vocab unit 1

adjunct

adjunct

something added to something else helpful or useful, but not essential. an assistant or helper, a valuable quality or characteristic. added or connected in a subordinate capacity, attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity

bellwether

the male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse, a leader as in a desperate or violent undertaking, an indicator of trends

caterwaul

to howl or screech like a cat, to quarrel, a harsh or noisy cry, a racket

chimerical

absurd, wildly fantastic, impossible

effete

lacking in wholesome vigor or energy, worn out or exhausted, sterile or unable to produce, out of date

fait accompli

an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact or action

hidebound

narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices, stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative

hierarchy

any system of things or people arranged or graded one above each other in order of rank, wealth, class.

laissez-faire

a philosophy or practice characterized by a usually deliberate abstention from direction or interference, especially with individual freedom of choice and action

liturgy

a religious service or rite, the form of a ritual or other act or public worship

morass

a patch of low, soft, wet ground, a swamp, a confusing situation in which one is entrapped as in quicksand

noisome

offensive or disgusting, foul-smelling, harmful or injurious

oblivious

forgetful, unaware

poltroon

a base coward

proselyte

a convert, a disciple

quasi

resembling but not actually being, seemingly but not actually or completely

raillery

good humored ridicule, teasing

ribald

irreverently mocking, coarse, vulgar or indecent in language

supine

lying flat on one’s back, listless or lethargic, apathetic or passive