Vocab Unit 2

bowdlerize

to remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film, etc.)

condescend

to come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner

cozen

to trick; to cheat or swindle

enclave

an enclosed district, region, or area inhabited by a particular group of people or having special character

icon

a representation or image of a sacred personage, often considered sacred itself; an image or picture; a symbol; a graphic symbol on a computer monitor display; an object of blind devotion

macrocosm

the universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something

persiflage

lighthearted joking, talk, or writing

pragmatic

concerned with practical considerations or values; dealing with actions and results rather than with abstract theory; stiff in one’s opinions

quizzical

puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal

rapacity

inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one’s desires by force, extortion, or plunder

ancillary

subordinate or supplementary

forte

a person’s strong point; what a person does best

gratis

free; without charge

interstice

a small, narrow space between things or parts of things

mountebank

a trickster or swindler; a charlatan

paean

a song of praise, joy, or triumph

plethora

overfullness; superabundance; superfluity

schism

a formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions

therapeutic

having the power to heal or cure; beneficial

virtuoso

a brilliant performer; a person with masterly skill or technique; masterly or brilliant