Unit 2

aegis

(n.) protection; patronage; sponsorship

S: auspices

apprise

(v.) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice

S: acquaint, notify

A: keep secret, withhold information

bibulous

(adj.) found of or inclined to drink; absorbent

S: inebrious, alcoholic

A: teetotaling, abstemious, temperate

claque

(n.) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat

S: fan club, flatterers; hangers-on

deracinate

(v.) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of

S: extirpate, eradicate, expunge

A: implant, nurture, foster, instill

exegesis

(n.) an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of a text)

S: analysis, explication

A: mystification

indigenous

(adj.) originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent

S: endemic, domestic, homegrown

A: foreign, aliene, exoteric, imported

lachrymose

(adj.) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious

S: tearful, doleful, dolorous

A: dry-eyed, cheerful, merry, hilarious

lexicon

(n.) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium

S: wordbook, glossary

melee

(n.) a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling

S: fracas, brawl, scuffle, donnybrook

A: friendly chat, peace and quiet

microcosm

(n.) a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system

S: epitome, world in little

A: universe, macrocosm, cosmos, totality

minuscule

(adj.) very small, tiny

(n.) a lowercase letter

S: (adj.) infinitesimal, insignificant

A: (adj.) huge, massive, monumental

obfuscate

(v.) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder

S: muddy the waters

A: clarify, elucidate, explicate

paternalism

(n.) the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children

S: benevolence, solicitude, fatherlieness

polarize

(v.) to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern

S: split, divide, alienate, estrange

A: unite, unify, reconcile

purview

(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope of limit of what is provided in a statute

S: jurisdiction, orbit

sanguine

(adj.) having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

S: flushes, rosy

A: bloodless, ashen, pessimistic, gloomy

solecism

(n.) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake

S: misusage, blunder, faux pas

A: correct usage

vassal

(n.) a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiances; a subordinate or dependent; a servant

(adj.) subservient

S: (n.) menial, minion; (adj.) servile

A: (n.) overlord

verisimilitude

(n.) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probably

S: realism, lifelikeness, authenticity

eleemosynary

(adj.) charitable; dependent upon or supported by charity; derive from or provided by charity

S: philanthropic, beneficent

A: selfish, self-seeking, uncharitable