english cumulative vocab/allusion review

Assuage

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense; satisfy (an appetite or desire)

Coalition

an alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states.

Decadence

moral or cultural decline as characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury.

Hackneyed

(of a phrase or idea) lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite.

Hiatus

a pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process

Jaded

tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something.

Lurid

very vivid in color, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect; (of a description) presented in vividly shocking or sensational terms

Prerogative

a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class.

Transcend

be or go beyond the range or limits of (something abstract, typically a conceptual field or division); surpass (a person or achievement).

Umbrage

offense or annoyance

Ameliorate

(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

Bombastic

(adj.) Pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas.

Drivel

(n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense

(v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly.

Epitome

(n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

Exhort

(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly

Infringe

(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

Intrinsic

(adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part

Permeate

(v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through

Stringent

(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste

Surmise

(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof

Abominate

(v.) to have an immense dislike or hatred for

Adventitious

(adj.) Resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congenital

Ascribe

(v.) To assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute

Commiserate

(v.) To sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress

Expedite

(v.) To make easy, cause to progress faster

Nominal

(adj.) existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously

Proclivity

(n.) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior)

Seditious

(adj.) Resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government

Tenuous

(adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported

Vitriolic

(adj.) Bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid)

Affable

(adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to

Amorphous

(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion

Archetype

(n.) An original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example of a particular type of person or thing

Erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

Inscrutable

(adj.) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically

Insular

(adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

Querulous

(adj.) peevish, complaining, fretful

Remonstrate

(v.) to argue with someone against something, protest against

Scurrilous

(adj.) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed

Sedulous

(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination

Amnesty

(n.) A general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution

Caveat

(n.) a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior

Equitable

(adj.) fair, just, embodying principles of justice

Filch

(v.) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts

Fractious

(adj.) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable

Salutary

(adj.) beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome

Sepulchral

(adj.) funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal

Soporific

(adj.) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy; (n.) something that induces sleep

Transient

(adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time

Vapid

(adj.) dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force

Achilles' Heel

a weakness or vulnerable point

Benedict Arnold

epithet for traitor

Ivory Tower

a state of privileged seclusion or separation from the facts and practicalities of the real world.

Sirens

sea creatures who lured sailors to their deaths by singing a beautiful, irresistible song. anything that tempts a person away from safety and toward a destructive path.

Burning Bush

divine presence and guidance; moments of profound revelation or divine communication

Narcissus

youth who becomes enamored with his own reflection, leading to his demise. refers to excessive self-love and vanity

Holy Grail

an object/goal that is extremely desirable or valuable and which is attainable only after a long and difficult quest

Judas

traitor; apostle who betrayed Jesus

Job

known for his unwavering faith in God despite enduring immense suffering and trails. Today it is a reference for enduring hardship with faith and patience.

Phoenix

mythical bird symbolizing renewal and immortality as it cyclically regenerates from its own ashes. used to represent themes of transformation and endurance.