Vocabulary Unit 4

**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