Elite Vocabulary 651-700

mentor

a counselor or teacher

stygian

gloomy and dark; infernal or hellish

chasten

to correct by punishment or criticism; to restrain

lacerate

to rip, cut, or tear; to cause deep emotional pain

domestic

relating to the home or family; relating to one's own country

stealthy

moving with quiet caution; intending to avoid notice

prolific

producing a lot

rudder

the hinged plate at the back and bottom of a boat, used for steering

venerable

worthy of honor and respect by reason of dignity, age, etc.

circumvent

to go around or bypass; to surround

symbiotic

involving a close relationship of mutual dependence

muse

to meditate; to consider thoughtfully

covenant

A binding agreement

farce

a comedy based on crudely humorous, unlikely situations; something absurd or ridiculous, as an obvious pretense

impetuous

characterized by sudden emotion, energy, etc.; impulsive and passionate

revel

to delight, to enjoy (used with "in")

innocuous

harmless

illegible

unable to be read

legacy

something passed down to a descendant

cascade

a waterfall or series of small waterfalls; a succession of stages, processes, or units

impinge

to have an effect on something, esp. a negative one; to encroach

decipher

to read or interpret something confusing or illegible; to convert from a code

pugilist

a boxer

inalienable

not able to be taken away or transferred to others

premeditate

to think out, plan, or scheme beforehand

bestow

to present or give (used with "on")

supercilious

feeling or showing proud contempt; smug; arrogant

conflate

to bring together; to merge into a composite whole

belittle

to put down; to speak of contemptuously

avid

having a passionate desire

sloth

laziness

temperate

consistent; moderate; without extremes

succumb

to give in or yield

incognito

in disguise

synthesis

the combination of separate parts into a unified whole

ulterior

lying beyond what is evident, revealed, or claimed

infuriate

to cause to become very angry; to enrage

chasm

a large gap

entity

something that exists and can be recognized as a distinct unit

laudable

worthy of praise

proclivity

a natural or habitual tendency or inclination

office

a duty or function assigned to someone

amicable

showing friendliness or good will

cantankerous

bad-tempered; quarrelsome

perspicacious

having keen perception or understanding

gross

total, entire; glaringly obvious, flagrant

sanctimonious

pretending holiness; hypocritically devout

shoddy

inferior or cheap

nonchalant

seemingly unconcerned or indifferent

expedient

suitable for a purpose; convenient but based on self-interest rather than principle; a means to an end, especially when based on self-interest