Vocab 1-20

asylum

a place offering protection and safety, often from persecution; a shelter

assail

To attack/assault

affect

to influence; to change
to put on a false show or display of
feeling or emotion, especially as shown in facial expressions or body language

effect

a result
to bring about

depredation

a predatory attack; a raid
damage, destruction, or loss

deprivation

the state of lacking or doing without something; loss

disinterested

impartial; free of bias or self-interest in an outcome

uninterested

without interest; having no interest or concern in another

emigrate

to leave one country or region of and settle in another

immigrate

to settle in a country or region where on is not a native

precede

to come before

proceed

to go forward or onward

beguile

to charm; to delight

benevolent

for the benefit of charity

decorum

appropriateness

demeanor

one's manner

feral

wild and untamed; savage

ignoble

mean; unethical; common

mores

accepted standards of a group

provincial

not sophisticated;limited or narrow in perspective

unseemly

grossly improper

wily

cunning; full of trickery

aggrandize

make greater in power

exorbitance

extreme,

grandiose

grand, magnificent

gratuitous

unnecessary, unjustified

intemperate

lacking moderation, excessive

multifarious

diverse, having great variety

opulence

wealth, affluence

profligate

recklessly wasteful

satiate

to fully satisfy an appetite

surfeit

a excessive amount

Acronym

A word formed from the first letter of each word in a series

Affix

A. A prefix or suffix
B. To attach a part to the beginning or end of a word
C. To attach something

Coinage

A. The invention of new words
B. An invented word or phrase
C. The making of metal coins; metal currency

Colloquial

Typical or informal language usage;conversational

Diminutive

A. A suffix that indicates small size, youth, familiarity, affection, or contempt
B. A nickname indicating affection or familiarity
C. Extremely small;tiny

Metonymy

A figure of speech that substitutes a word with a different but closely associated word

Oxymoron

An expression that contains contradictory terms

Palindrome

A word or an expression that is spelled the same backward and forward

Portmanteau word

A word formed by combining the sounds and meanings of two different words

Spoonerism

An often comical switching of the first sounds of two or more words

Apprehensive

Anxious or fearful about the future;uneasy

Categorical

A. Without exception or qualification; absolute
B. Done according to types; arranged by category

Conclusive

Decisive; putting an end to doubt, question, or uncertainty

Dubious

Doubtful; uncertain; questionable as to quality or validity

Indeterminate

A. Not capable of being determined or established; not precisely known
B. Lacking clarity

Precarious

A. Dangerous; risky; lacking in security or stability
B. Based on uncertain or questionable premises

Qualm

A sense of doubt or uneasiness about a course if action

Tentative

Uncertain; not fully worked out or agreed upon; provisional

Unequivocal

Perfectly clear;leaving no roo. For doubt or misunderstanding

Vacillate

A. To swing indecisively from one opinion or action to another
B. To sway or hesitate in choice of actions or opinions

assertive

acting with confidence and force; sure of one's self

brazen

extremely bold; shamelessly rude or defiant

complaisant

wanting to please; willing to do what pleases others; cheerfully obliging

docile

gentle; easily manageable or teachable; tame

flamboyant

showy, flashy, vivid, or dramatic

intrepid

fearless; having unwavering courage

mellow

relaxed and unhurried; easygoing
to become more relaxed or pleasant

pacific

of a peaceful nature; calm

strident

loud, harsh, grating, shrill

unabashed

not embarrassed; composed
not hidden or disguised; obvious

august

majestic, inspiring admiration and respect

condescend

a) to lower oneself to the level of one considered inferior
b) to treat others as though they are inferior

deference

respectful yielding to the opinion or wishes of another

grovel

a) to humble oneself in a demeaning way
b) to lie or creep face downward, as in humility

lackey

one who does lowly jobs for another

predominate

a) to be greatest in number or importance

slavish

a) acting completely under the will of another
b) lacking in creativity

subjugation

the act of conquering or bringing under control; enslavement

supercilious

proudly scornful disdainful

sycophant

a person attempting to win favor by flattering important people

flagrant

noticeably bad; conspicuously offensive

furtive

sneaky and secretive;sly

latent

present or capable of coming into existence, but not visible, evident, or active

ostensible

apparent; represented as true

salient

striking conspicuous; prominent or significant

sequester

a) to isolate someone or something

subterfuge

a deceptive stratagem or trick

surreptitious

obtained, done, or made by secret or stealthy means

unobtrusively

acting in a manner that does not attract attention

vaunt

a) to boast of; to brag about
b) a boastful remark

adroit

skillful and quick in use of the hands or the mind

blase

a) bored or unimpressed because of overexposure

cliche

a trite or an overused expression, idea, or practice

clientele

a group of customers or patrons

entrepreneur

a person who founds, organizes, operates and assumes the risk of a business

forte

something in which a person excels; a strong point

gauche

tactless; socially awkward

naive

trusting due to lack of experience or sophistication

nonchalant

seeming to be coolly unconcerned or indifferent

rendezvous

a) an arranged meeting
b) to meet at an agreed time and place

dilatory

adj. intended to delay

languid

adj. lacking energy, spirit, or force

lethargy

n. a severe lack of energy and enthusiasm

melancholy

n. deep sadness or depression

quiescent

adj. being still, quiet, or inactive

repose

n. rest; relaxation

sloth

n. laziness; avoiding work or effort

somnambulate

v. to sleepwalk