Vocabulary Level H Units 1-3 (Midterm)

adjunct (definition)

(n.) Something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic; (adj.) added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity

adjunct (synonyms)

(n.) associate, addition, accessory

bellwether (definition)

(n.) The male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in a desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends

bellwether (synonyms)

ringleader, initiator, barometer

chimerical (definition)

(adj.) absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible

chimerical (synonyms)

visionary, quixotic, pie-in-the-sky

effete (definition)

(adj.) lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out or exhausted; sterile or unable to produce; out-of-date

effete (synonyms)

decadent, enfeebled

fait accompli (definition)

(n.) an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action

fait accompli (synonyms)

accomplished fact

hierarchy (definition)

(n.) any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc.

hierarchy (synonyms)

chain of command

oblivious (definition)

(adj.) forgetful; unaware

oblivious (synonyms)

insensible

raillery (definition)

(n.) good-humored ridicule; teasing

raillery (synonyms)

persiflage

ribald (definition)

(adj.) irreverently mocking; coarse, vulgar, or indecent in language

ribald (synonyms)

risqué

supine (definition)

(adj.) lying flat on one's back; listless or lethargic; apathetic or passive

supine (synonyms)

prone, prostrate; inert

apprise (definition)

(v.) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice

apprise (synonyms)

acquaint

deracinate (definition)

(v.) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of

deracinate (synonyms)

extirpate, eradicate, expunge

exegesis (definition)

(n.) an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of a text)

exegesis (synonyms)

analysis, explication

indigenous (definition)

(adj.) originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent

indigenous (synonyms)

endemic, domestic, homegrown

lachrymose (definition)

(adj.) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious

lachrymose (synonyms)

tearful, doleful, maudlin

lexicon (definition)

(n.) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium

lexicon (synonyms)

wordbook, glossary

microcosm (definition)

(n.) a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system

microcosm (synonyms)

epitome, world in little

obfuscate (definition)

(v.) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder

obfuscate (synonyms)

muddy the waters

purview (definition)

(n.) the range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in statute

purview (synonyms)

orbit

sanguine (definition)

(adj.) having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook

sanguine (synonyms)

flushed, rosy

solecism (definition)

(n.) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake

solecism (synonyms)

misusage, blunder

bowdlerize (definition)

(v.) to remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film, etc.)

bowdlerize (synonyms)

purge, expurgate

condescend (definition)

(v.) to come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner

condescend (synonyms)

talk down to

gratis (definition)

(adj.) free; (adv.) without charge

gratis (synonyms)

(adj.) on the house

interstice (definition)

(n.) a small, narrow space between things or parts of things

interstice (synonyms)

gap, slot, crevice, interval, lacuna

persiflage (definition)

(n.) lighthearted joking, talk, or writing

persiflage (synonyms)

banter, jesting, badinage

plethora (definition)

(n.) overfullness; superabundance; superfluity

plethora (synonyms)

surplus, glut, excess

rapacity (definition)

(n.) inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one's desires by force, extortion, or plunder

rapacity (synonyms)

avarice, cupidity, voraciousness

schism (definition)

(n.) a formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions

schism (synonyms)

rift

therapeutic (definition)

(adj.) having the power to heal or cure; beneficial

therapeutic (synonyms)

salutary, salubrious