Vocabulary Workshop Level H Unit 9 Definitions

avatar

an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person; an electronic image that represents and is manipulated by a computer user

beatitude

a state of perfect happiness or blessedness; a blessing

bete noire

someone or something that one especially dislikes, dreads, or avoids

bode

to be an omen of; to indicate by signs

dank

unpleasantly damp or wet

ecumenical

worldwide or universal in influence or application

fervid

burning with enthusiasm or zeal; extremely heated

fetid

having an unpleasant or offensive odor

gargantuan

of immense size, volume, or capacity; enormous, prodigious

heyday

the period of greatest power, vigor, success, or influence; the prime years

incubus

a demon or evil spirit supposed to haunt human beings in their bedrooms at night; anything that oppresses or weighs upon one, like a nightmare

infrastructure

a basic foundation or framework; a system of public works; the resources and facilities required for an activity; permanent military installations

inveigle

to entice, lure, or snare by flattery or artful inducements; to obtain or acquire by artifice

kudos

to acclaim, prestige, or renown that comes as a result of some action or achievement

lagniappe

an extra or unexpected gift or gratuity

prolix

long-winded and wordy; tending to speak or write in such a way

protege

someone whos welfare, training, or career is under the patronage of an influential person; someone under the jurisdiction of a foreign country or government

sycophant

someone who attempts to win favors or advance him-or herself by flattery or servile behavior; a slanderer, defamer

tatuology

needless repetition of an idea by using different but equivalent words; a redundancy

truckle

to yield or submit tamely or submissively