UIL 24-25 HS Vocab Definitions

abate

To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen. | To put an end to. | To make void.

abhorrence

One that is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent. | A feeling of repugnance or loathing.

abate

To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen. | To put an end to. | To make void.

abhorrence

One that is disgusting, loathsome, or repellent. | A feeling of repugnance or loathing.

acciaccatura

An ornament note that is one half step or one whole step higher or lower than a principal note and is sounded at the same time as the principal note, adding dissonance to a harmony.

acolyte

A person who assists the celebrant in the performance of liturgical rites. | A devoted follower or attendant.

ad nauseam

To a disgusting or ridiculous degree; to the point of nausea.

aileron

Either of two movable flaps on the wings of an airplane that can be used to control the plane's rolling and banking movements.

allude

To make an indirect reference.

amperage

The strength of an electric current expressed in amperes.

analogous

Similar or alike in such a way as to permit the drawing of an analogy. | Similar in function but not in structure and evolutionary origin.

anaphylaxis

A sudden, usually systemic allergic reaction, characterized by vasodilation resulting in decreased blood pressure, smooth muscle contraction resulting in shortness of breath, and hives, caused by hypersensitivity induced by a secondary exposure to a foreign substance, such as a drug or protein, after an initial sensitizing exposure.

anathematize

To proclaim an anathema on; curse.

Andorra

A tiny country of southwest Europe between France and Spain in the eastern Pyrenees. Although it pays nominal yearly homage to its suzerains in France and Spain, it is an independent republic. Andorra la Vella is the capital.

anemia

A pathological deficiency in the oxygen-carrying component of the blood, measured in unit volume concentrations of hemoglobin, red blood cell volume, or red blood cell number.

anthropometry

The study of human body measurement for use in anthropological (relating to humankind) classification and comparison.

antinome

One that is contradictory or contrary to another; an opposite.

antiphony

Responsive or antiphonal singing or chanting. | A composition that is sung responsively; an antiphon. | A responsive or reciprocal interchange, as of ideas or opinions.

apprehensible

Capable of being understood.

argumentation

The presentation and elaboration of an argument or arguments. | Deductive reasoning in debate. | A debate.

ascetic

A person who renounces material comforts and leads a life of austere self-discipline, especially as an act of religious devotion. | Relating to, characteristic of, or leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial, especially for spiritual improvement.

assimilable

Capable of being assimilated (incorporated, absorbed).

au courant

Informed on current affairs; up-to-date. | Fully familiar; knowledgeable.

Auckland

The largest city of New Zealand, on an isthmus of northwest North Island. It is a major port and an industrial center.

Averno

A small crater lake of southern Italy near the Tyrrhenian Sea west of Naples. Because of its gloomy aspect and intense sulfuric vapors, now extinguished, the ancient Romans regarded it as the entrance to the underworld.

avoirdupois

Weight system.

ballistics

The study of the dynamics of projectiles. | The study of the flight characteristics of projectiles. | The study of the functioning of firearms. | The study of the firing, flight, and effects of ammunition.

Barents Sea

A shallow section of the Arctic Ocean north of Norway and northwest Russia. The North Atlantic Current keeps its southern ports ice-free all year.

bel esprit

A cultivated, highly intelligent person.

Benghazi

A city of northeast Libya on the Gulf of Sidra. Inhabited since Greek and Roman times, it is a major port and was a capital of Libya from 1951 to 1972.

besotted

To muddle or stupefy, as with alcoholic liquor or infatuation.

Bethesda

An unincorporated city of west-central Maryland, a residential suburb of Washington, DC. The National Institutes of Health and Naval Medical Center are here.

bicaudal

Having two tails.

bioassay

Determination of the strength or biological activity of a substance, such as a drug, by comparing its effects with those of a standard preparation on a test organism. | A test used to determine such strength or activity.

boondoggle

An unnecessary or wasteful project or activity. | A braided leather cord worn as a decoration especially by Boy Scouts. | A cord of braided leather, fabric, or plastic strips made by a child as a project to keep busy.

bouillabaisse

A highly seasoned stew made of several kinds of fish and shellfish, tomatoes, olive oil, and often saffron. | A combination of various different, often incongruous elements: a bouillabaisse of special interests.

bresaola

Salt-cured, air-dried beef, often served sliced and dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper.

cachinnation

To laugh hard, loudly, or convulsively; guffaw.

caconym

A taxonomic name that is unacceptable for linguistic reasons.

caïque

A long narrow rowboat traditionally used on the Bosporus. | A small sailing vessel used in the eastern Mediterranean.

canvasser

To examine carefully or discuss thoroughly; scrutinize: "The evidence had been repeatedly canvassed in American courts" (Anthony Lewis). | To go through (a region) or go to (persons) to solicit votes or orders. | To conduct a survey of (public opinion); poll. | To make a thorough examination or conduct a detailed discussion. | To solicit voters, orders, or opinions. | An examination or discussion. | A solicitation of votes or orders. | A survey of public opinion.

capriccioso

Lively and free. Used chiefly as a direction.

carafe

A glass or metal bottle, often with a flared lip, used for serving beverages, such as water or wine. | A glass pot with a pouring spout, used in making coffee.

carnassial

Adapted for tearing apart flesh: carnassial teeth. | A tooth adapted for tearing apart flesh, especially one of the last upper premolar or first lower molar teeth in carnivorous mammals.

cassoulet

A casserole of white beans, various meats, vegetables, and herbs, slowly simmered or baked in a slow oven.

catarrh

Copious discharge of mucus associated with inflammation of mucous membranes, especially of the nose and throat.

catenate

To connect in a series of ties or links; form into a chain.

caveat

A warning or caution: made a recommendation with many caveats.

chanoyu

A traditional Japanese ritual in which matcha is whisked into a froth with hot water in a bowl and the resulting beverage is then shared by the participants. (JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY).

chrestomathy

A selection of literary passages, usually by one author. | An anthology used in studying a language.

circumambient

Encompassing on all sides; surrounding.

coadjutant

A helper; an assistant.

coeval

Originating or existing during the same period; lasting through the same era. | One of the same era or period; a contemporary.

comestibles

Fit to be eaten; edible. | Something that can be eaten as food: meat, cheese, and other comestibles.

comme il faut

Fit to be eaten; edible. | Something that can be eaten as food: meat, cheese, and other comestibles.

con spirito

With spirit and vigor. Used chiefly as a direction.

condonation

The act of condoning, especially the implied forgiveness of an offense by ignoring it.

congeries

A collection; an aggregation.

connotation

The act or process of connoting.

consuetude

An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing: Hollywood holds connotations of romance and glittering success. | The set of associations implied by a word in addition to its literal meaning. | Logic The set of attributes constituting the meaning of a term; intension.

cosmopolite

A cosmopolitan person: a true cosmopolite—a Renaissance man. | An organism found in most parts of the world.

counterintelligence

The branch of an intelligence service charged with keeping sensitive information from an enemy, deceiving that enemy, preventing subversion and sabotage, and collecting political and military information concerning the enemy's covert activities.

craniofacial

Of both the cranium (skull) and the face

credulous

Disposed to believe too readily; gullible.

Creüsa

The wife of Aeneas who was lost while fleeing from Troy but came back as a ghost to warn Aeneas of his future.

dacquoise

A cake made with layers of nut meringue and whipped cream or buttercream. | One of the layers of meringue used in this cake.

de trop

Too much or too many; excessive or superfluous

debacle

A sudden, disastrous collapse or defeat; a rout. | A total failure. | The breaking up of ice in a river. | A violent flood.

Debussy

French composer best known for impressionist works such as the tone poem Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (1894).

declassification

To remove official security classification from (a document).

definitive

Serving to define or identify as distinct from others | Supplying or being a final settlement or decision; conclusive | Authoritative and complete | Mass produced in indefinite quantities over an indefinite period of time (of postage stamps). | Fully formed or developed (biology, i.e. of an organ). | A word that defines or limits, such as the definite article or a demonstrative pronoun. | A definitive postage stamp.

degenerate

Having declined from a former or original state | Morally corrupt or given to vice. | Relating to two or more quantum states that share the same quantum numbers | Characterized by great density and consisting of atoms stripped of electrons | Characterized by degeneration, as of tissue. | Having lost one or more highly developed characteristics through evolution | Relating to a gene that has multiple codons for the same amino acid. | To fall below a normal or desirable state; deteriorate | To decline in quality

demoniac

Possessed, produced, or influenced by a demon. | Of a devil; fiendish

demurrage

Detention of a ship, freight car, or other cargo conveyance during loading or unloading beyond the scheduled time of departure. | Compensation paid for such detention.

deportee

A deported person.

desideratum

Something considered necessary or highly desirable.

deterge

To wash or wipe off (i.e. a wound); cleanse.

devastator

To lay waste; destroy. | To overwhelm; confound; stun.

diazinon

An amber liquid (C12H21N2O3PS), used as an insecticide.

dimorphism

The existence among animals of the same species of two distinct forms that differ in one or more characteristics, such as coloration, size, or shape. | The occurrence of two distinct forms of the same parts in one plant, as in the juvenile and adult leaves of ivy. | Dimorphic crystallization.

discursive

Covering a wide field of subjects; rambling. | Proceeding to a conclusion through reason rather than intuition.

divestiture

The sale, liquidation, or spinoff of a corporate division or subsidiary.

dolce vita

A luxurious, self-indulgent way of life.

dulcify

To make agreeable or gentle; mollify. | To sweeten.

dyad

Two individuals or units regarded as a pair | Pair of homologous chromosomes resulting from division of tetrad (meiosis) | Tensor formed from a vector in a vector space and a linear functional on that vector space.

echelon

Formation of troops where units are positioned successively to the left or right of the rear unit to form a steplike line. | A subdivision of a military or naval force | A level of responsibility or authority in a hierarchy; a rank | A form used in certain diffraction gratings that resembles a flight of stairs of equal heights and equal widths.

ectogenous

Exogenous (originating externally) | Able to live and develop outside a host (as with pathogenic microorganisms)

efferent

Directed away from a central organ or section. | Carrying impulses from the central nervous system to an effector. | An efferent body part (i.e. blood vessel).

egalitarian

Affirming, promoting, or characterized by belief in equal political, economic, social, and civil rights for all people.

élan

Enthusiastic vigor and liveliness. | Distinctive style or flair.

embarrassment

The act/state of embarrassing | A cause of being embarrassed | An overabundance | Financial difficulty.

encephaloma

A tumor of the brain.

ennead

A group or set of nine.

enteritis

Inflammation of the intestinal tract, especially of the small intestine.

epergne

A large table centerpiece consisting of a frame with extended arms or branches supporting holders, as for flowers, fruit, or sweetmeats.

epicycloid

The curve described by a point on the circumference of a circle as the circle rolls on the outside of the circumference of a second, fixed circle.

epigrammatic

Of the nature of an epigram (short witty poem expressing a single observation or a concise statement).

eremitic

A recluse or hermit, especially a religious recluse.

euphuism

An elegant literary style of the late 1500s and early 1600s, characterized by elaborate alliteration, antitheses, and similes. | Affected elegance of language.

excelsior

Slender, curved wood shavings used especially for packing.

excrescence

An outgrowth or enlargement, especially an abnormal one (i.e. wart). | A usually unwanted or unnecessary accretion (growth by gradual external addition).

exempli gratia

For example.