vocab quiz 2

Candor

Quality of being open or honest in expression; Truthful.

Conviction

A strong persuasion or belief.

Nonchalant

Having an air of easy unconcern or indifference.

Extemporaneous

Spoken or done without preparation.

Consecrate

To make sacred.

Hallow

To make holy.

Semantic Category

Words from the same category of meaning (e.g., Consecrate and Hallow).

Esoteric

Understood by or intended for an elite, select few.

Hyperbole

Exaggeration.

Euphemism

Polite, indirect expressions which replace phrases considered harsh and impolite (e.g., 'My grandfather passed.').

Ameliorate

To make better or more tolerable.

Catharsis

An emotional discharge through which one can achieve a state of spiritual renewal.

Allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.

Idiom

An expression, such as 'Dime a dozen' or 'A blessing in disguise.'

Hubris

Exaggerated pride or confidence.

Destitute

Without the basic necessities of life (usually relating to money).

Ad Hominem

An argument directed at the person instead of at the position they are maintaining.

Red Herring

An irrelevant topic introduced in an argument to divert attention from the original issue.

Hasty generalization

Drawing a conclusion based on a small sample size, rather than on statistics that are more representative of the typical situation.

Bandwagon

An appeal that presents what most people or a group of people believe.