Vocabulary Workshop Level H Unit 9

avatar

(noun) an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person; an electronic image that represents and is manipulated by a computer user.

(syn): embodiment, virtual identity

beatitude

(noun) perfect state of happiness or blessedness; a blessing

(syn): bliss, rapture

ANT: misery, despair

bete noire

(noun) someone or something that one especially dislikes, dreads, or avoids

(syn) pet peeve, bugbear, nemesis

ANT: pet, idol

bode

(verb) to be an omen of; to indicate by signs

(syn) presage, augur, foreshadow

dank

(adjective)

unpleasantly damp or wet

(syn) clammy, moist, soggy

ANT: dry, arid, parched, desiccated

ecumenical

(adjective) worldwide or universal in influence or application

(syn) general, comprehensive

ANT: parochial, regional, insular

fervid

(adjective) burning with enthusiasm or zeal; extremely heated

(syn) ardent, zealous, fervent, earnest

ANT: apathetic, indifferent, coole, blasé

fetid

(adjective) having an unpleasant or offensive odor

(syn) smelly, putrid, noisome, foul, malodorous

ANT: fragrant, aromatic, perfumed, sweet

gargantuan

(adjective) of immense size, volume, or capacity; enormous, prodigious

(syn) huge, colossal, mammoth, gigantic

ANT: tiny, minuscule, infinitesimal, dwarfish

heyday

(noun) the period of greatest power, vigor, success, or influence; the prime years

(syn) golden age

ANT: formative years, twilight years, decline

incubus

(noun) a demon or evil spirit supposed to haunt human beings in their bedrooms at night; anything that oppresses or weighs upon one, like a nightmare

(syn) hobgoblin, millstone, burden

infrastructure

(noun) a basic foundation or framework; a system of public works; the resources and facilities required for an activity; permanent military installations

(syn) base, basis, underpinning

ANT: superstructure

inveigle

(verb) to entice, lure, or snare by flattery or artful inducements; to obtain or acquire by artifice

(syn) Induce, beguile, cajole, wheedle

kudos

(noun) the acclaim, prestige, or renown that comes as a result of some action or achievement

(syn) glory, praise, accolades

ANT: boos, disapproval, condemnations

lagniappe

(noun) an extra or unexpected gift or gratuity

(syn) bonus

prolix

(adjective) long-winded and wordy; tending to speak or write in such a way

(syn) verbose, garrulous

ANT: terse, laconic, succinct, pithy

protege

(noun) someone whose welfare, training, or career is under the patronage of an influential person; someone under the jurisdiction of a foreign country or government

(syn) ward, charge, discipline, trainee

ANT: sponsor, mentor, benefactor

sycophant

(noun) someone who attempts to win favors or advance him- or herself by flattery or servile behavior; a slanderer, defamer

(syn) yes-man, toady, flunky, bootlicker

tautology

(noun) needless repetition of an idea by using different but equivalent words; a redundancy

(syn) pleonasm

truckle

(verb) to yield or submit tamely or submissively

(syn) kowtow, stoop, grovel

ANT: resist, defy, stand up to