYN: clinch, masterful

ANT: launch, initiate, begin, kick off

disarray

(n.) disorder, confusion; (v.) to throw into disorder

SYN: dishevel, mess up

exigency

(n.) urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need, emergency

SYN: requirement, crisis

flotsam

(n.) floating debris; unimportant or discarded material

SYN: floating wreckage

frenetic

(adj) frenzied, highly agitated, frantic

SYN: frantic, overwrought

ANT: controlled, leisurely

glean

(v) to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left in a field by the reapers

SYN: cull

grouse

(n) a type of game bird; a complaint; (v.) to complain, grumble

SYN: kvetch, bellyache

incarcerate

(v) to imprison, confine, jail

SYN: intern

incumbent

(adj.) obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of

SYN: necessary ANT: unnecessary

jocular

(adj.) humorous, jesting, jolly, joking

SYN: waggish, facetious, droll

ANT: solemn, grave, earnest, grim

ludicrous

(adj) ridiculous, laughable, absurd

SYN: risible, preposterous

ANT: heartrending, poignant, pathetic

mordant

(adj) biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh

SYN: acrimonious, acidulous, sardonic

ANT: bland, mild

nettle

(n.) a prickly or stinging plant; (v.) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely

syn: peeve, incense, gall

ant: pacify

pecuniary

(adj.) consisting of or measured in money; of or related to money

syn: monetary

Pusillanimous

(adj.) contemptibly cowardly or mean-spirited

syn: lily-livered

ant: southhearted

Recumbent

(adj.) in a reclining position, lying down, in a posture of one sleeping or resting

syn: prone, supine

ant: erect, energetic, dynamic

stratagem

(n.) a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end

syn: ploy, subterfuge