13-15 vocab

Abet

(v.) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy)

Blatant

(adj.) noisy in a coarse, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense

Broach

(v.) to bring up or begin to talk about (a subject); to announce, introduce; to break the surface of the water; to pierce; (n.) a spit for roasting; a tool for tapping casks

Buttress

(v.) to support, prop up, strengthen; (n.) a supporting structure

Collate

(v.) to compare critically in order to note differences, similarities, etc.; to arrange in order for some scientific purpose

Encumber

(v.) to weigh down or burden (with difficulties, cares, debt, etc.); to fill up, block up, hinder

Herculean

(adj.) (capital H) relating to Hercules; (lowercare h) characterized by great strength; very hard to do in the sense of requiring unusal strength

Impassive

(adj.) showing no feeling or emotion; inanimate; motionless

Opportune

(adj.) suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occuring at an appropriate time

prolific

(adj.) abundantly productive; abundant, profuse

Berate

(v.) to scold sharply

SYN: [chide, rebuke, reprove, reprimand]

Credulous

(adj.) too ready to believe, easily deceived
SYN: gullible

Deplete

(v.) to use up as a result of spending or consumption; to diminish greatly

SYN: exhaust, empty, drain, bankrupt

Expatiate

(v.) to expand on, write or talk at length or in detail; to move about freely

SYN: elaborate, enlarge, descant, wander, roam

Extraneous

(adj.) coming from the outside, foreign; present but not essential, irrelevant

SYN: incidental, extrinsic

Inception

(n.) the beginning, start, earliest stage of some process, institution, etc.

SYN: commencement, inauguration, outset

Infirmity

(n.) a weakness or ailment (physical, mental, moral, etc.)

SYN: affliction, malady, defect

Obdurate

(adj.) stubborn, unyielding

SYN:obstinate, adamant

Precocious

(adj.) showing unusually early development (especially in talents and mental capacity)

SYN: forward, gifted, advanced

Sadistic

(adj.) delighting in cruelty, excessively cruel
SYN: brutal, vicious, inhuman

Adamant

(adj.) firm in purpose or opinion, unyielding, obdurate, implacable, inflexible; (n.) an extremely hard substance

ant: (adj.) yielding, flexible, pliable

Curtail

(v.) to cut short, bring to a halt or end sooner than expected; to reduce

syn: limit, abbreviate, abridge, contract

ant: protract, extend

Deference

(n.) courteous yielding to the wishes and ideas of another person; great respect marked by submission, as to a superior

syn: respect, consideration, courtesy

ant: contempt, disrespect, scorn, disdain

Definitive

(adj.) conclusive, final, representing the limit of what can be done

syn: exhaustive, authoritative

ant: tentative, inconclusive

Demeanor

(n.) the way a person behave, overall impression made by comportment, manner, etc.; facial appearance, mien

syn: conduct, behavior, bearing, carriage

Enigmatic

(adj.) puzzling, perplexing, inexplicable, not easily understood

syn: baffling, mysterious, inexplicable

ant: intelligible, understandable, fathomable

Profligate

(adj.) given over to dissipation and self-indulgence, immoral; recklessly extravagant; (n.) a person given to self-indulgent and wild spending

syn: (adj.) prodigal, improvident; (n.) spendthrift

ant: (adj.) penny-pinching, frugal, economical

Impromptu

(adj., adv.) without preparation, offhand, suddenly or hastily done; (n.) an extemporaneous composition or remark; a minimal piece suggestive of improvisation

syn: (adj.) spontaneous, improvised, unrehearsed

ant: (adj.) rehearsed, planned, prepared, premeditated

Requisite

(adj.) needed, necessary, regarded as essential or indispensable

syn: required, obligatory, incumbent

ant: nonessential, superfluous, optional

Thwart

(v.) to oppose successfully; to prevent, frustrate

syn: foil, baffle

ant: aid, assist, abet, further