Pearlman Block 3 11th GAW Words

Words and Definitions

adroit

adroit

having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness

altruistic

having or showing an unselfish concern for the welfare of others

apocryphal

of doubtful authenticity

arable

fit for or used for the growing of crops

ascetic

practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline

aviary

a place for keeping birds confined

buttress

a projecting structure of masonry or wood for supporting or giving stability to a wall or building

celerity

swiftness of movement

commensurate

corresponding in size, extent, amount, or degree : PROPORTIONATE

conjugal

Relating to marriage or the relationship of a married couple.

conundrum

a confusing and difficult problem or question.

credulous

Ready to believe especially on slight or uncertain evidence

diatribe

1. A bitter and abusive speech or piece of writing. 2. ironic or satirical criticism 3. A prolonged discourse

discursive

1. Moving from topic to topic without order : RAMBLING

2. marked by a method of resolving complex expressions into simpler or more basic ones : marked by analytical reasoning

disparage

1. To depreciate by indirect means : speak slightingly about

2. to lower in rank or reputation : DEGRADE

emanate

To come out from a source

emulate

To strive to equal or excel

enigmatic

mysterious and difficult to understand

ennui

feelings of being bored and not satisfied because nothing interesting is happening

epicure

​a person who enjoys food and drink of high quality and knows a lot about it

esoteric

likely to be understood or enjoyed by only a few people with a special knowledge or interest

fecund

1. able to produce a lot of children, crops, etc.

2. producing new and useful things, especially ideas \n

felicity

1. great happiness

2. the quality of being well chosen or suitable

fetid

smelling very unpleasant

garner

gather or collect

heretic

1. a person holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted

2. a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church.

   \n

impervious

`1. unable to be affected by

2. not allowing fluid to pass through

incipient

beginning to happen or develop

indefatigable

persisting tirelessly

innocuous

not harmful of offensive

inscrutable

impossible to understand or interpret

insipid

lacking flavor or interest

intractable

hard to control or deal with

lampoon

publicly criticize using sarcasm or irony (verb) a speech or text lampooning someone (noun)

lassitude

a state of mental weariness and lack of energy

lithe

thin, supple and graceful

lurid

1. very vivid in color to create an unnatural effect

2. causing horror or revulsion

mire

1, a stretch of swampy or boggy ground

2. To cause or permit to become stuck in mud; to plunge or fix in mud

mundane

1. lacking interest or excitement

2. of this earthly world rather than a heavenly or spiritual one

nefarious

wicked or criminal

opaque

1. blocking the passage of radiant energy and especially light

2. hard to understand or explain

ostentatious

Designed to attract notice while being characterized by vulgar or pretentious display.

parochial

relating to a church parish

pedantic

1, giving too much attention to small errors and minor details

2. caring too much about unimportant rules or details and not enough about understanding or appreciating a subject

pique

1, A feeling of annoyance or anger when someone has offended you

2. stimulate (interest or curiosity)

precocious

having or showing the qualities or abilities of an adult at an unusually early age

proclivity

1. A tendency to do something regularly

2. an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing.

prolific

present in large numbers or quantities

prosaic

1, having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty

2. commonplace; unromantic

pugnacity

readiness to quarrel or fight; combative or argumentative character.

recant

to withdraw or disavow (a statement, opinion, etc.), especially formally; retract.

ribald

vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous.

stultify

to render absurdly or wholly futile or ineffectual, especially by degrading or frustrating means:

tantamount

equivalent, as in value, force, effect, or signification:

trepidation

a feeling of anxiety or apprehension about something you are going to do or experience.

turgid

swollen and distended

undulate

move or go with a smooth up-and-down motion. (verb) Having a wavy surface or edge (adjective)

veracity

conformity to facts, accuracy

viable

1. capable of living

2. capable of existence and development as an independent unit

vouchsafe

1. offer something in a gracious or condenscending way

2. reveal or disclose (information)