Vocabulary Unit 4

Atrophy

Atrophy

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

Bastion

(n.) A fortified place, stronghold.

Concord

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

Consummate

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

Disarray

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

Exigency

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

Flotsam

(n.) Floating debris; homeless, impoverished people.

Frenetic

(adj.) Frenzied, highly agitated.

Glean

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

Grouse

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

Incarcerate

(v.) To imprison, confine, jail

Incumbent

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

Jocular

(adj.) Humorous, jesting, jolly, joking.

Ludicrous

(adj.) Ridiculous, laughable, absurd.

Mordant

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

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

Pusillanimous

(adj.) Contemptibly, cowardly, or mean spirited

Recumbent

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

Stratagem

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