unit 1-6 vocab

abject

degraded

agnostic

one that believes nothing can be known about God

complicity

involvement in wrongdoing

derelict

someone/something that is abandoned

diatribe

bitter and prolonged verbal attack

effigy

crude image of a despised person

equity

state or quality of being just, fair or impartial

inane

silly

indictment

act of accusing

indubitable

certain

intermittent

stopping and beginning again

moot

open to discussion and debate

motif

repeated/dominant figure

neophyte

beginner

perspicacity

keenness in observing and understanding

plenary

complete in all aspects

surveillance

watch kept over a person

sylvan

pertaining to the forest

testy

easily irritated

travesty

grotesque/grossly inferior imitation

acuity

sharpness (senses/mind)

delineate

portray, ,describe, or sketch in accurate and vivid detail

depraved

marked by evil and corruption

enervate

weaken the mental, physical, or moral vigor of

esoteric

intended for or understood by only a select few

fecund

fruitful in offspring or vegetation

fiat

arbitrary order or decree

figment

fabrication of the mind

garner

to acquire as the result of effort

hallow

set apart as holy or scared

idiosyncrasy

peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify

ignominy

shame and disgrace

mundane

relating to practical and material affairs

nuance

subtle or slight variation

overweening

conceited

penchant

strong attraction or inclination

reputed

according to reputation and general belief

sophistry

reason seeming plausible but is unsound

sumptuous

costly

ubiquitous

present or existing everywhere

atrophy

wasting away of a body organ or tissue, to waste away

bastion

fortified place

concord

state of agreement

consummate

complete or perfect

disarray

disorder, confusion

exigency

urgency

flotsam

homeless, floating debris

frenetic

frenzied

glean

gather bit by bit

incarcerate

to imprison

grouse

complaint, game bird

incumbent

required

jocular

humorous

ludicrous

ridiculous

mordant

biting or caustic in thought

nettle

prickly or stinging plant

pecuniary

related to money

pusillanimous

cowardly or mean-spirited

recumbent

lying down

stratagem

scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent

cavort

romp, prance exuberantly

credence

belief

decry

condemn, express strong disapproval

dissemble

disguise or conceal

distraught

agitated

eulogy

formal statement of praise

evince

display clearly

feckless

lacking in spirit and strength

exhume

remove from a grave

murky

lacking clarity

nefarious

wicked

primordial

developed at the very beginning

propinquity

nearness

piquant

spicy

substantive

real

verbiage

wordiness

unwonted

not usual, unexpected

utopian

impractical, not real

verdant

green tint

viscous

gelatinous, gluey

accost

approach and speak to first

animadaversion

comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

avid

desirous to a point of greed, intensely eager

brackish

salty taste and unpleasant to drink

celerity

swiftness rapidity of motion/action

devious

straying from a direct course

gambit

sacrifice a minor piece for a later advantage

halcyon

bird identified with kingfisher; calm peaceful

maelstrom

whirlpool of great size and violence

pejorative

tending to make worse

undulate

move in waves or wavelike motion

histrionic

pertaining to actors and their techniques

incendiary

deliberately setting fires

myopic

nearsighted

overt

open, not hidden

propriety

state of being proper

sacrilege

improper treatment of something sacred

summarily

without delay

suppliant

asking humbly

talisman

object serving as a charm