Unit 15 Vocabulary

amenity

amenity

(n) that which is pleasant or agreeable; attractive features, customs, etc

antonyms: unpleasantness, disagreeableness

aperture

(n) an opening, gap, hole; orifice

antonyms: closure, blockage, occlusion

dissidence

(n) a difference of opinion; discontent

synonyms: disagreement, disaffection

antonyms: harmony, concord

epicurean

(adj) devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; fond of good food, comfort, and ease; with discriminating tastes (n) a person with discriminating tastes

synonyms: sybaritic, discriminating

antonyms: ascetic, self-denying, abstemious

improvident

(adj) not thrifty; failing to plan ahead

synonyms: prodigal, spendthrift, extravagant

antonyms: frugal, economical, cautious

iniquity

(n) wickedness, sin; a grossly immoral act

synonyms: evil, crime

antonyms: probity, rectitude, uprightness

inviolable

(adj) sacred; of such a character that it must not be broken, injured, or profaned

synonym: unassailable

antonyms: venerable, assailable

mutable

(adj) open to or capable of change, fickle

synonyms: changeable, variable

antonyms: changeless, steadfast, constant

nascent

(adj) just beginning to exist or develop; having just come into existence

synonyms: incipient, embryonic

antonyms: dying, moribund, senescent

obeisance

(n) a deep bow or other body movement indicating respect or submission; deference, homage

synonym: honor

antonyms: disrespect, irreverence

panegyric

(n) formal or elaborate praise; a tribute

synonyms: tribute, encomium, testimonial

antonyms: tirade, philippic

pillory

(n) a device for publicly punishing offenders; a means for exposing one to public contempt or ridicule (v) to expose to public contempt or ridicule

antonyms: extol, laud, acclaim

pittance

(n) a woefully meager allowance, wage, or portion

synonym: trifle

antonym: fortune

presage

(v) to foreshadow or point to a future event; to predict (n) a warning or indication of the future

synonyms: augur, foretell

progeny

(n) descendants, offspring, children, followers, disciples

synonyms: issue, posterity

antonyms: forebears, antecedents

promulgate

(v) to proclaim or issue officially; to make known far and wide

synonym: announce

antonyms: withdraw, retract, abrogate, nullify

rectitude

(n) uprightness, righteousness; correctness

synonyms: probity, integrity

antonyms: inquiry, heinousness

restive

(adj) restless, hard to manage, balky

synonyms: uneasy, recalcitrant

antonyms: serene, unruffled, docile

seraphic

(adj) angelic, heavenly, celestial

synonym: cherubic

antonym: devilish

subsist

(v) to have existence; to remain alive, manage to make a living or maintain life; to persist or continue

synonyms: last, sustain