WL 10: Vocab Unit 4

Atrophy

(n.) the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v.) to waste away

Concord

(n.) a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, peace, covenant

Disarray

(n.) disorder, confusion; (v.) to throw into disorder

Frenetic

(adj.) frenzied, highly agitated

Grouse

(n.) a type of game bird; a complaint; (v.) to complain, grumble

Incumbent

(adj.) obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of

Jocular

(adj.) humorous, jesting, jolly, joking

Mordant

(adj.) biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh

Pusillanimous

(adj.) contemptibly cowardly or mean-spirited

Stratagem

(n.) a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end

Bastion

(n.) a fortified place, stronghold

Consummate

(adj.) complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection

Exigency

(n., often pl.) urgency, pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency

Flotsam

(n.) floating debris; unimportant or discarded material

Glean

(v.) to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left in a field by the reapers

Incarcerate

(v.) to imprison, confine, jail

Ludicrous

(adj.) ridiculous, laughable, absurd

Nettle

(n.) a prickly or stinging plant; (v.) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely

Pecuniary

(adj.) consisting of or measured in money; of or related to money

Recumbent

(adj.) in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting