ENG DUAL CREDIT VOCAB

Abhor

to regard with disgust and hatred

Abominate

to loathe intensely

Abridge

to shorten in duration

abstruse

perplexing (of a noun)

Abut

to border upon; to adjoin

Accolade

an award, an honor, a praise

Adjunct

added or joined as an accompanying object or circumstance

Askew

1. (adj) in a crooked position (not straight)

aspire

to seek, attain or accomplish a certain goal

assuage

1. to lessen the intensity of

2. (v) to make unpleasant feelings less strong

astute

1. (adj) able to understand a situation quickly and see how to take advantage of it

2. (adj) quick to see how to use a situation to your advantage

asunder

1. (adv) into forcefully seperated pieces

atrophy

1. (v) (of a part of the body) to be reduced in size and therefore strength, or more generally to become weaker

austere

1. severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising, strict, unfriendly

badger

1. repeatedly ask someone to do something

2. an omnivorous nocturnal mammal of the weasel family

Beget

To give birth to; to create

Bereave

Be deprived of a loved one esp during death

Beset

1. to trouble or threaten persistently

2. Be covered or studded with

Blather

To talk nonsensically

Bleak

Discouraging, harsh, cold, barren, depressing

Cloister

Covered Walk in a convent, monastery, college or cathedral; Isolate

Commodious

(Esp of a furniture or building) roomy & comfortable

Comprise

Consist of

congenial

1. (Of a person) agreeable, friendly

2. Existing or associating together harmoniously

connoisseur

A critical(discerning) judge of the best of any field

consensus

general agreement

coterie

Clique

countenance

Face

coup

1. a sudden, violent, and unlawful seizure of power from a government

2. a notable or successful stroke or move.

dauntless

fearless

dearth

a lack, scarcity

debacle

1. (n) a complete failure esp, because of bad planning and organization

2. (n) general meaning: a disaster

debase

to lower in status, esteem, quality or character

decree

an official order issued by a legal authority

defame

1. to harm the reputation of by communicating false statements

deft

(adj) skillful, nimble, smart, quick

Demagogue

1) (N) A leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims to gain power

demur

1. to express disagreement or refuse to do something

2. the act of expressing disagreement or of refusing to do something

denounce

to pronounce esp publicly to be blameworthy or evil

dessicate

to dry out

disparage

1. to criticize someone in a way that shows you don’t respect him, her or it

2. to criticize something or someone in a way that shows a lack of respect

dispel

1. (v) to remove fears, doubts, and false ideas, usually by proving them wrong or unnecessary

disperse

1. to cause to break up

2. to spread or distribute from a fixed or constant source

dissolution

1. the act or process of ending an official organization or legal agreement

2. the breaking up or dissolving of something into parts; disintegration

divine

1. of, relating to, or proceeding directly from God

2. supremely good: superb (that meal was divine)

docile

easy to teach or manage

expunge

to erase, obliterate, destroy

facilitate

to make easier; to help bring out

fathom

1. to come to understand

2. a unit for measuring the depth of water

fawn

1. to court favor by a cringing or flattering matter; to show affection

2. a young deer esp one still unweaned

feign

1. to pretend to have a particular feeling, problem, etc.

fester

1. to generate pus

2. to cause increasing poison, irritation, or bitterness

fetish

1. a sexual interest in a object or a part of the body other than the sexual organs

2. an activity or object that you are so interested in that you spend an unreasonable amount of time thinking about it or doing ti

fickle

1. (adj) likely to change suddenly and without warning

2. (adj) likely to change your opinion or your feelings suddenly and without a good reason

fjord

A long narrow inlet from the sea between steep cliffs or hills

fleece

to deceive; also wool of sheep or animal

girth

1. a band or strap that encircles the body of an animal to fasten something on it’s back

a) a measure around the body

2. the distance around the outside of a thick or fat object

gossamer

1. the very thin thread spiders use to make webs

2. very light and delicate

grandiloquent

pompous or high-flown in speech

guile

1. smart sometimes dishonest behavior used to deceive someone

guise

an external appearance

harangue

a lengthy and aggressive speech

herbicide

A substance that is toxic to plants, used to destroy unwanted vegetation

histrionic

Overly dramatic; theatrical

hovel

An open shed or shelter

idiosyncrasy

An individualizing characteristic or quality

impede

To interfere with the movement or progress of

incite

Encourage or stir up unlawful behavior

incongruous

1. (adj) unusual or individual from what is around or from what is generally happening

2. (adj) appearing strange or wrong within a particular situation

infamy

The state of being well known for some

insouciant

indifferent; lacking concern or care

inveigle

1. (v) to persuade someone to do something they may not want to do (in a clever & dishonest way too)

irascible

easily angered

laconic

brief and to the point; using few words

lament

1. (n) an expression of sadness over something

2. (v) to express sadness and feel sorry about something or regret something

3. a song, poem, or piece of writing that expresses sadness about someone’s death

languish (verb)

To lose strength & become weak

lassitude

a state of physical or mental weariness

laudable

worthy of praise

Lethargy (Noun)

A condition characterized by extreme fatigue, drowsiness or sleep patterns

lexicon

1. a dictionary

2. a list of all the words used in a particular language or subject

lieu (N)

instead of, in place of

marauder

1) a person or animal who goes from one place to another looking for people to kill or things to steal and destroy

periphery

1. the perimeter of a circle or other closed curve

2. the outer edge of an area

3. the less important part of a group or activity

permeate (v)

to spread through, penetrate, soak through

philanthropy

(N) - the activity of helping the poor, esp by giving them money

pillage (v)

to steal goods (something) from a person or place using violence, esp during war

pique

1. resentment stemming from wounded pride

2. Irritation

3. To arouse curiosity

plight

1. an unpleasant condition esp a serious, sad, or difficult one

2. To put or give in pledge

potentate

one who has the power and position to rule over others; monarch

precarious

1. Dangerous

2. risky

3. lacking in security or stability

proficient

skilled and experienced

propulsive

the act or process of propelling (moving something with force)

prowess

superior skill or ability

quandary (N)

a state of perplexity or doubt

queue (V)

1. (N) A waiting line esp of persons & vehicles

2. (V)To form a queue (waiting line)

quixotic

having or showing ideas that are different and unusual but not practical or likely to succeed.

ramification

1. the possible results of an action or decision; consequence

relinquish

to let go, give up

reminisce

1. to talk or write about past experiences you remember with pleasure

resurgent

rising after defeat