Definitions Unit 3 Test

absolve

(v.) to clear from blame, responsibility, or guilt

caricature

(n.) a representation, such as a drawing, that exaggerates a subject’s characteristic features; (v.) to present someone or something in a deliberately distorted way

clangor

(n.) a loud ringing sound; (v.) to make a loud ringing noise

contiguous

(adj.) side by side, touching; near; adjacent in time

cupidity

(n.) an eager desire for something; greed

deleterious

(adj.) harmful, injurious

enhance

(v.) to raise to a higher degree; to increase the value or desirability of

enthrall

(v.) to captivate, charm, hold spellbound; to enslave; to imprison

extenuate

(v.) to lessen the seriousness or magnitude of an offense by making partial excuses.

implicit

(adj.) implied or understood though unexpressed; without doubts or reservations, unquestioning; potentially contained in

incisive

(adj.) sharp, keen, penetrating ( with a suggestion of decisiveness and effectiveness)

inimical

(adj.) tending to cause harm or obstruct development; being oppositional or adverse

ostentatious

(adj.) marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy

paragon

(n.) a model of excellence or perfection

politic

(adj.) prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedient

prosaic

(adj.) dull, lacking in distinction and originality; matter-of-fact, straightforward; characteristic of prose, not poetic

redundant

(adj.) extra, excess, more than is needed; wordy, repetitive; profuse, lush

sanctimonious

(adj.) making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious, self-righteous, canting, holier-than-thou

scintillating

(adj., part.) sparkling, twinkling, exceptionally brilliant (applied to mental or personal qualities)

winsome

(adj.) charming, attractive, pleasing (often suggesting a childlike charm and innocence)

abstemious

(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self-discipline

censurable

(adj.) deserving of blame or correction

contingent

(adj.) likely but not certain to happen, possible; dependent on uncertain events or conditions; happening by chance; (n.) a representative group forming part of a larger body

corroborate

(v.) to confirm, make more certain, bolster, stubstantiate, verify

denizen

(n.) an inhabitant, resident; one who frequents a place

discursive

(adj.) passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling, roving, nomadic

disseminate

(v.) to scatter or spread widely

dowdy

(adj.) poorly dressed, shabby; lacking smartness and good taste

florid

(adj) highly colored, reddish; excessively ornate, showy

foist

(v.) to impose by fraud; to pass off as worthy or genuine; to bring about by stealth, dishonesty, or coercion

gauche

(adj) awkward, lacking in social graces, tactless, clumsy

heresy

(n.) an opinion different from accepted belief; the denial of an idea that is generally held sacred

inculcate

(v.) to impress on the mind by repetition, teach persistently and earnestly

palpable

(adj) capable of being touched or felt; easily seen, heard, or recognized

perceptive

(adj.) having sympathetic insight or understanding, capable of keen appreciation

pernicious

(adj.) extremely harmful; deadly, fatal

salient

(adj.) leaping, jumping, or springing forth; prominent, standing out conspicuous; (n.) a projection or buldge, a land form that projects upward or outward.

satiate

(v.) to satisfy completely; to fill to excess; (adj.) full, satisfied

sear

(v.) to make or become dry and withered; to char or scorch the surface of; to harden or make unfeeling; to patch, dessicate, singe.

specious

(adj.) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit

accrue

(v.) to grow or accumulate over time; to happen as a natural result

annotation

(n.) a critical or explanatory note or comment, especially for a literary work

bedlam

(n.) a state or scene of uproar and confusion

covert

(adj.) hidden, disguised, purposefully kept secret; sheltered, secluded; (n.) a sheltered place, a hiding place

debonair

(adj.) pleasant, courteous, lighthearted; smooth and polished in manner and appearance

dun

(v.) to demand insistently, especially in payment of a debt; (n.) a creditor; (adj.) dark, dull, drab, dingy

efficacious

(adj.) effective, producing results

equanimity

(n.) calmness, composure, refusal to panic

fortuitous

(adj.) accidental, occurring by a happy chance

gist

(n.) the essential part, main part, or essence

gratuitous

(adj.) freely given; not called for by circumstances, unwarranted

imperious

(adj.) overbearing, arrogant; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling

invective

(n.) a strong denunciation or condemnation; abusive language; (adj.) abusive, vituperative

motley

(adj.) showing great variety, composed of different elements or many colors; (n.) a jester's costume; a jester

munificent

(adj.) extremely generous, lavish

procrastinate

(v.) to delay, put off until later

provocative

(adj.) tending to produce a strong feeling or response; arousing desire or appetite; irritating, annoying

recondite

(adj.) exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding

reprobate

(n.) a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person, scoundrel; (adj.) corrupt, or unprincipled; (v.) to disapprove of, condemn

sedentary

(adj.) characterized by or calling for continued sitting; remaining in one place