Vocabulary 3

acrimonious

(adj) - Bitter and sharp in language or tone; rancorous: an acrimonious debate between the two candidates

affable

(adj) - 1. Easy and pleasant to speak to; approachable. 2. Gentle and gracious: an affable smile

auspicious

(adj) - Presenting favorable circumstances or showing signs of a favorable outcome; propitious: an auspicious time to ask for a raise

bluster

(v) 1. To blow in loud, violent gusts, as the wind during a storm.2.a. To speak in a loudly arrogant or bullying manner.vb. To brag or make loud, empty threats. (n) 1. A violent, gusty wind. 2. Turbulence or noisy confusion. 3. Loud, arrogant speech, often full of empty threats.

brocade

(n) - A heavy fabric interwoven with a rich, raised design

contemptuous

(adj) - scornful; showing disrespect

courtier

(n.) - An attendant at a sovereign's court

didactic

(adj) - 1. Intended to instruct. 2. Morally instructive.3. Inclined to teach or moralize excessively

envoy

(n) 1. A representative of a government who is sent on a special diplomatic mission. 2. A messenger; an agent

Extirpate

(v) 1. a. To destroy totally; kill off: an effort to reintroduce wildlife that had been extirpated from the region b. To render absent or nonexistent 2. To pull up by the roots

iconoclast

(n) - 1. One who attacks and seeks to overthrow traditional or popular ideas or institutions. 2. One who destroys sacred religious images

impetuous

(adj) - Acting or done quickly with little or inadequate thought

perspicuity

(n) - the quality of being clear and lucid

presumptuous

(adj) - Going beyond what is right or proper; excessively forward

reproach

(v) - To express disapproval of, criticism of, or disappointment in (someone); (n) 1.a. An expression of blame or disapproval; a rebuke: a column that elicited many reproaches from readers. b. Blame or disapproval: frowned in mild reproach of what was said.

resplendent

(adj) - splendid or dazzling in appearance

sensibility

(n) - 1. The ability to perceive stimuli: lost sensibility in a toe. 2. a. Mental or emotional responsiveness b. The capacity to respond intelligently to refined emotions, especially in art

sentimental

(adj) - 1. Having, showing, or caused by emotion, especially tender or affectionate feeling: I have sentimental ties to the small town I grew up in. 2. Having, showing, or caused by strong or extravagant tenderness or sadness, often in an idealized way

subterfuge

(n) - 1. Deception used to achieve an end: tried to get her to sign the contract by subterfuge. 2. A deceptive stratagem or device: The meeting was a subterfuge to get him out of his office while it was searched.

Wean

(v) - 1. To accustom (the young of a mammal) to take nourishment other than by suckling. 2. To detach gradually from that to which one is strongly habituated 3. To accustom to something from an early age. “The northerners among the refugees ... were weaned on harsh weather and infertile soils and are known for their rigorous work ethic” (Lowell W