english II gb/ap seminar word list 1

abhor

hate

bigot

narrow-minded, prejudiced person

counterfeit

fake; false

enfranchise

give voting rights

hamper

hinder; obstruct

kindle

to start a fire

noxious

harmful; poisonous; lethal

placid

calm, peaceful

remuneration

payment for work done

talisman

lucky charm

abrasive

rough; coarse; harsh

bilk

cheat; defraud

covert

hidden; undercover

engender

cause

hangar

storage area (like garage) for a plane

knotty

complex; difficult to solve

nuance

something subtle; a fine shade of meaning

plagiarism

taking credit for someone else's writing or ideas

renown

fame

tangent

going off the main subject

abasement

humiliation; degradation

billowing

swelling; fluttering; waving

cower

recoil in fear or servility; shrink away from

enhance

improve; make better or clearer

harangue

noisy, attacking speech

labyrinth

a maze

nullify

to counter; make unimportant

plaintiff

petitioner (in court of law)

replete

full

tangible

can be touched

abrogate

cancel; deny; repeal

blasphemy

speech which offends religious sentiments

credible

believable

enigma

puzzle; mystery

harbingers

indicators; bringers of warnings

labyrinthine

complicated; highly convoluted

nuzzle

cuddle; snuggle

plaudit

statement giving strong praise

reprehensible

shameful; very bad

tardy

slow; late; overdue; delayed

absolution

forgiveness; pardon; release

blatant

obvious

creditable

praiseworthy

ensconce

establish firmly in a position

hasten

hurry; accelerate; rush

laceration

a cut

obdurate

stubborn

plausible

can be believed; reasonable

reprieve

a respite; postponement of a sentence

tawdry

of little value; gaudy

abstain

desist; go without; withdraw

blighted

damaged; destroyed; ruined

credulous

gullible; ready to believe anything

enshroud

cover

haughtiness

arrogance; pride

lachrymose

tearful; sad

obfuscate

deliberately make something difficult to understand

plethora

an excess

repudiate

shun; eschew

tedium

boredom

abstemious

self denying; refraining from indulging

blithe

free-spirited; carefree

crepuscular

active at dawn and dusk

enunciation

clear pronunciation; accent; articulation

headstrong

stubborn; willful

lackluster

dull; monotonous; bland

objective

unbiased; not subjective

pliable

flexible; not stubborn

rescind

retract; repeal

temper

to moderate; soften

abstruse

difficult to understand; obscure

blunderbuss

1. ancient weapon (type of gun); 2. a clumsy person

cringe

recoil; flinch; shy away

envenom

to cause bitterness and bad feeling

hedonism

self indulgence; pleasure-seeking

laconic

using few words; brief; to the point

oblique

indirect; slanting

plumage

feathers of a bird

resignation

acceptance of fate

tenacious

stubborn; resolute; holding firm to a purpose

accolade

tribute; honor; praise

bolster

support; prop up

cryptic

puzzling; enigmatic

ephemeral

short-lived

hedonist

a pleasure seeker

lamentation

expression of regret or sorrow

obliterate

destroy; demolish; eradicate

plummet

fall suddenly and steeply

resolution

determination

tentative

not certain

acquiesce

to agree to; give in to

bombast

arrogant, pompous language

curtail

cut short

epicure

someone who appreciates good food and drink

heed

listen to

lampoon

ridicule; spoof

oblivious

totally unaware

podium

raised platform

resonant

echoing

tenuous

flimsy; not solid