English IV Honors: Unit 5 Vocabulary

ambiguous (adj)

more than one possible meaning

ambivalent (adj)

uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow

austere (adj)

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect; practicing great self-denial; severely simple

axiom

a proposition that is not susceptible to proof or disproof; its truth is assumed to be self-evident; a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits

capitulate (v)

to surrender under agreed conditions; to give in to something

censure (n / v)

harsh criticism or disapproval; the state of being excommunicated; to rebuke formally; to criticize very strongly

chastity (n)

abstaining from sexual relations (as because of religious vows); morality with respect to sexual relations

countenance (n)

the appearance conveyed by a person’s face; the human face

culpable (adj)

deserving blame or censure as being wrong, evil, or injurious; to be at fault

cunning (adj)

showing inventiveness and skill; marked by skill in deception; clever, in the sense of trickery

deference (n)

courteous regard for people’s feelings; a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard; a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others

didactic (adj)

instructive (especially excessively); useful and informative

digress (v)

to wander from a direct or straight course; to lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course or argument in writing, thinking, or speaking

dissipate (v)

to cause to separate; to move away from each other; to go away or disappear; to spend or use wastefully

expedient (adj)

appropriate to a purpose; practical; serving to promote your interest

glut (v / n)

to supply with an excess of; to overeat or eat immodestly; the quality of being so overabundant that prices fall; too much of something

procure (v)

to get by special effort; to arrange for sexual partners for others

scrupulous (adj)

characterized by extreme care and great effort; arising from a sense of right and wrong; principled; very careful to do things properly and correctly

sustenance (n)

the act of sustaining life by food or providing a means of subsistence; a source of materials to nourish the body

wretched (adj)

deserving or inciting pity; characterized by physical misery; morally reprehensible; of very poor quality or condition