Unit 4 Vocab Definitions

atrophy

(n) the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v) to waste away

bastion

(n) a fortified place, stronghold

concord

(n) a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant

consummate

(adj) complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v) to bring to a state of completion or perfection

disarray

(n) disorder, confusion; (v) to throw into disorder

exigency

(n) urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; and emergency

flotsam

(n) floating debris; unimportant or discarded material

frenetic

(adj) frenzied, highly agitated

glean

(v) to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left in a field by the reapers

grouse

(n) a type of game bird; a complaint; (v) to complain, grumble

incarcerate

(v) to imprison, confine, jail

incumbent

(adj) obligatory, required; (n) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of

jocular

(adj) humorous, jesting, jolly, joking

ludicrous

(adj) ridiculous, laughable, absurd

mordant

(adj) biting or caustic in thoughts, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh

nettle

(n) a prickly or stinging; (v) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely

pecuniary

(adj) constituting of or measured in money; of or related to money

pusillanimous

(adj) contemptibly cowardly or mean-spirited

recumbent

(adj) in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting

stratagem

(n) a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end