Vocab Mountain Groups 1-17

abound

exist in large numbers or amounts

amorphous

without clearly defined shape or form

belie

1) (of an appearance) fail to give a true impression

2) fail to fulfill or justify

capricious

Having varying moods; fickle

cerebral

intellectual rather then emotional or physical

congenial

likable, friendly, enjoyable

cursory

hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed

daunting

seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation, intimidating

deify

worship or regard as a god

didactic

in the manner of a teacher particularly so as to appear patronizing

disseminate

spread (something, especially information) widely

feasible

possible to do easily or conveniently

flout

openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention)

homogeneous

of the same kind, alike

humdrum

lacking excitement or variety, boringly monotonous

insipid

without flavor; lacking energy

misanthropic

having or showing a dislike of other people, unsociable

misnomer

a wrong of inaccurate name or designation

negligent

failing to take proper care over something

obsequious

excessively submissive to authority

placate

make (someone) less anger or hostile

proclivity

fondness or liking for something

puerile

immature and childish

quixotic

extremely idealistic, unrealistic

spendthrift

a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way

taciturn

(of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech, saying little

wary

feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems

austere

1) strict in manner

2) lack of comforts or luxuries

conspicuous

1) clearly visible

2) attracting notice or attention

loquacious

tending to talk a great deal; talkative

adulterate

damage the quality of; corrupt

advocate

a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy

aggrandize

enhance one’s power or standing

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness

ambivalent

having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

ameliorate

make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better

amenable

open and responsive to change, easily persuaded or controlled

anachronistic

belonging to a period other than that being portrayed

audacious

bold, unafraid of risks; rude or disrespectful

avaricious

having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain

banal

lacking in originality so as to be obvious or boring

benign

1) gentle and kind

2) not harmful to the environment

brazen

bold and without shame

calumny

the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation, slander

candid

truthful and straightforward, frank

castigate

reprimand (someone) severely

caustic

1) sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way

2) able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action

construe

interpret (a word or action) in a particular way

contrite

feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong

convoluted

1) (especially of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow

covet

yearn to posess (something, especially something belonging to another)

craven

contemptibly lacking in courage, cowardly

decorum

politeness and proper behavior

deft

neatly skillful and quick in one’s movements

demur

to hesitate or express doubt over something

derivative

1) something which is based on another source

2) imitative of the work of another artist, writer, ect. and usually disapproved of for that reason

desiccate

remove the moisture from (something), cause to become completely dry

diatribe

a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

incredulous

(of person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something

ingenuous

(of a person or action) innocent and unsuspecting

abate

to make something unpleasant less intense or widespread

abjure

solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim)

anomalous

deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected

antipathy

a deep-seated feeling of aversion

arcane

understood by few, mysterious or secret

arduous

involving or requiring strenuous effort, difficult and tiring

artless

naive or inexperienced, natural and simple

ascetic

having enough self-discipline to abstain from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons

assuage

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

betray

1) reveal something unintentionally, be evidence of

2) expose (one’s country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy

bucolic

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life

burgeon

begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish

cacophonous

involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds `

canonize

1) place in or regard as belonging to a canon of literary or artistic works

2) (in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint

censure

express severe disapproval, especially in a formal statement

chicanery

the use of deception to achieve one’s goal

coalesce

come together to form one mass or whole

cogent

clear, logical, and convincing argument

compelling

evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way

contend

1) compete with others in a struggle to achieve (something)

2) assert something as a position in an argument

copious

abundant in supply or quantity

cosmopolitan

1) including people from many different countries

2) (of a plant or animal) found all over the world

deference

polite submission and respect

desultory

lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm

diffident

modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence

dilatory

1) slow to act

2) intended to cause delay

equivocate

use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself

polarize

divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs

prodigal

wastefully spending money on a lavish scale

verbose

using or expressed in more words then are needed

abstain

1) retain oneself from doing or enjoying something

2) formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal or motion

approbation

approval or praise

cherish

1) protect and care for (someone) lovingly

2) keep (a hope or ambition) in one’s mind

corroborate

confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding)

disparate

something that’s different or contrasting

emulate

match or surpass (a person or achievement) typically by imitation

enervate

make (someone) feel drained of energy or vitality

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time

fervid

intensely enthusiastic or passionate, especially to an excessive degree

garrulous

excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters