Vocabulary Workshop Level D Units 1-9

altercation

(n.) an angry argument

condone

(v.) to pardon or overlook

dissent

(v.) to disagree; (n.) disagreement

pompous

(adj.) overly self-important in speech and manner; excessively stately or ceremonious

precipice

(n.) a very steep cliff; the brink or edge of disaster

rectify

(v.) to make right, correct

reprieve

(n.) a temporary relief or delay; (v.) to grant a postponement

revile

(v.) to attack with words, call bad names

accomplice

(n.) a person who takes part in a crime

annihilate

(v.) to destroy completely

arbitrary

(adj.) unreasonable; based on one's wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness

brazen

(adj.) shameless, impudent; made of brass

catalyst

(n.) a substance that causes or hastens a chemical reaction; any agent that causes change

exodus

(n.) a large-scale departure or flight

facilitate

(v.) to make easier; to assist

incorrigible

(adj.) not able to be corrected; beyond control

latent

(adj.) hidden, present but not realized

militant

(adj.) given to fighting; active and aggressive in support of a cause; (n.) an activist

morose

(adj.) having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable

opaque

(adj.) not letting light through; not clear or lucid; dense, stupid

paramount

(adj.) chief in importance, above all others

prattle

(v.) to talk in an aimless, foolish, or simple way; to babble; (n.) baby talk; babble

rebut

(v.) to offer arguments or evidence that contradicts an assertion; to refute

reprimand

(v.) to scold; find fault with; (n.) a rebuke

servitude

(n.) slavery, forced labor

slapdash

(adj.) careless and hasty

stagnant

(adj.) not running or flowing; foul from standing still; inactive, sluggish, dull

succumb

(v.) to give way to superior force, yield

atone

(v.) to make up for

bondage

(n.) slavery; any state of being bound or held down

credible

(adj.) believable

defray

(v.) to pay for

diligent

(adj.) hardworking, industrious, not lazy

doleful

(adj.) sad; dreary

ghastly

(adj.) frightful, horrible; deathly pale

hamper

(v.) to hold back

hew

(v.) to shape or cut down with an ax; to hold to

impoverished

(adj.) poor, in a state of poverty; depleted

incessant

(adj.) never stopping, going on all the time

intricate

(adj.) complicated; difficult to understand

lucid

(adj.) easy to understand, clear; rational, sane

posthumous

(adj.) occurring or published after death

prim

(adj.) overly neat, precise, proper, or formal; prudish

sardonic

(adj.) grimly or scornfully mocking, bitterly sarcastic

superfluous

(adj.) exceeding what is sufficient or required, excess

supplant

(v.) to take the place of, supersede

taunt

(v.) to jeer at, mock; (n.) an insulting or mocking remark

tenacious

(adj.) holding fast; holding together firmly; persistent

adieu

(int.) "Farewell!"; (n.) a farewell

advent

(n.) an arrival; a coming into place or view

apex

(n.) the highest point, tip

assimilate

(v.) to absorb fully or make one's own; to adopt as one's own; to adapt fully

bogus

(adj.) false, counterfeit

exorbitant

(adj.) unreasonably high; excessive

interim

(n.) the time between; (adj.) temporary, coming between two points in time

inundate

(v.) to flood, overflow; to overwhelm by numbers or size

malign

(v.) to speak evil of, slander; (adj.) evil

meander

(v.) to wander about, wind about; (n.) a sharp turn or twist

metropolis

(n.) a large city; the chief city of an area

momentous

(adj.) very important

obstreperous

(adj.) noisy; unruly, disorderly

pensive

(adj.) thoughtful; melancholy

perilous

(adj.) dangerous

shoddy

(adj.) of poor quality; characterized by inferior workmanship

sprightly

(adj.) lively, full of life; spicy, flavorful

surly

(adj.) angry and bad-tempered; rude

tirade

(n.) a long, angry speech, usually very critical

vagrant

(n.) an idle wanderer, tramp; (adj.) wandering aimlessly

assurance

(n.) a pledge; freedom from doubt, self-confidence

asylum

(n.) an institution for the care of children, elderly people, etc.; a place of safety

console

(v.) to comfort; (n.) the keyboard of an organ; a control panel for an electrical or mechanical device

dilate

(v.) to make or become larger or wider; to expand upon

dross

(n.) refuse, waste products

dwindle

(v.) to lessen, diminish

flippant

(adj.) lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy

immunity

(n.) resistance to disease; freedom from some charge or obligation

institute

(v.) to establish, set up; (n.) an organization for the promotion of learning

liability

(n.) a debt; something disadvantageous

preposterous

(adj.) ridiculous, senseless

pugnacious

(adj.) quarrelsome, fond of fighting

rabid

(adj.) furious, violently intense, unreasonably extreme; mad; infected with rabies

realm

(n.) a kingdom; a region or field of study

rejuvenate

(v.) to make young again; to make like new

remunerate

(v.) to reward, pay, reimburse

sparse

(adj.) meager, scant; scattered

sterling

(adj.) genuine, excellent; made of silver of standard fineness

venture

(n.) a risky or daring undertaking; (v.) to expose to danger; to dare

warp

(v.) to twist out of shape; (n.) an abnormality

auxiliary

(adj.) giving assistance or support; (n.) a helper, aid

candid

(adj.) frank, sincere; impartial; unposed

cubicle

(n.) a small room or compartment

drudgery

(n.) work that is hard and tiresome

envoy

(n.) a representative or messenger (as of a government)

escalate

(v.) to elevate; to increase in intensity

expedient

(n.) a means to an end; (adj.) advantageous, useful

feign

(v.) to pretend

flair

(n.) a natural quality, talent, or skill; a distinctive style

grievous

(adj.) causing sorrow or pain; serious

heterogeneous

(adj.) composed of different kinds, diverse

horde

(n.) a vast number (as of people); a throng