Word Set 4

bleak

gloomy and somber; dreary

comprise

to include; to contain; to be composed of

denounce

to speak out against; to accuse publicly

recrimination

to reply to one charge with a countercharge

meticulous

extremely or excessively careful about details; finicky

coalition

an alliance, especially a temporary one

succulent

full of juice; highly enjoyable

transcend

to exceed; to go beyond or above the limits

fervid

extremely emotional; passionate

veer

to change direction

repress

to hold back; to put down by force

charge

a responsibility; someone or something entrusted to the care of another

confiscate

to seize (private property) by or as if by someone in authorit

stamina

resistance to fatigue or hardship; endurance

virtuoso

one with great skill, especially in music or the arts

ostentatious

showy; pretentious

wan

sickly pale; colorless

amorphous

without definite shape; shapeless; unorganized

sordid

extremely dirty; morally corrupt

protract

to extend the duration of; to prolong

incessant

never pausing; continuous; without a stop

sloth

laziness

temperate

consistent; moderat; without extremes

succumb

to give in or yield

incognito

in disguise

synthesis

the combination or separate parts into a unified whole

ulterior

lying beyond what is evident, revealed, or claimed

infuriate

to cause to become very angry; to enrage

chasm

a large gap

entity

something that exists and can be recognized as a distinct unit

laudable

worthy of praise

proclivity

a natural or habitual tendency or inclination

office

a duty or function assigned to someone

amicable

showing friendliness or good will

cantankerous

bad-tempered; quarrelsome

perspicarious

having keen perception or understanding

gross

total, entire; glarilngly obvious, flagrant

sanctimonious

pretending holiness; hypocritically devout

shoddy

inferior or cheap

nonchalant

seemingly unconcerned or indifferent

expedient

suitable for a purpose; convenient but based on self-interest rather than principle; n. a means to end, especially when based on self-interest

trowel

a flat-bladed tool used for spreading cement

dislodge

to force out of a concealed position

loath

unwilling, reluctant

zenith

maximum; the highest point

dank

unpleasantly damp

dormant

inactive, but capable of being active

haggard

appearing tired and thin, as from anxiety, disease, hunger, etc.

masonry

stonework or brickwork

dilettante

one who engages an art with only superficial skill; an amateur

antipathy

a feeling of strong repulsion or aversion

quarry

a hunted bird or animal; prey

ingenuous

innocent; naive

implicate

to incriminate; to show or suggest involvement

paternal

relating to or characteristic of a father

aver

to affirm or declare

liberal

generous; giving freely

perennial

lasting through the years

levy

to impose or collect, usually taxes

prevail

to triumph over; to be or become most common

prowess

superior skill or ability

abdicate

to willingly give up the position of king, queen, etc,; to choose not to fulfill a role or duty

accord

agreement

palpable

capable of being handled, touched, or felt; easily perceived

spontaneous

occurring naturally or without forethought

pedantic

putting unnecessary stress on minor or purely academic knowledge

lithe

limber and graceful; supple

fiasco

a major disaster

drone

to make a continuous, low buzzing or humming sound; to speak monotonously

abide

to tolerate

fluctuate

to move back and forth or up and down, especially unpredictably

harp

to talk or write about excessively

preeminent

superior in status or fame to all others, especially as a generally recognized quality

specious

seeming to be truthful on the surface, but actually false

contract

to reduce in size by drawing together

inadvertent

unintentional; accidental

serendipity

unexpected gift or discovery

malicious

spiteful

inanimate

without any character or life; dull

plaintive

expressing sorrow

thwart

to prevent or frustrate

regress

to return to a previous state

adept

very skilled, especially natural talent improved by practice

uncouth

uncultured; crude

herald

to bear news; to announce

sparse

thinly spread or distributed; not dense or crowded

bifurcate

to divide into two parts

arbitrary

determined by chance or individual preference, not by reason, necessity or principle

dais

a raised platform

indigenous

native, occurring naturally

idiom

a style or manner of expression peculiar to an individual or group; an expression that cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its work (ex: keep tabs on)

ersatz

artificial; not genuine; fake

woe

deep distress or misery; misfortune

mentor

a counselor or teacher

stygian

gloomy and dark; infernal or hellish

chasten

to correct by punishment or criticism; to restrain

lacerate

to rip, cut, or tear; to cause deep emotional pain

domestic

relating to the home or family; relating to one’s own country

stealthy

moving with quiet caution; intending to avoid notice