English IV Honors: Unit 3 Vocabulary

ameliorate (v)

to make better

ardent (adj)

Characterized by intense emotion; strong enthusiasm

assuage (v)

provide physical relief, as from pain; satisfy (thirst); to cause to be more favorable inclined; gain the good will of

benevolent (adj)

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generous; intending or showing kindness; generous in providing aid to others

candor (n)

the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech; ability to make judgements free from discrimination or dishonesty

conflagration (n)

a very intense and uncontrolled fire

conjecture (v / n)

(verb) to believe especially on incertain or tentative grounds (noun) reasoning that involves the formation of conclusions from incomplete evidence

dauntless (adj)

emaciated (adj)

epithet (n)

descriptive word or phrase; a defamatory or abusive word or phrase

exile (n / v)

(noun) the act of expelling a person from their native land; a person who is expelled from home or country by authority (verb) to expel from a country

fortitude (n)

strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage

portentous (adj)

ominously prophetic; of momentous or ominous significance; puffed up with vanity

prodigal (adj / n)

(adjective) recklessly wasteful; giving or having a lavish, abundant, or bountiful way; (noun) a recklessly extra person, someone who return after a long absence characterized by reckless behavior

replication (n)

the act of making copies; something that has been copied; a quick reply to a question or remark; the repetition of an experiment in order to test the validity of its conclusion

scourge (n / v)

(noun) something causing misery or death a person who inspires fear or dread; (verb) to cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly; to punish severely

sinew (n)

a cord or band of inelastic tissue connecting a muscle with its bony attachment; the possession of muscular strength

superfluous (adj)

more than is needed, desired, or required; serving no useful purpose; have no excuse for being

visage (n)

the human facel the appearance conveyed by a person’s face

vow (n / v)

(noun) a solemn pledge to do something or to behave in a certain manner; (verb) to make a vow; promise