Unit 5 Vocab

acuity

(n.) sharpness (particularly of the mind or senses) syn: awareness; ant: ignorance

delineate

(v.) to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail, to represent pictorially syn: brand, mark, outline

depraved

(adj.) brought to a state of evil and corruption, devoid or moral principles syn: evil, dirty; ant: good, pure

enervate

(v.) to weaken or lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor of; enfeeble, hamstring syn: exhaust, weaken; ant: activate, strengthen

esoteric

(adj.) intended for or understood by only a select few, private, secret syn: secret, private; ant: common, familiar

fecund

(adj.) fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive syn: fertile, fruitful; ant: steril, unproductive

fiat

(n.) an arbitrary order or decree; a command or act of will or consciousness syn: ruling, dictate; ant: request, question

figment

(n.) a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion syn: dream, fantasy; ant: reality

garner

(v.) to acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away, as for future use syn: amass, save, extract; ant: disperse, seperate

hallow

(v.) to set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify, consecrate; to honor greatly, revere syn: bless, praise; ant: condemn, curse

idiosyncrasy

(n.) a peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify syn: truth, distinction; ant: abnormality

ignominy

(n.) public shame and disgrace syn: disgrace; ant: respect

mundane

(adj.) earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs; concerned with what is ordinary syn: commonplace, normal, worldly; ant: exciting, extraordinary

nuance

(n.) a subtle or slight variation (as in color, meaning, quality), delicate gradation or shade of difference syn: hint, suble

overweening

(adj.) conceited, presumptuous; excessive, immoderate syn: conceited, haughty; ant: modest

penchant

(n.) a strong attraction or inclination syn: assumed; ant: dislike

reputed

(adj.) according to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance and good reputation; (part.) alleged syn: assumed; ant: actual, true

sophistry

(n.) reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound; a fallacy syn: inconsistency, ambiguity

sumptuous

(adj.) costly, rich, magnificent syn: beautiful, luscious; ant: mean, poor, fine work

ubiquitous

(adj.) present or existing everywhere syn: omnipresent, universal; ant: rare, scarce