english III vocab S1 exam

intercede

to step in and plead on behalf of someone else, especially to resolve a disagreement

hackneyed

overused to the point of being stale or cliched

approbation

formal approval or praise

innuendo

an indirect or subtle suggestion: often with a negative or ironic undertone

coalition

a group formed to work toward a common goal

elicit

to draw out a reaction or response from someone

hiatus

a break or pause in continuity

assuage

to ease someones feelings or making something less intense

decadence

decline or decay, often due to excessive indulgence

expostulate

to argue or disagree in earnest about someones decision

simulate

to imitate or replicate something

jaded

worn out or bored because over exposure

umbrage

offense or annoyance

prerogative

a special right or privilege

lurid

shockingly vivid or sensational

transcend

to rise above or go beyond something

provincial

narrow-minded; unsophisticated, relating to a local area

petulant

childishly irritable or sulky

unctuous

slick or insincerely flattering, overly polite

meritorious

deserving reward or praise

ex officio

by virtue of holding a certain office

infringe

to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

callow

without expierence,immature, not fully developed

ameliorate

to improve, make better, correct a flow or shortcoming

bombastic

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

ingratiate

(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)

epitome

a summary,condensed account, an instance that represents a larger reality

aplomb

(n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence

exhort

(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly

stringent

(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding

interloper

one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder

drivel

foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense

inveigh

(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

surmise

(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess;

intrinsic

(adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essentially inherent

occult

secret, hidden from view, mysterious involving the supernatural

precipitate

to cause or bring about suddenly; charcterized by excessive haste

lassitude

(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

millennium

(n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

permeate

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

expiate

(v.) to make amends, or atone for something

expedite

to make a process easier or faster

abominate

to have an intense dislike or hatred for

ascribe

to assign or refer to a cause

adventitious

accidental or nonessential

enjoin

to direct or order

commiserate

to sympathize with or share suffering

Acculturation

the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group

circuitous

roundabout, not direct

ferment

(n.) a state of great excitement, agitation, to incite unrest

vitriolic

bitter, sarcastic, or harsh

wheedle

to use flattery, to gain something

peculate

(v.) to steal something that has been given into one's care

proclivity

a natural tendency or habit

nominal

(adj.) existing in name only, too small to betaken seriously

seditious

resistant to authority causing rebellion

tenuous

thin, weak, or lacking substance

noncommittal

not decisive or unwilling to take a clear position

sangfroid

coolness or composure under pressure

inadvertent

unintentional; accidental

aggrandize

to make something seem greater or more important than it really is

inscrutable

hard to understand; mysterious

Archetype

the original model or perfect example of something

erudite

showing great knowledge; scholarly

infer

to figure out something from evidence, to guess based on clues

affable

friendly, easy to talk to

amorphous

shapeless, without a clear form

gossamer

light, delicate, thin

aura

a distinctive atmosphere or feeling that surrounds a person or thing

insular

isloated or narrow-mind

contraband

illegal or prohibited items

sleazy

cheap, low quality, or ethically questionable

irrevocable

unable to be undone or changed

sedulous

showing dedication and hard work

remonstrate

to protest or argue against something

retrench

to cut back, reduce, or save resources

resilient

able to recover quickly from difficulty

reverberate

to echo, resound, or having a lasting effect

querulous

complaining in a whiny way

repudiate

to reject or refuse something

propensity

a natural tendency or habit

scurrilous

offensive, insulting, or vulgar

flout

to mock or show scorn for something

caveat

a warning or caution

blazon

display prominently or vividly

filch

to steal something of small value

fractious

irritable and quarrelsome

equitable

fair and impartial

autonomy

self-government or independence

addendum

an addition or supplement

amnesty

a pardon of offenses

axiomatic

self-evident or unquestionable.

extricate

To free from a difficult or tangled situation

soporific

causing sleep or drowsiness

scathing

(adj.) bitterly severe, or harsh

unwieldy

difficult to carry or manage

vapid

lacking liveliness or spirit

prognosticate

to predict or foretell a future event

sepulchral

gloomy and dismal; relating to a tomb

salutary

producing a beneficial effect