Pearlman Block 3 9th Grade GAW Words

Words and Definitions

aberration

a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome.

abeyance

a state of temporary inactivity: suspension

admonish

warn or reprimand someone firmly.

ameliorate

to make better or more tolerable

antediluvian

of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible

bilk

to block the free development of : frustrate

cherubic

having a plump, pretty innocence

circuitous

Long and not direct route.

clandestine

Done secretly or kept secret

concomitant

A thing that happens at the same time as something else

confluence

The place where two rivers flow together to become one

cryptic

a meaning that is hidden or not easily understood synonym mysterious.

dearth

an inadequate supply : Lack

desecrate

to violate the sanctity of : PROFANE

dilatory

tending or intended to cause delay

disaffected

discontented and resentful especially against authority : REBELLIOUS

dissemble

to hide under a false appearance

dispassionate

not influenced by strong feeling

dissonant

marked by dissonance (lack of agreement)

dissuade

to advise (a person) against something

dotard

a person in his or her dotage (a state or period of senile decay marked by decline of mental poise and alertness)

egregious

1. extremely bad
2. flagrant

elegiac

1\. of, relating to, or consisting of two dactylic hexameter lines the second of which lacks the arsis in the third and sixth feet 2. relating to, or comprising elegy or an elegy, expressing sorrow often for something now past

ephemeral

1\. lasting a very short time 2. lasting one day only

espouse

to take up and support as a cause: become attached to

extol

to praise highly: GLORIFY

fatuous

complacently or inanely foolish: SILLY

florid

1) elaborately or excessively intricate: ORNATE 2) tinged with red: RUDDY 3) fully developed: manifesting a complete and typical clinical syndrome

hedonism

the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the sole or chief good in life

histrionic

deliberately affected: overly dramatic or emotional: THEATRICAL

iconoclasm

The doctrine, practice, or attitude of an iconoclast (iconoclast-a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions)

immutable

Not capable of or susceptible to change

impregnable

Incapable of being taken by assault: unconquerable 2: Unassailable

impugn

to assail by words or arguments : oppose or attack as false or lacking integrity

inauspicious

not auspicious (auspicious- showing or suggesting that future success is likely)

incisive

impressively direct and decisive

intonate

intone, utter

jettison

verb:omit or forgo as part of a plan or as the result of some other decision. noun: voluntary sacrifice of cargo to lighten a ship's load in a time of distress.

juxtapose

to place different things side by side as to compare and contrast them or to create an interesting effect

largess

liberal giving (as of money) to or as if to an inferior, generosity

lethargy

abnormal drowsiness

malevolent

having or showing a wish to do evil to others. \n

meticulous

showing or having great attention to every deatial

odious

extremely unpleasant, repulsive

palpable

feeling intense and tangabile in an atmosphere, able to be touched or felt

pejorative

expressing contempt or dissaproval

philistine

a person indifferent or hostile to the arts

pithy

Having substance and point.

polemical

an aggressive attack on or refutation of the opinions or principles of another.

pulchritude

physical comeliness.

quixotic

foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals.

rancorous

Having or showing feelings of hate and a desire to hurt other people, especially because you think that somebody has done something unfair to you.

rarefy

to make rare, thin, porous, or less dense : to expand without the addition of matter.

raze

to destroy to the ground.

saccharine

excessively sweet or sentimental.

supercilious

behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others

surfeit

an excessive amount of something.

unwieldy

difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight.

verbose

using or expressed in more words than are needed.

zenith

the time at which something is most powerful or successful.