Unit 10 Vocab

askance

with suspicion or mistrust or disapproval

attenuate

to reduce or weaken in force, value or intensity

benign

gentleness or kindness of heart or gracious; not malignant

cavil

a trivial and annoying objection or criticism; to raise irritating and trivial objections, to find fault with unnecessarily

charlatan

one who pretends to have more knowledge or skill than he or she actually does

concatenation

the state of being linked together in a series like a chain

concomitant

an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another; occurring or existing alongside something else

decimate

to destroy or kill a large number of

foible

a minor weakness or flaw of character

forgo

to do without or give up

fraught

filled or full of

inure

to harden or accustom to by use or exposure

luminous

radiating or reflecting light

obsequious

extremely compliant or submissive

obtuse

not quick or alert with perception

oscillate

to swing or move back and forth in a constant rhythm

penitent

a person who feels sorrow or regret for their sins or mistakes; feeling or expressing sorrow or regret for one's sins or mistakes

peremptory

leaving no opportunity for debate or refusal

rebuff

a blunt or abrupt refusal, a rejection; to reject bluntly and disdainfully, to snub

reconnoiter

to make an examination or inspection for military or surveying

shambles

a state of complete disorder or ruin

sporadic

happening at irregular or unplanned intervals with no no pattern or order