Sadlier-Oxford Vocab Level H - Unit 8

aberration

(noun)

a departure from what is proper, right, expected, or normal; a lapse from a sound mental state

ad hoc

(adjective)

for this specific purpose; improvised

(adverb)

with respect to this

bane

(noun)

the source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison

bathos

(noun)

the intrusion of commonplace or trite material into a context whose tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality; the lowest phase, nadir; an anticlimax, comedown

cantankerous

(adjective)

ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get along or deal with

casuistry

(noun)

the determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principles; specious argument

de facto

(adjective)

actually existing or in effect, although not legally required or sanctioned

(adverb)

in reality, actually

depredation

(noun)

the act of preying upon or plundering

empathy

(noun)

a sympathetic understanding of or identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of someone or something else

harbinger

(noun)

a forerunner, herald

(verb)

to herald the approach of

hedonism

(noun)

the belief that the attainment of pleasure is life's chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure

lackluster

(adjective)

lacking brillance or vitality; dull

malcontent

(adjective)

discontented with or in open definace of prevailing conditions

(noun)

such a person

mellifluous

(adjective)

flowing sweetly or smoothly; honeyed

nepotism

(noun)

undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one's relatives

pander

(verb)

to cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others

(noun)

a person who does this

peccadillo

(noun)

a minor sin or offense; a trifling fault or shortcoming

pièce de résistance

(noun)

the pricipal dish of a meal; the principal event incident, or item; an outstanding accomplishment

remand

(verb)

to send or order back; in law, to send back to jail or to a lower court

syndrome

(noun)

a group of symptoms or signs that collectively characterize or indicate a disease, disorder, abnormality, etc.