vocab ch 3: sections 6-10

apiary (n.)

place where bees are kept

aviary (n.)

place where birds are kept

badger (v.)

tease; annoy; nag (originally to harass a trapped badger)

halcyon (adj.)

calm; peaceful (from halcyon, a bird thought to calm the waves)

lionize (v.)

treat as highly important

menagerie (n.)

place where animals are kept and trained; collection of wild animals

molt (v.)

shed feathers, skin, hair, etc.

ornithology (n.)

study of birds

parasite (n.)

animal, plant, or person living on others; freeloader

parasitic (adj.)

living at the expense of another; sponging

parrot (v.)

repeat mechanically, like a parrot (tropical bird that imitates human speech)

scavenger (n.)

animal or person removing refuse, decay, etc.

antidote (n.)

remedy for a poison or evil

astringent (n.)

substance that shrinks tissues and checks flow of blood

astringent (adj.)

1. severe; stern
2. causing contraction

benign (adj.)

1. not dangerous (ant. malignant)
2. gentle; kindly

convalesce (v.)

recover health after illness; recuperate

convalescent (v.)

person recovering from sickness

fester (v.)

form pus; rankle; rot; putrefy

hypochondriac (n.)

one who is morbidly anxious about personal health, or suffering from imagined illness

immunity (n.)

1. resistance (to a disease)
2. freedom (as from an obligation); exemption

immunize (v.)

make immune (e.g., resistant to a disease)

lesion (n.)

injury; hurt

malignant (adj.)

1. threatening to cause death (ant. benign)
2. very evil

morbid (adj.)

1. gruesome
2. having to do with disease

pestilential (adj.)

1. morally harmful
2. pertaining to a pestilence (plague); deadly

regimen (n.)

set of rules, esp. to improve health

salubrious (adj.)

healthful

sebaceous (adj.)

greasy; secreting sebum (fatty matter secreted by the glands of the skin)

therapeutic (adj.)

curative

toxic (adj.)

poisonous

unguent (n.)

salve; ointment

viral (adj.)

caused by a virus

virulent (adj.)

1. extremely poisonous; deadly; venomous
2. very bitter

virus (n.)

1. disease-causing substance too small to be seen through a microscope
2. corruptive force

acclaim (v.)

welcome with approval; applaud loudly

encomium (n.)

speech or writing of high praise; tribute; eulogy; panegyric

eulogize (v.)

praise; extol; laud; glorify (ant. vilify)

kudos (n.)

fame or praise due to achievement

laudable (adj.)

praiseworthy; commendable

laudatory (adj.)

expressing praise; eulogistic

plaudit (n.)

(used mainly in the plural) applause; enthusiastic praise; acclaim

calumnious (adj.)

falsely and maliciously accusing; defamatory; slanderous

derogatory (adj.)

expressing low esteem; belittling; disparaging (ant. complimentary)

imputation (n.)

charge, esp. an unjust or false charge; insinuation; accusation

libel (n.)

false and defamatory printed (or written) statement

libelous (adj.)

injurious to reputation; defamatory; calumnious

malign (v.)

speak evil of; vilify; traduce

slander (n.)

false and defamatory spoken statement; calumny

stigma (n.)

mark of disgrace

stigmatize (v.)

brand with a mark of disgrace

banter (n.)

playful teasing; joking; raillery

caricature (n.)

drawing, imitation, or description that ridiculously exaggerates peculiarities or defects

droll (adj.)

odd and laughter-provoking

facetious (adj.)

1. in the habit of joking
2. said in jest without serious intent

flippant (adj.)

treating serious matters lightly

harlequin (v.)

buffoon; clown

hilarious (adj.)

boisterously merry; very funny

hilarity (n.)

noisy gaiety; mirth; jollity; glee

ironic or ironical (adj.)

containing or expressing irony

irony (n.)

1. species of humor whose intended meaning is the opposite of the words used
2. state of affairs contrary to what would normally be expected

jocose (adj.)

given to jesting; playfully humorous; jocular

levity (n.)

lack of proper seriousness; trifling gaiety; frivolity

ludicrous (adj.)

exciting laughter; ridiculous; farcical; absurd

parody (n.)

humorous imitation

sarcasm (n.)

sneering and often ironic language intended to hurt a person's feelings

sarcastic (adj.)

given to or expressing sarcasm

sardonic (adj.)

bitterly sarcastic; mocking; sneering

satire (n.)

language or writing that exposes follies or abuses by holding them up to ridicule

satiric or satirical (adj.)

given to or expressing satire

travesty (n.)

imitation that makes a serious thing seem ridiculous; mockery