Vocabulary Power Plus Level 10 Lesson 1-12

duplicity

n. intentional deceit in speech or conduct

droll

adj. amusing in an odd or whimsical way

abate

v. to lessen in violence or intensity

abhor

v. to detest; to hate strongly

dole

v. to distribute; to give out sparingly

gamut

n. the whole range or extent

decorum

n. conformity to accepted standards of conduct; proper behavior

extrovert

n. one who is outgoing; one who is energized rather than drained by interactions with others

effigy

n. a crude dummy or image representing a hated person or group

austere

adj. stern; severe; plain

belie

v. to falsely represent

glib

adj. performed with such ease and skill as to appear insincere

journeyman

n. a fully trained and qualified worker

protean

adj. readily changeable in form, shape, or meaning

propagate

v. to spread or transmit, especially by reproduction

transpose

v. to change the order or place of, especially letters, words, or musical notes

dilemma

n. a choice between two unpleasant or difficult options

sardonic

adj. using mocking or scornful humor

intern

n. a student or recent graduate working as an apprentice while learning a job

ambivalent

adj. having opposing attitudes or feelings toward a person, thing, or idea; unable to decide

destitute

adj. extremely poor; lacking necessities like food and shelter

demure

adj. quiet and modest; reserved

intrepid

adj. without fear; brave

affront

n. an outrageous insult, often public

erudite

adj. scholarly; learned

culmination

n. the highest point of attainment; the end or climax

rend

v. to tear apart violently

demagogue

n. a leader who appeals to citizens' emotions to obtain power

concur

v. to be of the same opinion; to agree with

lobby

v. to try to persuade officials to support or reject a cause

credence

n. belief or trust

collate

v. to arrange into the proper order, especially documents

connoisseur

n. an expert in matters of culture, food, or wine

enigma

n. a mystery; something seemingly inexplicable

genteel

adj. polite and respectable in manner

officious

adj. excessively eager to deliver unasked for or unwanted help

fetid

adj. having a bad odor

jaunty

adj. having a buoyant, self-confident air; brisk and crisp

condone

v. to forgive or overlook an offense

torpor

n. a state of sluggish mental or physical activity; a state of not caring

enthrall

v. to captivate as though spellbound

dilettante

n. one who merely dabbles in an art or a science

venal

adj. capable of betraying trust, especially if bribed

nuance

n. a slight or subtle degree of difference

cult

n. an organized group of people with an obsessive devotion to a person or set of principles

disparity

n. inequality; difference

extol

v. to praise highly

rancor

n. extreme hatred or ill will

clement

adj. merciful; lenient

adamant

adj. unyielding; firm in opinion

ostensible

adj. professed but not necessarily true

inexorable

adj. unrelenting; unavoidable

cliche

n. a worn-out idea or overused expression

opus

n. a creative work, especially a numbered composition (the plural of opus is opera)

diffident

adj. lacking in self-confidence; shy

prate

v. to talk pointlessly and at length

retinue

n. followers or servants who accompany an important person

conscript

v. to force someone into military service

unfettered

adj. free from restrictions

impute

v. to credit with cause or fault

despondent

adj. feeling gloomy or hopeless

protocol

n. the formal or official way of correctly doing something

candid

adj. honest and straightforward; blunt

jingoism

n. extreme, chauvinistic patriotism, often favoring an aggressive, warlike foreign policy

redress

v. to make right; to correct

argot

n. special words or phrases used by a specific group of people

appease

v. to calm; to make satisfied (often only temporarily)

strident

adj. harsh sounding; grating

chaos

n. complete disorder

expunge

v. to erase or eliminate

bigot

n. one who is intolerant of differences in others

augment

v. to enlarge; to increase in amount or intensity

toilsome

adj. requiring exhaustive effort; laborious

negligence

n. careless neglect, often resulting in injury

privation

n. lack of basic life necessities; extreme poverty

irascible

adj. easily angered

bacchanalian

adj. wild and drunken

maudlin

adj. foolishly sentimental; ridiculously emotional

extradite

v. to turn over or deliver to the legal jurisdiction of another government or authority

furtive

adj. stealthy; secret

mettle

n. courage and determination

conflate

v. to combine into one

mercenary

n. a professional soldier hired by a foreign army

bastion

n. a strong defense or fort (or something likened to it)

avarice

n. greed; desire for wealth

jettison

v. to cast overboard; to discard

solvent

adj. able to pay all debts and financial obligations

ostracize

v. to banish; to shut out from a group or society by common consent

tackle

n. the equipment for a specific activity

copious

adj. numerous; large in quantity

disabuse

v. to free someone from believing something false

heresy

n. the act of holding a belief that goes against established doctrine

audit

v. to check the accuracy of financial accounts and records

motley

adj. made up of dissimilar parts; being of many colors

libation

n. a drink, especially an alcoholic one

docile

adj. easy to teach or manage; obedient

restive

adj. restless and impatient

banter

n. teasing; playful conversation

castigate

v. to criticize or punish severely

anathema

n. a hated, repellant person or thing