Unit 14: Vocab

alacrity

a cheerful readiness; brisk and eager action

alleviate

to relieve, make more bearable

antithesis

the direct opposite, a sharp contrast

appall

to fill with dismay or horror

bellicose

warlike in manner or temperament; quarrelsome

disparage

to belittle, speak slightingly of; to undervalue

dissonant

not in harmony; disagreeing, at odds

droll

amusingly odd

edict

an order issued by someone in authority

elucidate

to clarify, explain

laud

to praise

loll

to act in a lazy manner; to lounge; to recline, droop

loquacious

talkative, wordy; fond of talking

magnanimous

generous in forgiving, above small meanness

mandatory

required, obligatory

nondescript

ordinary, not outstanding; not easily classified

phlegmatic

slow-moving, sluggish; unemotional

rescind

to repeal, cancel

vivacious

lively, sprightly, full of energy

whet

to sharpen, put an edge on; to make keen or eager