English Vocabulary (Joy Luck Club)

Joy Luck Club Vocab (definitions format: type of word, 1st definition on vocab.com, synonyms)

Acquiesce

verb
to assert tacitly; submit or comply silently or without protest; agree
concur; consent

Ardent

adjective
having, expressive of, or characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent
impassioned; eager; fervent

Bravado

noun
a pretentious, swaggering display of courage
bluster; brag

Complacent

adjective
pleased, especially with oneself or one’s merits, advantages, situation, etc. often without awareness of some potential danger or defect
untroubled; smug

Conscientious

adjective
governed by conscience; controlled by or done according to one’s inner sense of what is right
dedicated; honest

Cynicism

noun
the belief that people only act out of greed and self-interest
doubt; skepticism

Docile

adjective
easy to manage, control, or discipline; submissive
obedience; easy-going

Err

verb
to make a mistake; to violate an accepted standard of conduct
stumble; blunder; trespass

Frivolous

adjective
characterized by lack of seriousness or sense
foolish; childish

Frugal

adjective
characterized by or reflecting thrift or efficiency in use of resourced
economical; thrifty

Recoup

verb
to get money or value that you lost or spent: to get an equivalent of or for losses, to make up for
recover; regain

Betrothed

adjective
to be formerly promised to marry
engaged

Felicitous

adjective
very appropriate, suitable, or well chosen for a particular situation
well chosen; fitting; suitable

Auspicious

adjective
showing or suggesting that a future success if likely, or bringing good luck and/or a favorable sign
primising; favorable; fortunate

Remorseful

adjective
feeling or showing remorse; deep and painful regret for wrongdoing
repentant; contrite; sorry; apologetic

Admonish

verb
to firmly warn, scold, or advise someone about their behavior
caution; rebuke; chide

Presumptuous

adjective
too confident in an expectation or assumption especially in a way that is rude
overfamiliar; arrogant; smug

Penance

noun
an act of self abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin
repentance; atonement; reparation

Malignant

adjective
dispose to cause harm, suffering, or distressed deliberately; feeling or showing ill-will or hatred
malevolent; spiteful

Humility

noun
the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion on estimate of ones own importance, rank, etc.
modesty; submissiveness; meekness

Tout

verb
to make much of; promote, talk up
advertise; acclaim

Façade

noun
a false, superficial, or artificial effect
mask; guise; pretense; veneer

Stagnant

adjective
something that is not flowing, moving, or changing
dormant; inactive

Chagrin

noun
a feeling o being annoyed, failed, or embarrassed due to a mistake or failure
embarrassment: annoyance: displeasure

Verbatim

adverb
in exactly the same words; word for word
directly; literally

Benevolent

adjective
it describes someone or something that shows good will, performs good deeds, or actively wants to help others
kind; charitable; generous

Predisposed

adjective
having or showing an inclination or tendency toward a specified condition, opinion, behavior, etc. beforehand

Manifest

adjective
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgement
obvious; apparent; evident

Indignity

noun
an action or treatment that makes someone feel embarrassed, ashamed, and causes them to lose their self-respect
humiliation; shame; disrespect

Fiasco

noun
a complete and ignominious failure
flop; catastrophe; disaster