Vocabulary List with Definitions and Examples

placid

adj. calm, peaceful

stark

adj. harsh, unrelieved, desolate; utterly

allude

v. to refer to casually or indirectly

endemic

adj. native or confined to a particular region or people; characteristic of or prevalent in a field

fathom

v. to understand, get to the bottom of; to determine the depth of; n. a measure of depth in water

guile

adj. treacherous cunning, deceit

misconstrue

v. to interpret wrongly, mistake the meaning of

placate

v. to appease, soothe, pacify

pretext

n. a false reason, deceptive excuse

acquiesce

(verb) to accept without protest; to agree or submit

covet

(verb) to desire something belonging to another

crestfallen

(adj.) discouraged, dejected, downcast

disheveled

(adj.) rumpled, mussed; hanging in disorder

lamentable

(adj.) to be regretted or pitied

misnomer

(noun) an unsuitable or misleading name

profess

(verb) to affirm openly; to state belief in; to claim, pretend

respite

(noun) a period of relief or rest

retribution

(noun) a repayment; a deserved punishment

sinuous

(adj.) winding, having many curves; lithe and flexible

vanguard

(noun) the foremost part of an army; the leading position in any field

askew

twisted to one side, crooked; disapprovingly