Poetry Vocab List 1

adumbrate

The opening scene seemed to ________ the tragic events that would occur later in the novel.

to foreshadow vaguely or intimately; to suggest or outline sketchily; to obscure or overshadow

anathema

Luther and Calvin were expelled from the Church, with ______, and founded churches of their own.

a solemn or ecclesiastical (religious) curse; accursed or thoroughly loathed person or thing

anodyne

The doctor prescribed an ________ treatment to ease the patient's discomfort.

soothing; something that assuages or allays pain or comforts

apogee

Winning the championship marked the ________ of her athletic career.

farthest or highest point; culmination; zenith

apotheosis

The statue was created as an ________ of the nation's greatest leader.

deification; glorification to godliness; an exalted example; a model of excellence or perfection

augury

The sudden appearance of a rainbow was considered an ________ of good fortune.

omen, portent

cavil

Instead of appreciating the presentation, he continued to ________ over insignificant details.

to find fault without good reason

celerity

The firefighter acted with remarkable ________ when he heard the alarm.

speed, alacrity

chimera

His dream of becoming famous overnight was merely a ________.

an illusion; originally, an imaginary fire-breathing she-monster

debacle

The team's disastrous performance in the championship game was a complete ________.

rout, fiasco, complete failure

descry

From the top of the hill, we could ________ the lights of the distant city.

to catch sight of

desultory

After losing interest in the project, she made only ________ attempts to finish it.

random; aimless; marked by a lack of plan or purpose

diaphanous

The dancer wore a ________ veil that allowed the light to shine through.

transparent, gauzy

dirge

The musicians played a solemn ________ at the funeral.

a song of grief or lamentation

encomium

The professor received an ________ from his colleagues for his years of dedication.

glowing and enthusiastic praise

eschew

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, she decided to ________ processed foods.

to shun or avoid

excoriate

The critic used his review to ________ the director for the film's many flaws.

to censure scathingly, to upbraid

expiate

He tried to ________ his wrongdoing by apologizing and making amends.

to atone or make amends for

fatuous

His ________ remarks during the serious meeting made everyone uncomfortable.

silly, inanely foolish

fractious

The ________ students constantly argued with one another during class.

quarrelsome, rebellious, unruly, irritable