O'Connor Vocab

cummulative :/

exigent

Adj., urgent; requiring prompt action

fidelity

N., faithfulness to obligations, duties, or observances

insidious

Adj., working or spreading harmfully and subtly or stealthily

malleable

Adj., capable of being altered or influenced

ostracize

V., banish or exclude from a group;shun

prospective

Adj., likely to become or be

rancor

N., bitter, long-lasting resentment; ill-will

retribution

N., something given or demanded in repayment

sagacity

N., keenness of perception; soundness of judgment; wisdom

spurn

V., reject or refuse disdainfully

adamant

Adj., firm and unyielding in purpose or opinion; inflexible

beseech

V., address an earnest request to: implore

confidant

N., close friend to whom one confides secrets

deprecate

V., express disapproval of; belittle

elude

V., escape by use of daring or cunning

lucrative

Adj., profitable; producing wealth

quest

N., act of seeking or pursuing something

rebuke

V., criticize or reprimand sharply; n., scolding

serendipity

N., ability to make valuable discoveries by chance

volition

N., act of willing, choosing, or deciding; conscious choice

abnegate

V., deny to oneself

abrogate

V., abolish or annul by authority

acumen

N., quickness and accuracy of judgment

adjure

V., command solemnly

contentious

Adj., quarrelsome

deride

V., laugh at in scorn; mock

emulate

V., strive to equal or excel

enjoin

V., direct with authority

feckless

Adj., careless

imperious

Adj., arrogantly domineering or overbearing

inherent

Adj., existing in someone or something as a natural part

inveterate

Adj., firmly established by having existed for a long time

presage

V., indicate or warn of in advance

prodigious

Adj., impressively great in size, force, or extent

propensity

N., innate inclination

abound

V., be great in number or amount; fully supplied or filled

accord

N., agreement; v., be in agreement

accure

V., increase or grow; accumulate

altercation

N., noisy quarrel

charlatan

N., person who pretends to possess skill or knowledge

default

N., failure to perform a task or fulfill an obligation

elicit

V., bring out; evoke

implausible

Adj., not valuable, likely, or acceptable; difficult to believe

Machiavellian

Adj., pertaining to the theory that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing and maintaining political power

recoup

V., recover a loss or make good on it

ascertain

V., discover through examination

avenge

V., take revenge or get satisfaction for; take vengeance on behalf of

chicanery

N., deception by trickery

quintessence

N., most complete instance; finest example

recant

V., take back a belief publicly

remiss

Adj., lax in attending to duty

ruminate

V., meditate at length about something

schism

N., seperation or division into factions

shirk

V., neglect, put off, or avoid a duty or obligation

specter

N., phantom; apparition

tenet

N., principle or opinion held to be true by a person or group

tractable

Adj., easily managed or controlled; docile

vicissitude

N., change, usually sudden or unexpected

waive

V., relinquish or give up voluntarily

willfulness

N., unreasonable stubbornness; inclination to impose one’s will on others

propitious

Adj., presenting favorable circumstances; advantageous

quirk

N., peculiarity of behavior

subordinate

N., one subject to the authority of another; of a lower class or rank

complicity

N., involvement as an accomplice in a crime or wrongdoing

plight

N., condition or situation of difficulty or adversity

aspersion

N., damaging or false statement

vitriolic

Adj., bitterly severe; harsh; sharp

accommodating

Adj., willing to help; obliging

camaraderie

N., spirit of loyalty, mutual trust, and good will between or among friends

propitiate

V., prevent or reduce the anger of; soothe

abstemious

Adj., sparing or moderate, esp. in the use of food and drink

bellicose

Adj., warlike in manner or temperament

brevity

N., briefness of duration; concise expression

circumvent

V., avoid by passing around

commensurate

Adj., of the same size, extent, or duration; corresponding in size or degree

cunning

N., skill or adeptness in performance; dexterity

despicable

Adj., deserving of scorn or contempt; vile

rectitude

N., moral uprightness

specious

Adj., having the ring of truth but actually false

toxic

Adj., poisonous; harmful

absolve

V., clear someone of blame or guilt

acquiesce

V., consent or comply passively or without protest

adulterate

V., make impure or inferior by adding extra, unusual, or improper ingredients

breach

N., breaking up or disruption of friendly relations; estrangement

eschew

V., avoid habitually; shun

oblique

Adj., indirect, misleading, devious

culminate

V., reach the highest point or degree

malinger

V., pretend to be sick or injured in order to avoid work

perspicuity

N., quality of being clearly expressed; ability to perceive keenly

status quo

N., existing condition or state of affairs

crucible

N., severe test, place, or situation

acuity

N., acuteness of perception; keenness

auspices

N., protection or support; patronage

modicum

N., small amount or quantity

panacea

N., remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties

platitude

N., trite remark or statement

providential

Adj., seeming to result from divine will; opportune

query

N., question or inquiry

quota

N., proportional share assigned to a group; fixed number or amount

recompense

N., payment made in return for something given or done