Vocab Lessons

Lessons 1-7

camaraderie

rapport and goodwill

Litany

any long, repetitive, or dull recital

Wrenching

Causing mental or physical pain

arable

suitable for cultivation of land

desiccate

to dry out

Vernacular

everyday language

replete

full; abundant

moratorium

a suspension of activity; an authorized delay

Ubiquitous

present or existing everywhere

frangible

fragile; easy to break

Lugubrious

mournful; gloomy

equanimity

composure; calmness

zealous

fervent; fanatical

interminable

endless, so long as to seem endless

Truncate

to shorten

scapegoat

one who bears the blame for others

peremptory

not allowing refusal or delay; imperative

atelier

an artist's or designer's workshop

axiom

a universal truth; an established rule

dulcet

melodious; pleasing to the ear

usurp

to take over; seize power

patronizing

treating with condescension; act superior

iniquity

an evil or wicked act

archaic

no longer current or applicable; antiquated

vacillate

to waver; to sway indecisively

perspicacious

keen; mentally sharp

abstemious

using or consuming sparingly

talisman

a magic charm or superstitious object for protection or luck

expurgate

to remove vulgar or objectionable material

pellucid

transparent; clear

efficacious

effective; producing the desired outcome

catharsis

a release of emotional tension

inudate

to overwhelm; to fill beyond capacity

revere

to regard with respect, awe or adoration

internecine

mutually destructive

risible

relating to laughter; laughable

sybaritic

marked by luxury or pleasure

crepuscular

twilight

kudos

acclaim or praise

estrange

to alienate

intristic

relating to a things basic nature

maxim

an established principle

putrid

rotten and foul smelling

servile

submissive; slavish

apocryphal

of questionable authenticity; but widely believed

consternation

alarming dismay or concern

anomaly

a deviation from the norm; an odd or peculiar occurrence

vitriolic

harsh in tone; bitterly critical

preamble

a preliminary statement; an introduction

coterie

a small group of people who share interests and meet frequently

expiate

to make amends for

compendium

a list or collection of items

comprise

to include or consist of; contain

eidetic

pertaining to extraordinarily detailed and vivid recall

innocuous

harmless

foist

to pass off as genuine or valuable

plethora

an overabundance; excess

flippancy

disrespect

incongruous

incompatible; unsuitable for the situation

disconcert

to frustrate; confuse

Metamorphosis

a transformation of dramatic change

Donnybrook

a fight; an uproar

Nonchalant

unconcerned; indifferent

Vestige

a trace or evidence of something that once existed

Interlocutor

someone who participates in a conversation

Procrustean

strictly disregarding individual differences or circumstances

Stygan

dark and forbidding

Sophistry

a deliberately deceptive of misleading argument

Carte Blanche

boundless authority; unlimited power

Incantation

a chant; a recited magical spell

Cosmopolitan

Familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures

Rife

abundant; prevalent

Nomenclature

technical names or naming system in an art or science

Brigand

a robber or bandit

Contemptuous

haughty; scornful

Sectarian

narrowly confined to a particular group

Peregrination

travel by walking

Accoutrements

an accessory item of dress or equipment

Contrive

to plan cleverly

Hubris

overbearing pride; arrogance (noun)

Platitude

an obvious remark; a cliché

Venerate

to respect or revere

Scullion

a servant for menial tasks

Quotidian

Everyday; commonplace

Prognosticate

to predict

Antediluvian

extremely old; antiquated

Stringent

restrictive; imposing demanding standards

Haughty

condescendingly proud; arrogant (adj)

Sanctimonious

showing false piety or righteousness

Imbroglio

a difficult or embarrassing situation

gibberish

nonsense; unintelligible speech

inimical

unfriendly; hostile; injourious

nexus

a link; tie; bond

coeval

of the same time period

dilatory

tending to delay or procrastinate

convoluted

complicated; intricate

entreat

to earnestly request or petition

anecdote

a short account of an incident

incumbent

obilgatory; necessary

churlish

boorish or vulgar