vocab list #6

ardent

1. expressing or characterized by warmth of passion, emotion or desire;

2. strongly enthusiastic or devoted, fervent

caustic

marked by sharp and bitter wit, cutting

clinical

very objective and devoid of emotion, analytical

didactic

1. inclined to instruct;

2. morally instructive;

3. inclined to teach or moralize excessively

disconsolate

1. beyond consolation, hopelessly sad; 2. cheerless or gloomy

droll

amusingly odd or whimsically comical

ebullient

marked by the quality of expressing feelings or ideas in an enthusiastic and lively manner

elegiac

1. pertaining to an elegy (a poem or song composed esp. as a lament for one who is dead); 2. expressing sorrow, mournful

hortative

strongly urgent; inciting, encouraging by argument

imperious

 arrogantly domineering or overbearing

indignant

characterized by or filled with anger aroused by something unjust, mean or unworthy

obsequious

full of or exhibiting servile compliance, fawning

pedantic

characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules

pensive

1. engaged in deep

thoughtfulness; 2. suggesting or expressing deep, often melancholy thoughtfulness

poignant

1. a. keenly distressing to the mind; b. appealing to the emotions, touching;

2. piercing, incisive

rancorous

marked by bitter, long-lasting resentment and ill will

reticent

1. characteristically hesitant or disinclined to speak out;

2. restrained or reserved in style

ribald

pertaining to or indulging in vulgar, lewd humor

sanguine

cheerfully confident, optimistic

surly

1. rude or bad tempered;

2. unfriendly or hostile, menacingly irritable; 3. dark or dismal, threatening