Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop Level E Unit 1-8

adroit

skillful, experiment in the use of the hands or mind

amicable

peaceable, friendly

averse

having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling

belligerent

given to fighting, warlike, combative, aggressive; one at war, one engaged in war

benevolent

kindly, charitable

cursory

hasty, not thorough

duplicity

treachery, deceitfulness

extol

to praise extravagantly

feasible

possible, able to be done

grimace

a wry face, facial distortion; to make a wry face

holocaust

a large-scale destruction, especially by fire; a vast slaughter; a burnt offering

impervious

not affected or hurt by, admitting of no passage or entrance

impetus

a moving force, impulse, stimulus

jeopardy

danger

meticulous

extremely careful; particular about details

nostalgia

a longing for something past; homesickness

quintessence

the purest essence or form of something; the most typical example

retrogress

to move backward; to return to an earlier condition

scrutinize

to examine closely

tepid

lukewarm; unenthusiastic; marked by an absence of interest

adversary

an enemy, opponent

alienate

to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile; to transfer, convey

artifice

a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery

coerce

to compel, force

craven

cowardly; a coward

culinary

of or related to cooking or the kitchen

delete

to erase, wipe out, cut out

demise

a death, especially of a person in a lofty position

exhilarate

to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to

fallow

plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow; land left unseeded; to plow but not seed

harass

to disturb, worry; to trouble by repeated attacks

inclement

stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or action

muse

to think about in a dreamy way, ponder

negligible

so unimportant that it can be disregarded

perpetuate

to make permanent or long lasting

precedent

an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

punitive

inflicting or aiming at punishment

redress

to set right, remedy; relief from wrong or injury

sojourn

a temporary stay; to stay for a time

urbane

refined in manner or style, suave

adulterate

to corrupt, make worse by addition of something

ambidextrous

able to use both hands equally well; very skillful; deceitful, hypocritical

augment

to make larger, increase

bereft

deprived of, made unhappy through loss

deploy

to position or arrange, to utilize, to for up

dour

stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored

fortitude

courage in facing difficulties

gape

to stare with open mouth

gibe

to utter taunting words, an expression of scorn

guise

an external appearance, cover, mask

insidious

intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous

intimation

a hint, indirect suggestion

opulent

wealthy, luxurious; ample;grandiose

pliable

easily bent, flexible, easily influenced

reiterate

to say again, repeat

stolid

not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive

tentative

experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant

unkempt

not combed; untidy; not properly maintained; unpolished, rude

verbatim

word for word; exactly as written or spoken

warily

cautiously, with great care

accede

to yield to; to assume an office or dignity

brandish

to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion

comprise

to include or contain; to be made of

deft

skillful, nimble

destitute

deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in

explicit

definite, clearly stated

extirpate

to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally

inopportune

coming at a bad time; not appropriate

ironic

suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens; given to irony; sarcastic

musty

stale, moldy; out-of-date

officious

meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority

ominous

unfavorable, threatening, of a bad omen

pinnacle

a high peak or point

premeditated

considered beforehand, deliberately planned

rampant

growing without check, running wild

solace

comfort, relief; to comfort, console

stately

dignified, majestic

supple

bending easily; bending with agility; readily adaptable; servile

suppress

to stop by force, put down

venal

open to or marked by bribery or corruption

altruistic

unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others

assent

to express agreement; agreement

benefactor

one who does good to others

chivalrous

marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly

clemency

mercy, humaneness, mildness, moderateness

dearth

a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine

diffident

shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved

discrepancy

a difference; a lack of agreement

embark

to go aboard; to make a start; to invest

facile

easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt

indomitable

unconquerable, refusing to yield

infallible

free from error; absolutely dependable

plod

to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly

pungent

causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting

remiss

neglectful in performance of one's duty, carelessness

repose

to rest; lie; place; relaxation, peace of mind, calmness

temerity

rashness, boldness

truculent

fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh

unfeigned

sincere, real, without pretense

virulent

extremely poisonous, full of malice; spiteful