Soph L1 Vocab

fervid (adj.)

fervid (adj.)

burning with enthusiasm or zeal; extremely heated

dank (adj.)

unpleasantly damp or wet

diaphanous (adj.)

very sheer and light; almost completely translucent

adjunct (n/adj)

(n) something added to something else as helpful; an assistant/helper; (adj) added or connected in a subordinate capacity

bellwether (n)

a leader, as in a desperate or violent undertaking; an indication of trends

caterwaul (v/n)

(v) to howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel; (n) a harsh, noisy racket

chimerical (adj.)

absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible

effete (adj.)

lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out or exhausted; sterile or unable to produce; out-of-date

fait accompli (n.)

an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action

hidebound (adj.)

narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative.

hierarchy (n.)

any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc.

liturgy (n.)

a religious service or rite; the form of a ritual or other act of public worship.

oblivious (adj.)

forgetful; unaware

poltroon (n.)

a base coward

proselyte (n.)

a convert; a disciple

supine (adj.)

lying flat on one's back; listless or lethargic; apathetic or passive

vignette (n.)

a short description or sketch; a picture or illustration with edges that gradually shade off; a decorative design on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter

aegis (n.)

protection; patronage; sponsorship

apprise (v.)

to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice

bibulous (adj.)

fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent

claque (n.)

a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat

quasi (adj)

resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely

raillery (n.)

good-humored ridicule; teasing

ribald (adj)

irreverently mocking: coarse vulgar, or indecent in language

deracinate (v.)

to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of

eleemosynary (adj.)

charitable; dependent upon or supported by charity; derived from or provided by charity

indigenous (adj.)

originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent

mirage (n.)

Something illusory, without substance, or without basis in reality; an illusion.

lachrymose (adj)

given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious

lexicon (n)

A dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium.

melee (n)

a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling

morass (n.)

A patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped.

noisome (adj.)

offensive or disgusting; foul smelling; harmful or injurious.

sanguine (adj.)

having a ruddy complexion; of naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

solecism (n.)

a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake

vassal (n./adj.)

a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant; subservient

verisimilitude (n.)

the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely or probable

ancillary (adj.)

subordinate or supplementary

bowdlerize (v.)

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

paean(n.)

a song of praise, joy, or triumph

persiflage (n.)

lighthearted joking, talk, or writing

plethora (n.)

overfullness, superabundance; superfluity

interstice (n.)

a small, narrow space between things or part of things

macrocosm (n.)

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

mountebank (n.)

a trickster or swindler; a charlatan

condescend (v.)

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

gratis (adj./adv.)

free; without charge

icon (n.)

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

cozen (v.)

To trick; to cheat or swindle.

enclave (n.)

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

microcosm (n)

A miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as a model of a larger group or system

minuscule (adj)

very small, tiny; a lowercase letter

obfuscate (v)

to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder

schism (n.)

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

therapeutic (adj.)

having the power to heal or cure; beneficial

virtuoso (n.)(adj.)

(n.) a brilliant preformer; a person with masterly skill or technique; (adj.) masterly or brilliant

paternalism (n.)

the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children

polarize (v.)

to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern

forte (n.)

a person's strong point; what a person does best.

pragmatic (adj.)

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

quizzical (adj.)

puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal

rapacity (n.)

inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one's desire by force, extortion, or plunder

divination (n.)

the art or act of predicting the future or discovering hidden knowledge

elixir (n.)

A potion once thought capable of curing all ills and maintaining life in definitely; a panacea; a sweet liquid used as a vehicle used in medicines

folderol (n.)

Foolish talk, ideas, or procedures; nonsense; a trifle

affinity (n.)

a natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity; a relationship, connection

bilious (adj.)

peevish or irritable; sickeningly unpleasant

cognate (adj, n)

closely related in origin, essential nature, or function; such a person or thing

parameter (n.)

a determining or characteristic element; a factor that shapes the total outcome; a limit, a boundary

pundit (n.)

a learned person; one who gives authoritative opinions

risible (adj.)

pertaining to laughter; able or inclined to laugh; laughable

emolument (n.)

profit derived from an office or position or from employment; a fee or salary

foray (n.) (v.)

a quick raid, especially for plunder; a venture into some field of endeavor; to make such a raid

genre (n.)

a type, class, or variety, especially a distinctive category of literary composition; a style of painting in which everyday scenes are realistically depicted

browbeat (v.)

to intimidate by a stern or overbearing manner; to bully

commensurate (adj.)

equal in size, extent, duration, or importance; proportionate; measurable by the same standards

corollary (adj/n)

resultant or consequent; a proposition that follows one already proven; a natural consequence or result

cul-de-sac (n)

a blind alley or dead-end street; any situation in which further progress is impossible; an impasse

derring-do (n)

valor or heroism; daring deeds or exploits (often used to poke fun at false heroics)

symptomatic (adj)

typical or characteristic; being or concerned with a symptom of a disease

volte-face (n)

an about-face; a complete reversal

afficionado (n)

an enthusiastic and usually expert follower or fan

lucubration (n.)

Laborious study or thought, especially at night; the result of such work.

mnemonic (adj.)

Relating to or designed to assist the memory. (N.) A device to aid the memory.

obloquy (n.)

Public abuse indicating strong disapproval or censure; the disgrace resulting from such treatment.

matrix (n)

a mold; the surrounding situation or environment

obsequies (n)

funeral rites or ceremonies

panache (n)

a confident and stylish manner, dash; a strikingly elaborate or colorful display.

homily (n.)

a sermon stressing moral principles; a moralizing lecture or discourse

immure (v.)

to enclose or confine within walls; to imprison; to seclude or isolate

insouciant (adj.)

blithely indifferent or unconcerned; carefree

sacrosanct (adj.)

very sacred or holy; inviolable; set apart or immune from questioning or attack

systemic (adj.)

of or pertaining to the entire body; relating to a system or systems

tendentious (adj.)

intended to promote a particular point of view, doctrine, or cause; biased or partisan

gamut (n.)

An entire range or series

hoi polloi (n.)

The common people, the masses

ineffable (adj.)

Not expressible in words; too great or to sacred to be uttered

vicissitude (n.)

a change, variation, or alteration; successive or changing phases or conditions

abortive (adj.)

failing to accomplish an intended aim or purpose; only partially or imperfectly developed

bruit (v.)

to spread news , reports, or unsubstantiated rumors