Vocab Exam 7-12

subversive

intended to undermine or overthrow; one who advocaets or attempts to undermine a political system

slipshod

untidy in dress, personal habits, etc; careless, sloppy

mire

mud; wet, swampy ground; a tough situation, to get stuck

impair

to make imperfect, damage, harm

adept

thoroughly skilled, an expert

sterling

genuine, excellent, made of silver of standard fitness

Adieu

a farewell

advent

an arrival; a coming into place or view

apex

the highest point; tip

assimilate

to absorb fully or make one’s own; to adopt as one’s own; to adapt fully

bogus

false; counterfeit

exorbitant

unreasonably high; excessive

interim

the time between

inundate

to flood; overflow; to overwhelm by numbers or size

malign

to speak evil of; slander

meander

to wander about; wind about; a sharp turn or twist

metropolis

a large city; the chief city in an area

momentous

very important

obstreperous

noisy; unruly, disorderly

pensive

thoughful, melancholy

perilous

dangerous

shoddy

of poor quality; characterized by inferior workmanship

sprightly

lively, full of life; spicy, flavorful

surly

angry and bad tempered; rude

tirade

a long, angry speech, usually very critical

vagrant

an idle wanderer, tramp; wandering aimlessly

assurance

a pledge; freedom from doubt, self-confidence

asylum

an institution for the care of children, elderly people, etc.; a place of safety

console

to comfort; the keyboard of an organ; a control panel for an electrical or mechanical device

dilate

to make or become larger or wider; to expand upon

dross

refuse; waste products

dwindle

to lessen; diminish

flippant

lacking in seriousness; disrespectful, saucy

immunity

resistance to disease; freedom from some charge or obligation

institute

to establish, set up; an organization for the promotion of learning

liability

a debt; something disadvantageous

preposterous

ridiculous; senseless

pugnacious

quarrelsome; fond of fighting

rabid

furious; violently intense, unreasonably extreme; mad; infected with rabies

realm

a kingdom; a region or field of study

rejuvenate

to make young again; to make like new

remunerate

to reward, pay, reimburse

sparse

meager, scant, scattered

venture

a risky or daring undertaking; to expose to danger; to dare

warp

to twist out of shape; an abnormality

auxiliary

giving assistance or support; a helper, aid

candid

frank, sincere, impartial, unposed

cubicle

a small room or compartment

drudgery

work that is hard and tiresome

envoy

a representative or messenger

escalate

to elevate; to increase in intensity

expedient

means to an end; advantageous; useful

feign

to pretend

flair

a natural quality, talent, or skill; a distinctive style

grievious

causing sorrow or pain; serious

Heterogeneous

composed of different kinds; diverse

horde

a vast number of people; a throng

impel

to force; drive forward

incredulous

disbelieving; skeptical

inscribe

to write or engrave; to enter a name on a list

monologue

a speech by one actor; a long talk by one person

prognosis

a forcast of the probable course and outcome of a disease or situation

rasping

with a harsh, grating sound; a harsh sound

repugnant

offensive, disagreeable, distasteful

scuttle

to sink a ship by cutting holes in it; to get rid of something in a decisive way; to run hastily, scurry; a pail

aspire

to have ambitious hopes or plans, strive toward a higher goal, desire earnestly, to ascend

bleak

bear, dreary, dismal

chide

to blame; scold

despicable

worthy of scorn, contemptible

diminutive

small, smaller than most others of the same type

emancipate

to free from slavery; to release or liberate

erroneous

incorrect; containing mistakes

exploit

to make use of, develop, to make improper use of for personal profit; a feat, deed

extemporaneous

made or delivered on the spur of a moment

invincible

not able to be defeated; unbeatable

languid

drooping; without energy, sluggish

obtrusive

forward; undesirably prominent; thrust out

preamble

an introduction to a speech or piece of writing

render

to cause to become; to perform; to deliver officially; to process, extract

rugged

rough, irregular; severe; stern, strong, stormy

skeptical

inclined to doubt; slow to accept something as true

brevity

shortness

comport

to conduct or bear oneself; behave, to be in agreement

concise

expressing much in a few words

demure

sober or serious in manner; modest

depreciation

a lessening in value; a belittling

detoriorate

to lower in quality or value; to wear away

divulge

to tell; reveal, to make public

enlightened

free from ignorance and false ideas; possessing sound understanding

forestall

to prevent by acting first

garble

to distort in such a way as to make unintelligible

proponent

one who puts forward a proposal, one who supports a cause or belief

quaver

to shake, to tremble; to trill

recoil

to spring back, shrink; the act of springing back

recoup

to make up for, regain

reek

an unpleasant smell; to give off unpleasant smells; to give a strong impression

relentless

unyeilding; harsh without pity

rivulet

a small stream

squander

to spend foolishly; to waste

staccato

detachted or disconnected in sound or style