honors eng 10 vocab (semester 1 exam review)

retribution

punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a 

wrong or criminal act

atonement

reparation / payback for a wrong or injury

escapade

an act or incident involving excitement, daring, or adventure

enigmatic

a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

despondent

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

Latin: "to promise to give something away," from *de* "away" + *spondere* "to promise

vagaries

 an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's behavior.

Latin: to wander (vagabond, vague)

nascent

just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential.

Latin (Spanish): to be born *nacer*

impunity

exemption from punishment from the injurious consequences of an action.

Latin: *in-* "not, opposite of" + *poena* "punishment"

mollifying

appease the anger or anxiety or soften the severity of something.

indignation

anger provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment or injustice.

Latin: *in-* "not, opposite of" + *dignus* "worth (dignity)

goad

provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate some action or reaction.

Old English: *gad* - pointed stick used for driving cattle

gloat

dwell on one's own success or another's misfortune with smugness or pleasure.

Old Norse: *glotta* -to grin, smile scornfully and show the teeth

epiphany

a moment of sudden revelation or insight

deference

 humble submission and respect to one who knows more

incredulity

unwilling or unable to believe something.

Latin: *in* = not + *credere* "to believe" (creer, credo, credit)

*en medias res*

in or into the middle of a narrative or plot (latin)

panache

dash or flamboyance in style and action

French: a tuft of feathers

acquiesce

to accept, comply, or submit without protest or passively

Latin: *ad* "to" + *quiescere* "become quiet"

malaise

a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being

Latin: *mal* "bad" + *aise* "ease" 

disdain

a feeling of contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior

     Latin: *dis* "opposite of "*dignus* "worthy"

guileless

innocent, naive, straightforward; without deceit

providence

divine guidance or care

Latin: look ahead, prepare, *pro* "ahead" + *videre* "to see"

trepidation

a nervous or fearful feeling of uncertain agitation

Latin: to tremble

curt

speaking with terse, rude shortness 

Latin: cut short

inimical

being adverse by reason of hostility or malevolence

Latin: enemy

circumvent

to get around something, especially by ingenuity 

Latin: *circum* "around" + *venire* "to come

vaudeville

light, often comic theater combining pantomime, dialogue, dancing, and song

French: song of a town (ville)

impeccable

free from fault or blame; flawless

Latin: *in-* "not, opposite of" + *peccare* "to sin" (Spanish *pecado)*

rubicon

a limiting line that when crossed commits a person irrevocably

Latin: In 49 BC Julius Caesar led a single legion over the Rubicon (red/ruby) river from Gaul to Italy to make his way to Rome. He deliberately broke the law making armed conflict inevitable. Caesar uttered the famous phrase *alea iacta est* ('the die is cast') upon crossing the Rubicon, signifying that his action was irreversible—the point of no return. Allusion. Present day?

tepid

lukewarm; lacking enthusiasm or conviction

heathen

uncivilized or irreligious person

conjure

to summon a devil or spirit

faction

a party or group that is often self-seeking

abomination

 a dreadful or immoral thing

naught

nothing

abyss

vast chasm; anything unfathomable, profound or infinite

intimation

indirect suggestion casting suspicion

formidable

causing fear or dread; vastly superior or strong

notorious

widely and unfavorably known

prodigious

extraordinary

defamation

false or unjustified injury of the good reputation of another

licentious

lacking moral restraint

blanched

turned pale with shock or fear

ameliorate

1. to improve

daft

crazy; mad

taint

to contaminate morally; a trace of something bad or dishonorable

quail

to give way; to lose heart in difficulty or danger

avidly

characterized by enthusiasm and vigorous pursuit

befuddle

to confuse or stupefy; to make stupidly drunk

effrontery

disrespectful and insulting boldness

immaculate

without strain; pure

qualm

pang of conscience as to conduct; doubt of the rightness of an act

probity

complete honesty and integrity

base

morally low; mean-spirited; selfish

conciliatory

 tending to win over; overcome distrust or hostility

beguile

deceive

reprieve

to delay punishment; to give relief for a time

adamant

unbreakable or hard

gaunt

excessively thin and angular

tantalize

to tease or torment by presenting something desirable but                            keeping it out of reach