Vocab 1-15 units 9th grade

abhor

to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

abjure

to renounce under oath; to shun or avoid

abrasive

harsh or rough; capable of grinding or wearing down

accede

to agree or yield to; to assume an office or position

acclimate

to adapt to a new climate or environment

acquiesce

to accept without protest; to agree quietly

acrid

having a sharp or bitter taste or smell; harsh in tone

adroit

skillful and clever; adept

adulterate

to make impure by adding inferior ingredients

adversary

an opponent or enemy

affiliated

officially attached or connected to an organization

alacrity

cheerful readiness; promptness

alienate

to push someone away; to cause estrangement

alleviate

to make more bearable; to relieve

allocate

to distribute or assign for a specific purpose

allude

to refer indirectly

allure

the power to attract or charm

altruistic

unselfishly concerned for others' welfare

ambidextrous

able to use both hands equally well

amend

to change for the better; to revise formally

amicable

friendly; peaceable

animosity

strong hostility or hatred

antipathy

a deep-seated dislike

antithesis

the exact opposite; a sharp contrast

apathy

lack of interest or feeling

appall

to shock or horrify

applicable

relevant or appropriate

apprehensive

anxious or fearful about the future

ardent

intensely enthusiastic or passionate

artifice

clever trickery; ingenuity

ascertain

to discover with certainty

askew

crooked or lopsided

assent

agreement or approval

asset

a valuable resource or advantage

assiduous

show care and persistence in efforts.

attainment

achievement; the act of reaching a goal

augment

to make larger; to increase

august

majestic; inspiring admiration

averse

having a strong dislike; opposed to

bellicose

warlike; eager to fight

belligerent

hostile; engaged in conflict

benefactor

one who gives aid or financial help

benevolent

kindly; generous

bequeath

to leave personal property by will

bereft

deprived of or lacking something

beset

to trouble or threaten persistently

blithe

carefree and lighthearted

brandish

to wave or flourish menacingly

brash

impudent; tactless

buffet

to strike repeatedly; to batter

callous

emotionally hardened; unfeeling

capricious

given to sudden changes of mood

chagrin

embarrassment or irritation from failure

chaos

complete disorder and confusion

chastise

to punish or criticize severely

chivalrous

courteous and honorable toward women

clairvoyant

having the ability to see the future

clandestine

secretive; concealed

clemency

mercy or leniency

coerce

to force by intimidation

cogent

convincing and well‐reasoned

commend

to praise or express approval

commodious

spacious and comfortable

compassion

sympathy and concern for others

compatible

able to coexist or work together

complacent

self‐satisfied; unconcerned

comprise

to include or consist of

compunction

guilt or moral scruple

conclusive

serving to settle an issue convincingly

concur

to agree

condolence

sympathy for someone's loss

conflagration

a large, destructive fire

consecrate

to make sacred; to dedicate

contentious

argumentative; causing dispute

converge

to move toward one point

copious

abundant; plentiful

corrosive

eating away gradually; bitterly sarcastic

covet

to desire something belonging to another

craven

cowardly; a coward

crestfallen

dejected; discouraged

culinary

related to cooking

cursory

hasty and superficial

dearth

an insufficient quantity; scarcity

decorum

proper behavior or etiquette

decrepit

worn‐out or ruined by age

defamation

act of harming another's reputation

deft

skillful and quick in movement

delete

to remove or erase

demise

death; end of existence

deploy

to position strategically

deride

to mock or ridicule

destitute

lacking basic necessities

deviate

to turn away from a norm

diffident

shy; lacking self‐confidence

discern

to perceive or recognize clearly

discrepancy

a lack of agreement; inconsistency

disheveled

untidy; disordered

disparage

to belittle or speak poorly of

disperse

to scatter widely

disreputable

not respectable; unpleasant