honors english vocab final review

aegis

protection; sponsorship or support

amorphous

shapeless; lacking clear form

enervate

to weaken or drain energy

ephemeral

short-lived; temporary

factious

causing conflict or division

perspicacity

keen insight; sharp understanding

diaphanous

sheer; light and delicate

effete

overrefined; weak or exhausted

fecund

fertile; highly productive

obfuscate

to confuse or make unclear

parochial

narrow-minded; limited in outlook

facetious

joking inappropriately; not serious

hedonism

pursuit of pleasure as the main goal

obloquy

public criticism or disgrace

perfunctory

done with little effort or care

ebullient

enthusiastic and energetic

pedantic

overly concerned with small details or rules

onerous

burdensome; difficult

antipathy

strong dislike or hostility

amoral

lacking a sense of right and wrong

sanguine

optimistic or cheerful

scurrilous

vulgar or insulting

sedulous

hardworking and diligent

adroit

skillful and clever

bovine

cowlike; dull or sluggish

callow

immature and inexperienced

dichotomy

division into two opposing parts

fatuous

foolish and pointless

laconic

using very few words

quiddity

the essence or inherent nature of something

sagacious

wise; showing good judgment

agape

openmouthed in surprise or wonder

hoi polloi

ordinary people; the masses

grandiose

excessively grand or ambitious

hackneyed

overused; unoriginal

immolate

to sacrifice or destroy by fire

quagmire

difficult or messy situation

obsequious

overly obedient or flattering

calumny

false statement meant to damage reputation

chimerical

unrealistic; imaginary

contiguous

touching; neighboring

harbinger

signal or warning of something coming

idiosyncrasy

unique personal habit or trait

machination

crafty scheme or plot

nubile

sexually mature; marriageable

pejorative

expressing disapproval or insult

sapient

wise or intelligent

sentient

able to feel or perceive

bucolic

related to the countryside; pastoral

caveat

warning or caution

gratuitous

unnecessary; uncalled for

impecunious

poor; lacking money

impious

disrespectful toward religion

licentious

immoral; sexually unrestrained

redolent

strongly suggestive or fragrant

sedition

rebellion against authority

bombast

overly pompous language

desiccated

dried out; lacking vitality

epitome

perfect example of something

garrulous

excessively talkative

juxtapose

to place side by side for comparison

lachrymose

tearful or mournful

legerdemain

deceptive skill or trickery

mendacious

dishonest; lying

fastidious

very picky or detail-oriented

halcyon

peaceful and happy

hegira

journey or migration

malapropism

misuse of a similar-sounding word

kismet

fate or destiny

panache

stylish confidence or flair

meretricious

flashy but lacking real value

miscreant

wrongdoer; villain

salacious

overly sexual or scandalous

ennui

boredom; dissatisfaction

sang-froid

calmness under pressure

apotheosis

highest point of development or praise

pontificate

to speak arrogantly or dogmatically

specious

misleadingly attractive or logical

credulity

willingness to believe too easily

fulminate

to loudly criticize or protest

gravitas

seriousness or dignity

truculent

aggressive or hostile

androgynous

having both masculine and feminine traits

diaspora

scattered group of people from a homeland

tendentious

biased toward a particular viewpoint

succor

aid or assistance

xeric

very dry; adapted to dry conditions

plenary

complete or fully attended

travesty

distorted or ridiculous imitation

clandestine

secret or hidden