NLN-PAX Vocabulary from Study Guide

callous

made hard

explicit

fully and clearly expressed

partisan

biased, emotional allegiance

limbo

an intermediate, transitional

succumbing

to give way to superior force; yield

malingering

to pretend illness, to avoid work, etc

avarice

insatiable greed for riches

admonition

counsel, advice, or caution

veneration

the act of treating with profound respect

animosity

strong dislike

menial

lowly / degrading

nominal

not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously

cynical

distrusting the motives of others

candid

completely honest, straightforward

eloquent

fluent, forceful, and appropriate speech

continuum

a continuous extent, series, or whole

symposium

a meeting or conference for the discussion of some subject

presumptuous

bold of forward; going beyond that which is proper

vacillated

indecisive or irresolute

transgressed

go beyond (a limit, boundary, etc.)

ascetic

self-denying

agitated

to move or force into violent, irregular action; shake

incongruous

out of place; inappropriate; unbecoming;

dissident

disagreeing

adamant

unyielding; persistent

nondescript

of no particular type or kind;uninteresting; dull

lope

to move or run with bounding steps

canter

an easy gallop

saunter

to walk with a leisurely gait; stroll

falter

to hesitate; to move unsteadily

pretentious

done for show, striving to make a big impression; ambitious

taciturn

reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation

garrulous

excessively talkative in a rambling, especially about trivial matters

voluble

glib; talkative

culpable

deserving blame

mundane

common; ordinary,

melancholy

a gloomy state of mind

scrupulous

a moral or ethical standard that inhibits certain actions

mercenary

working or acting merely for money or other reward

disdainful

treat with contempt; despise; scornful

laudable

deserving praise (Oh, lawd!)

stagnant

stale from standing

depraved

corrupt, wicked, or perverted

squalid

foul and repulsive, as from lack of care or cleanliness; neglected and filthy; miserable

dogged

persistent in effort; stubbornly tenacious

aloof

reserved; disinterested

solicitous

anxious or concerned

supercilious

arrogant, scornful

unscrupulous

lacking moral restraint; conscienceless

vociferous

loud and noisy

obfuscate

obscure; confuse

lurid

causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational

lucrative

bringing in money; profitable

pusillanimous

cowardly

quiescent

inactive; at rest; motionless

melodrama

A literary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response.

pathos

evoking a feeling of pity or compassion; pity

illicit

illegal; not permitted

elicit

bring out from some source (such as another person)

tacit

quiet, inclined to talk very little

calamity

an event that causes great misfortune; a disaster

conversion

being converted; turning us away from sin and toward God.

impassioned

filled with intense feeling / passion

impertinent

rude; disrespectful

impetuous

acting suddenly without thought

martyr

a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion

interloper

one who moves in where he or she is not wanted/intruder

indomitable

unconquerable

reproved

to criticize or correct; disapprove of strongly

conversant

familiar by use or study

gamut

an entire range or series

guile

sly/cunning, deceit

naiveté/callow

lack of sophistication; simplicity

apex

the highest point, tip

pseudonym

a pen name, name assumed by a writer

acronym

a word formed from the first letter of each word in a series

synonym

a word that means the same as another word

antonym

a word that means the opposite of another word

stupefied

stunned; astonished

incredulous

disbelieving, skeptical

furtive

done slyly, sneaky ; stolen

impotent

powerless; lacking strength

inconsolable

sad beyond comforting

stoical

self-controlled, not showing feeling in response to pleasure or pain

bedlam

a state or scene of uproar and confusion

scurrilous

coarsely abusive

convivial

festive, sociable

sedulous

persistent, determination

florid

highly colored, reddish

irrepressible

incapable of being controlled

indelible

not able to be erased; memorable

inalienable

not able to be taken or given away.

vicissitudes

the unexpected changes and shifts often encountered in one's life

enticements

to lead on by exciting hope or desire; especially to evil

infractions

breaking of a law or rule

pensive

dreamily or wistfully thoughtful

veracity

truthfulness; honesty

indolent

habitually lazy or idle

biennial

occurring every two years

increment

an enlargement, increase, addition