Level G vocab unit 8-10

allege

(v.) to assert without proof or confirmation

arrant

(adj.) thoroughgoing, out-and-out;
shameless, blatant

badinage

(n.) light and playful conversation

s: banter

conciliate

(v.) to overcome the distrust of, win over;
to appease, pacify

countermand

(v.) to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first

s: revoke

echelon

"The upper echelon"

(n.) one of a series of grades in an organization or activity;
an organized military unit;
a steplike formation or arrangement

exacerbate

(V.) to make more violent, severe, bitter, or painful


a: alleviate

fatuous

(adj.) stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way


a: perceptive

irrefutable

(adj.) impossible to disprove;
beyond argument

s: indisputable

juggernaut

(n.) a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path

lackadaisical

(adj.) lacking spirit or interest,
halfhearted

litany

(n.) a prayer;
a long list
Syn: a lot

macabre

(adj.) grisly, gruesome;
horrible, distressing;
having death as a subject

paucity

(n.) an inadequate quantity, scarcity, dearth


a: abundance

portend

(v.) to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen;
to give advance warning of
S: foreshadow

raze

(v.) to tear down, destroy completely

A: raise

recant

(v.) to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed;
renounce, retract

saturate

(v.) to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity;
to satisfy fully

saturnine

"Saturday night at 9:00, you have a date. You get stood-up. No show."

(adj.) of a gloomy or surly disposition;
cold or sluggish in mood

a: cheerful

slough

(v.) to cast off, discard;
to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary;
to plod through as if through mud;

acclamation

(n.) shout of welcome;
an overwhelming verbal vote of approval

bucolic

(adj.) characteristic of the countryside, rural;
relating to shepherds and cowherds

(ant.) urban

calumniate

(v.) to slander;
to accuse falsely and maliciously

chary

(adj.) extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to);
reserved, diffident

collusion

(n.) secret agreement or cooperation

dilettante

(n.) a dabbler in the arts;
one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way;
(adj.) superficial

imperturbable

(adj.) not easily excited;
emotionally steady

(ant.) excitable

increment

(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition

mandate

(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization;
(v.) to issue such an order

paltry

(adj.) trifling, insignificant;
mean, despicable;
inferior, trashy

(syn.) measly, piddling

paroxysm

(n.) a sudden outburst;
a spasm, convulsion

pedantry

(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge;
overly rigid attention to rules and details

(syn.) hairsplitting

peregrination

(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country

redolent
"red rose"

(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly;
tending to arouse memories or create an aura

refulgent
"full moon"

(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent

shibboleth

(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others;
a commonplace saying or truism

tyro

(n.) a beginner, novice;
one with little or no background or skill

(ant.) veteran, expert

unremitting

(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily,
never letting up, relentless

(ant.) desultory

vacillate

(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another;
to waver weakly in mind or will

vituperative

(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding

(syn.) abusive

askance

(adv.) with suspicion, distrust;
with disapproval

attenuate

(v.) to weaken or lessen in force, intensity, or value
to make thin or slender

benign

(adj.) gentle, kind;
having a favorable effect;
not malignant

Ant: deleterious

cavil

(v.) to find fault in a petty way,
to carp;
(n.) a trivial objection or criticism

charlatan

(n.) one who feigns knowledge or ability;
a pretender, an impostor;
a quack

Syn: fraud

decimate

(v.) to kill or destroy a large part of
(Literally: to kill every 10th one)

foible

(n.) a weak point;
failing;
minor flaw

forgo

(v.) to do without;
to abstain from;
to give up

fraught

(adj.) full of or loaded with;
accompanied by

inure

(v.) to toughen, harden;
to get used to something by long subjection or exposure

luminous

(adj.) emitting or reflecting light;
glowing;
illuminating

Syn: radiant

obsequious

(adj.) marked by slavish attentiveness;
excessively submissive, often for purely self-interested reasons

Ant: overbearing

obtuse

(adj.) slow or dull in understanding;
measuring between 90 and 180 degrees;
not causing a sharp impression;
blunt, not coming to a point

oscillate

(v.) to swing back and forth with a steady rhythm;
to fluctuate or waver

penitent

(adj.) regretful for one's sins or mistakes;
(n.) one who is sorry for wrongdoing

peremptory

(adj.) having the nature of a command that leaves no opportunity for debate, denial, or refusal

rebuff

(v.) to snub;
to repel, drive away;
(n.) a curt rejection

Ant: accept

reconnoiter

(v.) to engage in reconnaissance;
to make a preliminary inspection

shambles

(n.) a slaughterhouse;
a state of complete disorder and confusion, mess
a place of mass bloodshed

sporadic

(adj.) occurring at irregular intervals;
having no set plan or order

Ant: steady