Hnrs English III - Unit 7 Vocab

abeyance (N)

(N) a state of being temporarily inactive, suspended, or set aside

ambivalent (A)

(A) having opposite and conflicting feelings about someone or something

beleaguer (V)

(V) to set upon from all sides; to surround with an army; to trouble, harass

carte blanche (N)

(N) full freedom or authority to act at one’s own discretion

cataclysm (N)

(N) a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval; a surging flood, deluge

debauch (N/V)

(N) An act or occasion of dissipation or vice

(V) to corrupt morally, seduce; to indulge in dissipation

éclat (N)

(N) dazzling or conspicuous success or acclaim; great brilliance (of performance or achievement)

fastidious (A)

(A) overly demanding or hard to please; excessively careful in regard to details; easily disgusted

gambol (V)

(V) to jump or skip about playfully

imbue (V)

(V) to soak or stain thoroughly; to fill the mind

inchoate (A)

(A) just beginning; not fully shaped or formed

lampoon (N/V)

(N) a malicious satire

(V) to satirize, ridicule

malleable (A)

(A) capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced

nemesis (N)

(N) an agent or force inflicting vengeance or punishment; retribution itself; an unbeatable rival

opt (V)

(V) to make a choice or decision

philistine (A/N)

(A) lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent to cultural and artistic values or refinements

(N) such a person

picaresque (A)

(A) involving or characteristic of clever rogues or adventurers

queasy (A)

(A) nauseated or uneasy; causing nausea or uneasiness; troubled

refractory (A)

(A) stubborn; hard or difficult to manage; not responsive to treatment or cure

savoir-faire (N)

(N) the ability to say and do the right thing in any situation; social competence