Top Shelf Words

A complete vocabulary list derived from the lecture notes including behavioral science, biological, legal, and literary terminology.

Hawthorne effect

Alteration of behavior due to awareness of being observed.

Expiation

Act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing.

Rendezvous

Meeting at agreed time and place.

Myriad

A countless or extremely great number.

Coterie

a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people. (Also the name of a diaper brand I guess)

Cortege

A solemn procession, especially for a funeral.

Panache

(1) flamboyant confidence of style or manner. (2) a tuft or plume of feathers, especially as a headdress or on a helmet.

Tuft

A bunch or collection of threads, grass, hair, etc., held or growing together at the base.

Plume

(1) a long, soft feather or arrangement of feathers used by a bird for display or worn by a person for ornament.

(2) spread out in a shape resembling a feather. "smoke plumed from the chimneys"

(3) archaic (of a bird) preen itself.

(4) feel a great sense of self-satisfaction about something.

Plumage

A bird's feathers collectively.

Preen

(1) (of a bird) straighten and clean its feathers with its beak.

(2) (of a person) devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one's appearance.

(3) congratulate or pride oneself.

Pinion

(1) the outer part of a bird's wing including the flight feathers.

(2) literary a bird's wing as used in flight.

(3) tie or hold the arms or legs of (someone).

(4) cut off the pinion of (a wing or bird) to prevent flight.

(5) a small gear or spindle engaging with a large gear.

Soliloquy

An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself, especially by a character in a play.

Augmented

Having been made greater in size or value.

Recant

Say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, especially one considered heretical.

Diurnal

(1) of or during the day.

(2) daily; of each day.

Adage

a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.

• Synonym: aphorism, maxim

Clemency

Mercy; lenience.

Forbearance

(1) patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.

(2) (LAW) the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt.

Factory seconds

also known as factory rejects or simply seconds, are retail items that, through minor fault of manufacture, are sold to the public for a reduced rate, rather than being discarded

Anhedonia

Inability to feel pleasure in activities that are usually considered to be pleasurable.

Serviette

A table napkin.

Mausoleum

A building, especially a large and stately one, housing a tomb or tombs.

Entropy

Lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder.

Paragon

(1) a person or thing regarded as a perfect example of a particular quality.

(2) a person or thing viewed as a model of excellence.

(3) a perfect diamond of 100 carats or more.

Vector

(1) an organism, typically a biting insect or tick, that transmits a pathogen, disease, or parasite from one animal or plant to another.

(2) transmit (a pathogen, disease, or parasite) from one organism to another.

(3) direct (an aircraft in flight) to a desired point.

Heterochromia

a difference in coloration in two anatomical structures or two parts of the same structure which are normally alike in color (usually used for eyes)

Vestibule

(1) an antechamber, hall, or lobby next to the outer door of a building.

(2) anatomy a chamber or channel opening into another.

Eulogy

A speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly, typically someone who has just died.

Elegy

(1) a song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation especially for one who is dead

(2) a pensive or reflective poem that is usually nostalgic or melancholy

Outfit

(1) a group of people undertaking a particular activity together, as a group of musicians, a military unit, or a business concern. "Tom was the brains of the outfit"

(2) a complete set of equipment or articles needed for a particular purpose. 

(3) provide (someone) with a set of clothes. "an auction of dolls outfitted by world-famous designers"

(4) provide with equipment. "planes outfitted with sophisticated electronic gear"

Nil

(1) zero, especially as a score in certain games.

(2) nonexistent

Hamilton–Norwood scale

A scale used to classify the stages of male pattern baldness.

Moonlight

To have a second job in addition to one's regular employment.

Bode

To be an omen of a particular outcome.

"their argument did not bode well for the future"

Peruse

(1) read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way.

(2) examine carefully or at length.

Drawl

To speak in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds.

Noun and Verb

Auger (not to be confused with augur)

a spiral-shaped tool that is used to drill holes into the ground and other surfaces or materials.

• Augur and auspice is like omen seekers, and birds were looked at for omens in Rome (most likely flaw)

Presage

(of an event) to be a sign or warning that something, typically something bad, will happen.

noun and verb

Ebb

(1) the movement of the tide out to sea.

(2) (of tidewater) move away from the land; recede.

(3) (of an emotion or quality) gradually lessen or reduce.

Sublimate

(1) (in psychoanalytic theory) divert or modify (an instinctual impulse) into a culturally higher or socially more acceptable activity. (e.g. se*ual energy into sports)

(2) undergo a change of state from solid to gas without passing through the liquid phase, often forming a solid deposit again on cooling.

(3) a solid deposit of a substance which has sublimated.

White elephant

a possession that is useless or troublesome, especially one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to dispose of.

Civvy

(1) civilian clothes, as opposed to uniform.

(2) a civilian, as distinct from a member of the armed forces.

(3) relating to civilians.

Degloving

occurs when skin and the fat below it, the subcutaneous tissue, are torn away from the underlying anatomical structures they are normally attached to, termed: avulsion.

Reliction

(1) the gradual recession of water leaving land permanently uncovered (2) land uncovered by reliction

• relicted

Placate

make (someone) less angry or hostile.

Bawd

(1) a woman in charge of a brothel.

(2) a prostitute

Pittance

A small portion, amount, allowance, or wage.

Nary

nonstandard form of not.

• “Nary a murmur or complaint”

Exonerate

(1) to relieve of a responsibility, obligation, or hardship

(2) to clear from accusation or blame

Maverick

(1) an unorthodox or independent-minded person.

(2) an unbranded calf or yearling.

• Also adjective

Dutch door

A door divided horizontally so that the lower or upper part can be shut separately.

Silver lining

an advantage that comes from a difficult or unpleasant situation

• Phrase “every cloud has a silver lining” = bad times have some good aspect to it

• Merriam defined it as a hopeful prospect though

Exultation

a feeling of triumphant elation or jubilation; rejoicing

• Exultant, exultantly, exulting, exult

Silo

(1) a tower or pit on a farm used to store grain.

(2) an underground chamber in which a guided missile is kept ready for firing.

(3) a system, process, department, etc. that operates in isolation from others.

(4) isolate (one system, process, department, etc.) from others.

Lull

(1) to cause someone to feel calm (+relax vigilance) or to feel that they want to sleep

(2) a temporary pause or decline in activity

Belie

(1) (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict.

(2) to show (something) to be false or wrong; fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation)

• “His manner and appearance belie his age.”

• “The evidence belies their claims of innocence.”

• Belied, belying

Abate

To decrease in force or intensity.

Vista

1) a view, especially a distant view through or along an avenue or opening

(2) an extensive mental view (as over a stretch of time or a series of events); a possible future action or event that you can imagine

Reprise

a repeat of something or part of something, especially a piece of music or a performance/role

Slight

(1) an insult caused by a failure to show someone proper respect or attention.

(2) (of people's build) thin and delicate

Abet

to assist or support (someone) in the achievement of a purpose, especially a crime

Ire

Anger.

Accost

To approach and speak to someone in an often challenging or aggressive way.

Solicit

To ask for or try to obtain something from someone.

Pyrite

The mineral known as fool’s gold.

Feign

to give a false appearance of; pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury)

Lede

the first sentence or paragraph of a news article that gives the main point or points of the story

Preclude

to prevent something or make it impossible, or prevent someone from doing something often used in legal writing

Continence

(1) the ability to retain a bodily discharge voluntarily (e.g. fecal continence)

(2) self-restraint, especially with regard to sex

• Continent = adjective

Galvanize

(1) to cause someone to suddenly take action, especially by shocking or exciting them in some way

(2) coat (iron or steel) with a protective layer of zinc 

• Iron and steel are galvanized primarily to prevent corrosion (rusting) by coating them with a protective layer of zinc

Litter

(1) the group of young animals born to an animal at one time.

(2) material used as bedding for animals

(3) material used to absorb the urine and feces of animals

(4) spread across material/trash, obviously

(5) a vehicle containing a bed or seat enclosed by curtains and carried on men's shoulders or by animals. (think royalty)

(6) a device (such as a stretcher) for carrying a sick or injured person

(7) the uppermost slightly decayed layer of organic matter on the forest floor

Smart

(1) to cause or be the cause or seat of a sharp stinging pain, also : to feel or have such a pain (e.g. "My eyes were smarting from the onions.")

(2) feel upset because of something especially embarrassment/annoyance (e.g. "chiefs of staff are still smarting from the government's cuts")

(3) quickly (e.g. "walking at a smart pace")

(4) neat and stylish

Trim

(1) to embellish with or as if with ribbons, lace, or ornaments

(2) to adjust something to a desired/preferable position for success (boat sails, political view, etc.)

(3) neat

(4) (of a person or their body) slim and fit.

• 1 - (e.g. "a pair of black leather gloves trimmed with fake fur")

Lam

to beat soundly; thrash (a little old)

• On the lam = on the run/escape, especially from the law

Wile

a trick or stratagem intended to ensnare or deceive +ways of persuading someone that trick them into doing something; lure, beguile, entice

• Wiled

• “Used her feminine wiles”

Bow “b(ow)”

(1) debut,

(2) weighed down/figuratively bent over due to pressure, burden, or grief

(3) the forward part of a ship

• the play will bow next month

• bowed down with work, … whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave …

Bow “b(oh)”

(1) something bent into a simple curve or arc; to bend into a curve

(2) the head of a key (the big circular/squarish part that has the hole)

(3) the thing used to play the violin, often wooden with horsehairs (the horse hair is the string part that comes in contact with the instrument); the word can also be used to describe the act of playing a stringed instrument with it as seen in the bullets below

• the wall bows a little, Years of riding had bowed his legs

• bowing the strings

Skein

(1) a loosely coiled length of yarn or thread wound on a reel

(2) a flock of wildfowl (such as geese or ducks) in flight

• Can also be used as a verb “skein yarn”

• Think of the oval ball shape yarn is in when you buy it

Hank

a coiled or looped bundle (as of yarn) usually containing a definite yardage

• black hanks of seaweed heaped on the beach

• She cut off a hank of her hair.

Fawn

(1) a young deer

(2) a pale yellowish-brown colour, kind of like a dirtyish orange

(3) to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner

• In psychology, fawning is a people-pleasing behavior that aims to avoid conflict

Brood

(1) the young of an animal or a family of young especially : the young (as of a bird or insect) hatched or cared for at one time

(2) the children of a family

(3) to think anxiously or gloomily about

(4) of a bird : to cover (young) with the wings

(5) to sit on (eggs) so as to hatch by the warmth of the body

Recourse

(1) a turning to someone or something for help or protection; a source of help or strength : resort

(2) the legal right to demand compensation or payment. E.g. from the maker or endorser of a negotiable instrument (such as a check) if the money is not paid on the agreed date

• settled the matter without recourse to law

“Without recourse” is a phrase used mainly in legal and financial contexts. If something is done without recourse, the person who transfers or sells it is not responsible later if there’s a problem. It basically means “no comeback,” “no refund,” or “no claim against the original party.”

Rappel

descend a rock face or other near-vertical surface/steep slope by using a doubled rope coiled around the body and fixed at a higher point.

• Pronounced like repel

Specter

(1) a visible disembodied spirit : ghost

(2) something that haunts or perturbs the mind; the idea of something unpleasant that might happen in the future; something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence.

• specter of hunger, the specter of nuclear holocaust

Recidivism

a tendency to relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior especially : relapse into criminal behavior, especially after having been convicted/punished already

Afford

to make available, give forth, or provide naturally or inevitably

• The sun affords warmth to the earth.

• a delay that will afford us more time

Cache

a hidden store of things, or the place where they are kept

• Can also be used as a verb

Roost

(1) a place where birds regularly settle or congregate to rest

(2) a group of birds roosting together

(3) verb to settle down for rest or sleep

Rebuff

reject (someone or something) in an abrupt or ungracious manner

• Verb “the company rebuffed the bid” or noun “was met with a rebuff”

Snub

(1) rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully.

(2) (of a person's or animal's nose) short and turned up at the end

• Noun or verb

Spurn

reject with disdain or contempt.

• Noun or verb

• Archaic meant to kick or strike/push something with your foot

Purchase

noun grip or leverage

• “Getting a purchase on" a situation means gaining control, understanding, or a foothold regarding a complex problem.

Distill

(1) purify (a liquid) by vaporizing it, then condensing it by cooling the vapor, and collecting the resulting liquid; to make a liquid stronger or purer by heating it until it changes to a gas and then cooling it so that it changes back into a liquid

(2) extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of

• “My travel notes were distilled into a book”

• You can probably use this to describe how a situation that breaks you down (heat) makes you purer/wiser/stronger once you’ve regrouped and cooled down from it

Expend

To spend or use (e.g., an expenditure of energy).

Prodigal

Spending recklessly and extravagant; based on the parable.

Lavish

To bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities.

Vitrify

To convert something into glass through exposure to heat.

Stasis

A state of inactivity or equilibrium; or a medical stoppage of body fluid flow.

Abeyance

A state of temporary inactivity, disuse, or suspension.