vocab i dont know (week 2)

balmy

mild; warm and pleasant (especially of the weather)

cajole

to persuade through flattery or insincerity

hedonist

one who seeks pleasure

menial

characterized by mindless work; lowly and servant-like

draconian

extremely harsh or disciplined; severe

firebrand

someone who stirs up trouble or incites a riot or protest; a troublemaker

discrete

separate

antediluvian

very old; ancient (literally, "before the great flood")

subside

to diminish or weaken in force; to grow less severe

zeal

great energy or enthusiasm

girth

circumference; the distance around something; the measurement of someone's waist

ephemeral

lasting only a brief time; short-lived

approbation

approval

induct

to draw into or make a part of; to officially introduce as a member of a club or organization

cosmopolitan

worldly and sophisticated

largess

generosity and munificence; giving lots of gifts

morass

a bog or swamp; an extremely difficult or sticky situation

encumber

to weigh down or limit significantly; to hinder the progress; to burden

scruple

a moral principle that guides one's actions; restraints due to one's conscience

olfactory

relating to the sense of smell

innocuous

harmless

hermetic

isolated; completely sealed, especially from air

paroxysm

a fit or sudden outburst or convulsion

castigate

to punish or criticize severely, especially in public

encomium

a poem of praise; high praise

eulogy

a funeral oration; praise of someone who has died

unassuming

modest and humble; not showing off

insuperable

cannot be overcome or gotten over

placebo

a fake medicine; a sugar pill

temporize

to delay or stall to gain time

shrewd

very clever; cunning

timbre

a particular musical sound or quality; the "color" of a musical note or sound

leery

wary or cautious; suspicious

hirsute

hairy

delineate

to make careful distinctions; to draw lines that separate; to draw the outline of something or describe in words

torrent

a sudden flood or uncontrolled outpouring

inextricable

cannot be extricated or removed; incapable of being solved or untangled

quixotic

excessively idealistic; foolishly romantic and chivalrous; unrealistic

fetid

characterized by a bad odor; really stinky

volatile

unpredictable; moody and unstable; inclined to evaporate or become a gas; explosive

infinitesimal

very small; minute

gauge

an instrument for measuring something; also (v.) to measure something

irascible

quick-tempered; argumentative and easily roused to anger

byproduct

something left over; the remains or remnants of a manufacturing process

corollary

a natural consequence or effect; a related idea or inference

gauche

socially awkward or clumsy

rote

characterized by mindless memorization or repetition without full understanding

sycophant

a person who flatters or sucks up to someone

purvey

to sell or offer for sale; to supply

dessicate

to dry out; to remove all moisture

profound

deep and insightful; very meaningful

interlocutor

a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue

craven

cowardly

monolithic

massive and solid (literally "one stone"); all of one piece or type

self-abnegation

putting aside one's interests or benefit for the sake of others; self-sacrifice

rank

offensive in smell or odor

scintillate

to send out sparks; to be brilliant or animated

exacerbate

to make worse; to make more severe or more unpleasant

linchpin

a vital piece; a central element that holds things together

egregious

remarkably bad; obviously or flagrantly bad

extol

to praise

acumen

skill or experience; accuracy of judgment

variegated

made up of many different colors; diverse

disabuse

to correct a false belief; to free from error

atavistic

reverting to a past trait; savage; recalling a much earlier (and more savage) time or behavior

conducive

leading toward an outcome; tending to bring about

commodious

large and spacious; roomy

adduce

to formally present as evidence; to show as an example

indelible

permanent; cannot be erased

maelstrom

a giant whirlpool; a state of confusion

sacrosanct

very sacred; holy

venial

trivial; insignificant; easily forgiven

venal

corrupt; open to bribery

lackadaisical

lazy; showing a lack of interest or energy

mercurial

unpredictable; unstable; erratic or volatile in mood

august

very respected; inspiring awe

innate

present from birth; a natural part of something

astringent

harsh; strong or severe (also, something that cleans aggressively)

anachronism

something out of its proper time; something not belonging to a certain time period

eschew

to avoid or shun

winsome

charming, especially in a childlike or innocent way

heyday

a time of great success or popularity; a cultural high point

timid

to be shy or overly cautious; lacking self-confidence

stem

to prevent or stop; to restrain

commodity

an economic good; an item that is traded in commerce

overwrought

very nervous; anxious and agitated; overly excited

gamut

the entire range of something

endeavor

serious attempt to do something

herald

to announce; to share news

judicious

displaying good judgment; wise

conceit

an extended metaphor, especially in a poem; a fanciful notion or idea

divulge

to reveal

incessant

not stopping; unceasing

efface

to erase or remove, especially from a surface

fete

a party or festival

profligate

wasteful; immorally extravagant and wasteful

gambol

to play and leap about; to cavort; to frolic

seminal

original and important; something that influences others; having the qualities of a seed

voluntary

doing something willingly; not forced; of your own free will

kindred

related; having a family relationship