American lit. vocab Unit 4

Affable

Courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to

Aggrandize

To increase in greatness, power or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater

Amorphous

Shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity or cohesion

Archetype

An original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal eample of a particular type of person or thing

Aura

That which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality

Contraband

(n.) Illegal traffic, smuggled goods; (adj.) illegal or prohibited

Erudite

Scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

Gossamer

(adj.) Thin, light, delicate, insubstantial, (n.) a very thin, light cloth

Inscrutable

Incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically

Insular

Relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

Irrevocable

Incapable of being changed or called back

Propensity

A natural inclination or predilection toward

Querulous

Peevish, complaining, fretful

Remonstrate

To argue with someone against something, protest against

Repudiate

To disown, reject or deny the validity of

Resilient

Able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

Reverberate

To re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

Scurrilous

Coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed

Sedulous

Persistent, showing industry and determination

Sleazy

Thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean or disreputable