English 10 Vocab Units 1-6

approbation

an expression of approval or praise; official approval

assuage

to relieve or make easier; to put an end to

coalition

a combination, union, or alliance

elicit

to draw forth/bring out, to evoke

expostulate

to attempt to dissuade someone, to protest

decadence

deterioration, a period of decline/decay; excessive self-indulgence

hackneyed

lacking in freshness or originality

hiatus

a pause, gap, or break

innuendo

a hint or indirect suggestion

intercede

to serve as third party or go-between in a disagreement, to intervene

jaded

wearied or worn-out from excessivity

lurid

causing shock or horror; pale in color; terrible in intensity, gruesome

meritorious

deserving of recognition and praise

petulant

easily irritated, peevish

prerogative

a special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence

provincial

narrow-minded, backward; from the countryside

simulate

to imitate or pretend

transcend

to rise above or beyond

umbrage

overshadowing influence or power; resentment; suspicion; shade cast by trees

unctuous

excessively smooth or smug; overly earnest, trying too hard to impress; fatty, oily

ameliorate

to improve, to correct

aplomb

poise, composure

bombastic

pompous/overblown language intended to conceal a lack of ideas

callow

without experience; immature; lacking poise

drivel

saliva or mucus; aimless talk, nonsese

epitome

an instance that represents a larger reality; a summary or condensed account

exhort

to strongly urge or advise

ex officio

by virtue of holding a certain office

infringe

to violate or trespass

ingratiate

to make oneself agreeable to gain favor or acceptance

interloper

an intruder or trespasser

intrinsic

inherent, belong to by nature; originating from body

inveigh

to express strong disapproval, to attack with words

lassitude

weariness or lack of energy

millennium

a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

occult

secret, hidden; mysterious, uncanny; to hide or cover up; involving the supernatural

permeate

to spread through, to penetrate

precipitate

falling moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; the product of an action or process; to give distinct form to

stringent

strict, severe; compelling; sharp or bitter to taste

surmise

to believe without certain supporting evidence, to guess; a likely idea that lacks definite proof

abominate

to have an intense dislike or hatred for

acculturation

changes or adaptions in a group or society through contact with others

adventitious

resulting from chance; (medicine) acquired

ascribe

to assign or refer to

circuitous

roundabout

commiserate

to sympathize with, to feel sorry for

enjoin

to direct or order; to prohibit

expedite

to make easier or faster

expiate

to make amends; to make up for

ferment

a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence; to work into such a state; to produce something for chemical action

inadvertent

unintentional, accidental

nominal

existing in name only; too small to be seriously considered

noncommittal

not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position

peculate

to steal from something that has been given into one’s trust, to embezzle

proclivity

a natural inclination or tendency, especially of human character or behavior

sangfroid

composure or coolness, especially when in trying circumstances

seditious

resistant to lawful authority or government

tenuous

thin or slender; lacking clarity; of slight importance; without basis

vitriolic

bitter; biting

wheedle

to use coaxing or flattery to gain something

affable

sociable and pleasant

aggrandize

increase in greatness or power

amoprhous

shapeless, without organization

archetype

replicated example of a type of person or thing

aura

atmosphere, distinctive quality

contraband

illegal traffic, smuggled goods; prohibited

erudite

scholarly

gossamer

delicate, insubstantial; thin, light cloth

inscrutable

impossible to see through or be understood

insular

narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

irrevocable

incapable of being changed or called back

propensity

natural inclination

querulous

peevish, petulant

remonstrate

to argue or protest against

repudiate

to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

resilient

able to return to original or recover quickly

reverberate

to echo, resound; to reflect repeatedly

scurrilous

vulgar or low

sedulous

persistent, showing undustry and determination

sleazy

flimsy, cheap, or shoddy in quality or character

amnesty

pardon for offense against government; act of forgiveness

autonomy

self-gov, political control, home rule

axiomatic

self-evident, universally accepted

blazon

to adorn or embellish

caveat

a caution or warning

equitable

fair, just

extricate

to free from entanglements or difficulties

filch

to steal, especially in petty amounts

flout

to mock or treat with contempt

fractious

troublesome, contrary, unpredictable, quarrelsome

precept

a rule of conduct or action

salutary

beneficial, helpful, healthful, wholesome

scathing

withering, causing great harm

scourge

to whip/punish severely; cause suffering; source of severe punishment or criticism

sepulchral

funereal, gloomy

soporific

sleep inducing

straitlaced

extremely strict in moral standards and conduct

transient

short, fleeting; one who stays for a short time

unwieldy

not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity

vapid

dull, tiresome, uninteresting