Vocab 2

adroit (adj)

skillful ; clever

macroscopic (adj)

visible to the naked eye

fatuous (adj)

foolish; insane

bovine (adj)

pertaining to cows or cattle

ferret (v)

to search or drive out

affectation (n)

a phony attitude; pose

knell (n)

the sound of a bell

dichotomy (n)

a division into two parts

callow (adj)

young and inexperienced

laconic (adj)

using few words; short; concise

quiddity (n)

an essential quality

patent (adj)

evident or obvious

peccadilo (n)

a minor offense

sagacious (adj)

wise

rationalize (v)

to make an excuse for

deride (v)

to ridicule and mock

censure (v)

to criticize sharply

gambol (v)

to frolic; to be playful

immolate (v)

to kill someone as a sacrificial victim

recondite (adj)

difficult to understand; profound

martinet (n)

a strict disciplinary; taskmaster

quagmire (n)

a swamp; a difficult situation

give (v)

to scoff

agape (adj)

open mouthed and suprised

carcinogen (n)

causing cancer

olfactory (adj)

pertaining to smell

imperious (adj)

domineering

grotesque (adj)

absurd; distorted

neologism (n)

a new word or expression

hackneyed (adj)

commonplace; overused

antipathy (n)

an intense dislike

elucidate (v)

to make clear

imminent (adj)

likely to happen; threatening

banal (adj)

common, ordinary

obdurate (adj)

stubborn; heartfelt

peruse (v)

to read carefully; scrutinize

bedlam (n)

a noisy uproar; a scene of wild confusion

affluence (n)

wealth; richness

scurrilous (adj)

coarsly abusive; vulgar

parody (n)

intimidating in a ridiculous manner

sedulous (adj)

hard working; diligent

amoral (adj)

lacking a sense of right and wrong

eschew (v)

to keep away from; to avoid; to shun

denouement (n)

an outcome; result