Vocabulary: Honors English

tentative, adj.

tentative, adj.

not certain or fixed-hesitant. We were tentative about our picnic plans because of the weather.

plausible, adj.

probable, reasonable. It is plausible for a teacher to require students to get their homework done.

placid, adj.

calm, peaceful

Acquiesce verb

agree to do something even though you don't want to do it.

tenacious, adj.

determined

divulge, verb

to reveal

impertinence noun

disrespect; rudeness

momentous, adj.

of great importance

inert, adj.

not active

volition, noun

will or intention

naught, noun

nothing or zero

contention, noun

argument or point you are making

essence, noun

the most essential or basic quality of something

chasm, noun

a hole in the ground

virile, adj

masculine; manly

ineffable [adjective]

not able to describe

immolate, verb

means to kill or offer as a sacrifice

complacent, adj.

self-satisfied

uncanny, adj

weird, scary, supernatural, strange

reiterate, verb

to say again, repeat

abtruse, adj

difficult to understand

pious, adj.

religious and spiritual

benevolent, adj

well meaning and kindly

Corpulent; adjective

fat obese portly stout

alleviate, verb

to relieve from pain

malicious, adj

evil; intending to do harm

arid, adj

dry

fallacy, noun

false

brusque

an abrupt or blunt speech

garrulous

excessively talkative

enigma, noun

a puzzle or something that is difficult to understand

fidelity, noun

faithfulness

arduous

hard to do, requiring much effort

zeal

enthusiasm

squander

to waste

vigilant

on the alert; watchful

avarice

greed

frugal

(adj.) economical, avoiding waste and luxury; scanty, poor, meager

brevity

shortness

Paradox

a statement that seems contradictory but is actually true

Cajole

To suck up to someone

Emaciated

Abnormally weak or thin

Perennial

Occurring year after year

Fetid

Unpleasant smelling

Iridescent

Showing sparkly colors that change

Bulbous

Shaped like a bulb

Bedeck

To decorate

Eradicate

To get rid of completely

Imminent

About to happen

Eminent

Important or respected persons

Laterally

Moving from side to side

Nocturnal

Being active at night

Amiable

Having a friendly manner

Cabtankerous

Cranky

Camaraderie

Friendship that comes from a team

Dubious

Doubtful, unsure

Timorous

Timid and lack of confidence

Haughty

Arrogant and proud

Gregarious

Sociable

Inconsequential

Not important

Asylum

A safe place

Torrid

Very hot and dry or soft, passionate love scene

Plethora

A large amount of something

Audacious

Bold and daring

Incongruous

Not the same, not fitting

Rend

To rip or tear

Banal

Boring

Vacilitate

To alternate or waiver, indecisive

Naive

Showing lack of experience, judgement, wisdom

Obliterate

To destroy utterly

Taciturn

Quiet, not talkative

Macabre

Disturbing or horrifying with the depiction of death

Titillate

To stimulate or excite

Gothic

Characterized by mystery, horror, or gloom

Sadistic

Getting pleasure from pain, humiliation, and hurting

Totalitarian

Total control

Martial

Having to do with the military

Strident

A loud, screeching, grating, noise

Lament

To mourn or grieve

Languid

Slow moving, lazy

Virtuoso

Someone highly skilled in music/art

Fiend

An evil spirit or demon

Flag

To lose ones energy

Superficial

On the surface

Torpor

A state of physical or mental inactivity

Compendium

A list

Ubiquitous

Present everywhere

Perfunctory

Done without meaning

Levity

Humor and laughter

Legion

A great number of things

Eclectic

Taken from different sources

Docile

Teachable and submissive

Homage

Honor that is given publicly

Lurid

Vivid in a gruesome way

Conflagration

Large extensive fire

Sally

A sharp, teasing remark

Banter

To tease back and forth

Hamlet

Small settlement, smaller than a village

Opulent

Rich

Chattel

Your possessions