H English Vocab

Acronym

A word formed from the first letter of each word in a series. (noun)

Affix

A prefix or suffix (noun); to attach a part to the beginning or end of a word (verb); to attach something (verb).

Coinage

The invention of new words; the making of metal currency. (noun)

Colloquial

Conversational; typical informal language. (adjective)

Diminutive

A suffix that indicates small size, youth, familiarity, affection, or contempt (noun); a nickname indicating affection or familiarity (noun); extremely small (adjective).

Oxymoron

An expression that contains contradictory terms. (noun)

Portmanteau word

A word formed by combining the sounds and meanings of two different words. (noun)
Ex: Chunnel formed by channel and tunnel

Spoonerism

An often comical switching of the first sounds of two or more words. (noun)
Ex: Lack of pies and pack of lies

Denouement

The resolution or conclusion, French for the untying of the knot.

Epiphany

Some moment of insight, discovery, or revelation, by which a character's life or view of life is greatly altered.

Beguile

To charm; to delight; to deceive skillfully. (verb)

Benevolent

Wishing to do good; kindly; characterized by helpful intention; concerned with, or for the benefit of charity. (adjective)

Decorum

Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety. (noun)

Demeanor

The way one behaves or presents oneself; one's manner. (noun)

Feral

Wild and untamed; savage; having returned to an untamed state from domestication. (adjective)

Ignoble

Mean, unethical, or dishonorable; not noble in character; not of the nobility; common. (adjective)

Mores

Accepted standards and customs of a social group. (noun)

Provincial

Relating to areas that are far from large cities or capitals; not sophisticated, fashionable, or informed; culturally limited; limited or narrow in perspective. (adjective)

Unseemly

Unfitting and inappropriate; grossly improper. (adjective)

Wily

Cunning; full of trickery or intentions to deceive. (adjective)

Apprehensive

Anxious or fearful about the future; uneasy. (adjective)

Categorical

Without exception or qualification; absolute; done according to types. (adjective)

Conclusive

Decisive; putting an end to doubt, question, or uncertainty. (adjective)

Dubious

Doubtful; uncertain; questionable as to quality or validity. (adjective)

Intermediate

Not capable of being determined or established; not precisely known; lacking clarity or precision; vague. (adjective)

Precarious

dangerous; risky; lacking in security or stability; based on uncertain or questionable premises. (adjective)

Qualm

A sense of doubt or uneasiness about a course of action. (noun)

Tentative

Uncertain; not fully worked out or agreed upon; provisional. (adjective)

Unequivocal

Perfectly clear; leaving no room for doubt or misunderstanding. (adjective)

Vacillate

To swing indecisively from one opinion or action to another; to sway or hesitate in choice of actions or opinions. (verb)

Aggrandize

To make greater in power, influence, stature, or reputation.
To exaggerate, or make something seem greater than it is.

Exorbitance

Extreme, unreasonable expense or price; being beyond reasonable or proper limits.

Grandiose

Trying to seem important; characterized by pretended grandeur.

Gratuitous

Unnecessary; unjustified.

Intemperate

Excessive; lacking moderation.

Multifarious

Having great variety; diverse.

Opulence

Wealth; affluence.
Great abundance, often to excess; lavishness.

Profligate

Recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant.

Satiate

To fully satisfy an appetite or desire.

Surfeit

An excessive amount.

Assertive

Acting with confidence and force; sure of one's self.

Brazen

Extremely bold; shamelessly rude or defiant.

Complaisant

Wanting to please; willing to do what pleases others; cheerfully obliging.

Docile

Gentle; easily manageable or teachable; tame.

Flamboyant

Showy, flashy, vivid or dramatic.

Intrepid

Fearless; having unwavering courage.

Mellow

Relaxed and unhurried; easygoing.
To become more relaxed or pleasant.

Pacific

Of a peaceful nature; calm.

Strident

Loud, harsh, grating, or shrill.

Unabashed

Not embarrassed; composed.

Affect

To influence; to change.
To put on a false show or display of.
(noun (AF-ekt)): Feeling or emotion, especially shown in facial expressions or body language.

Effect

A result.
To bring about.

Depredation

A predatory attack; a raid.
Damage, destruction, or loss.

Deprivation

The state of lacking or doing without something; loss.

Disinterested

Impartial; free of bias or self-interest in an outcome.

Uninterested

Without interest; having no interest or concern in a matter.

Emigrate

To leave one country or region and settle in another.

Immigrate

To settle in a country or region where one is not native.

Precede

To come before.

Procede

To go forward or onward.

Didactic

Intended to teach.
Overly moralistic; preachy.

Edify

To instruct for intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement.

Elucidate

To explain or make clear.

Erudite

Possessing great knowledge and scholarship.

Esoteric

Understood only by an elite, scholarly, or exclusive group; obscure.

Imbue

To inspire or influence thoroughly.
To stain or dye thoroughly.

Indoctrinate

To instruct in or impart certain principles or ideology.

Pedagogy

The art or profession of teaching.

Pedantic

Overly concerned with or narrowly focused on book learning or formal rules.

Pundit

A person of great learning about a particular topic; an expert.

Aegis

Protection; sponsorship; guidance
(often used in the phrase "under the __ of")

Amends

Something done to make up for a wrong, an injury, or a mistake; compensation.

Conciliatory

Peacemaking; appeasing; intended to overcome distrust, animosity, or conflict.

Conducive

Tending to cause or bring about; favorable to.

Extricate

To free from difficulty or entanglement.

Importune

To annoy with repeated and insistent requests; to ask for urgently or repeatedly.

Mediate

To help opposing sides reach an agreement; to intervene in a conflict in order to improve the situation.

Patronize

To treat as inferior.

Renovate

To restore something to an earlier condition, by repairing or remodeling.

Mitigate

To make less severe; to soften, lessen, or moderate.

Austerity

Severe and rigid restrictions, especially those brought about by difficult economic times.
The quality of lacking luxury or ornamentation; bareness; simplicity.
The quality of being severe or stern in appearance or manner.

Depreciate

To decrease or cause to decrease in value or price.

Equity

Net value; the value of a business or property minus debt owed.
Fairness; justice.

Frugal

Economical; thrifty; careful or strict in avoiding unnecessary spending.

Indigent

Extremely poor; impoverished; lacking basic necessities.

Munificent

Generous; liberal in giving.

Pecuniary

Having to do with money.

Recession

A general decline in business activity.
The act of withdrawing or going back.

Remunerate

To pay for goods provided, services rendered, or losses incurred; to compensate for.

Solvent

Capable of meeting financial obligations; able to pay debts.

Congruence

Agreement, harmony, or correspondence

Deviate

To depart or turn aside from a path, direction, or course of action

Disparity

The condition or fact of being unequal or different; inequality

Heterogeneous

Consisting of many different elements or types; varied

Homogeneous

Similar in kind or nature; uniform

Nuance

A subtle or slight degree of difference

Tantamount

Equivalent in significance, effect, or value

acrimonious

bitter or sharp in language or tone

chastise

to punish or criticize severely

debunk

to expose or make fun of a false claim or an exaggeration