Sadlier level H units 1-9

ancillary

(adj.) subordinate or supplementary

bowdlerize

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

condescend

(v.) to come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner

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

forte

(n.) a person's strong point; what a person does best

gratis

(adj.) free; (adv.) 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

interstice

(n.) a small, narrow space between things or parts of things

macrocosm

(n.) the universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something

mountebank

(n.) a trickster or swindler; a charlatan

paean

(n.) a song of praise, a joy, or triumph

persiflage

(n.) lighthearted joking, talk, or writing

plethora

(n.) overfullness; superabundance; superfluity

pragmatic

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

quizzical

(adj.) puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal

rapacity

(n.) inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one's desires by force, extortion, or plunder

schism

(n.) a formal split with 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.) a brilliant performer; a person with masterly skill or technique; (adj.) masterly or brilliant

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

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

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.

microcosm

(n.) a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system.

Minuscule

(adj.) very small, tiny; (n.) a lowercase letter

Obfuscate

(v.) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder

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

Purview

(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute

Sanguine

(adj.) having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

Solecism

(n.) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake

Vassal

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

Verisimilitude

(n.) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable

adjunct

(n.) something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic. (adj.) added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity

bellwether

(n.) the male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends.

caterwaul

(v.) to howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel; (n.) a harsh or noisy cry; a 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

mirage

(n.) something illusory, without substance, or without a basis in reality; an illusion

morass

(n.) a patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand

noisome

(adj.) offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious

oblivious

(adj.) forgetful; unaware

poltroon

(n.) a base coward

proselyte

(n.) a convert; a disciple

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

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

aficionado

(n.) an enthusiastic and usually expert follower or fan

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

diaphanous

(adj.) very sheer and light; almost completely transparent

emolument

(n.) profit derived from an office or position from employment; a fee or salary

foray

(n.) a quick raid, especially for plunder; a venture into some field of endeavor; (v.) 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

homily

(n.) a sermon stressing moral principles; a tedious 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; happy-go-lucky

matrix

(n.) a mold; the surrounding situation or environment

obsequies

(n.) funeral rights or ceremonies

panache

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

persona

(n.) a character in a novel or play; the outward character or role that a person assumes

philippic

(n.) a bitter verbal attack

prurient

(adj.) having lustful desires or interests; tending to arouse sexual desires

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.) intending to promote a particular point of view, doctrine, or cause; biased or partisan

vicissitude

(n.) a change, variation, or alteration; (pl.) successive or changing phases or conditions

affinity

(n.) a natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity; a relationship, connection

bilious

(adj.) peevish or irritable; sickeningly unpleasant

cognate

(adj.) closely related in origin, essential nature, or function; (n.) such a person or thing

corollary

(n.) a proposition that follows from one already proven; a natural consequence or result; (adj.) resultant or consequent

cul-de-sac

(n.) a blind alley or dead-end street; any situation in which further process is impossible; an impasse

derring-do

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

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 indefinitely; a panacea; a sweet liquid used as a vehicle in medicines

folderol

(n.) foolish talk, ideas, or procedures; nonsense; a trifle

gamut

(n.) an entire range or series

hoi polloi

(n.) the common people, the masses

ineffable

(adj.) not expressible in words; too great or too sacred to be uttered

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.) a public abuse indicating strong disapproval or censure; the disgrace resulting from such treatment

parameter

(n.) a determining or characteristic element; a factor that shapes the total outcome; a limit, boundary

pundit

(n.) a learned person; one who gives authoritative opinions

risible

(adj.) pertaining to laughter; able or inclined to laugh; laughable

symptomatic

(adj.) typical or characteristic; being or concerned with a symptom of a disease

volte-face

(n.) an about-face; a complete reversal