English Vocab Units 1-15

Parts of Speech and Definition

adulterate

(v.) to corrupt, make worse by the addiction of something or lesser value

ambidextrous

(adj.) able to use both hands equally well; very skillful; deceitful, hypocritical

augment

(v.) to make larger, increase

bereft

(adj., part.) deprived of; made unhappy through a loss

deploy

(v.) to position or arrange; to utilize; to form up

dour

(adj.) stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored

fortitude

(n.) courage in facing difficulties

gape

(v.) to stare with open mouth; to open the mouth wide; to open wide

gibe

(v.) to utter taunting words
n. an expression of scorn

guise

(n.) an external appearance, cover, mask

insidious

(adj.) intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous

intimation

(n.) a hint, indirect suggestion

opulent

(adj.) wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose

pliable

(adj.) easily bent, flexible; easily influenced

reiterate

(v.) to say again, repeat

stolid

(adj.) not easily moved mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive

tentative

(adj.) experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant

unkempt

(adj.) not combed; untidy; not properly maintained; unpolished, rude

verbatim

(adj., adv.) word for word; exactly as written or spoken

warily

(adv.) cautiously, with great care

adroit

(adj.) skillful, expert in the use of the hands or mind

amicable

(adj.) peaceable, friendly

averse

(adj.) having a deep-seated distaste; opposed, unwilling

belligerent

(adj.) given to fighting, warlike; combative, aggressive
(n.) one at war, one engaged in war

benevolent

(adj.) kindly, charitable

cursory

(adj.) hasty, not thorough

duplicity

(n.) treachery, deceitfulness

extol

(v.) to praise extravagantly

feasible

(adj.) possible, able to be done

grimace

(n.) a wry face, facial distortion
(v.) to make a wry face

holocaust

(n.) a large-scale destruction, especially by fire; a vast slaughter; a burnt offering

impervious

(adj.) not affected or hurt by; admitting of no passage or entrance

impetus

(n.) a moving force, impulse, stimulus

jeopardy

(n.) danger

meticulous

(adj.) extremely careful; particular about details

nostalgia

(n.) a longing for something past; homesickness

quintessence

(n.) the purest essence or form of something; the most typical example

retrogress

(v.) to move backward; to return to an earlier condition

scrutinize

(v.) to examine closely

tepid

(adj.) lukewarm; unenthusiastic, marked by an absence of interest

adversary

(n.) an enemy, opponent

alienate

(v.) to turn away; to make indifferent or hostile; to transfer, convey

artifice

(n.) a skillful or ingenious device; a clever trick; a clever skill; trickery

coerce

(v.) to compel, force

craven

(adj.) cowardly
(n.) a coward

culinary

(adj.) of or related to cooking or the kitchen

demise

(n.) a death, especially of a person in a lofty position

exhilarate

(v.) to enliven, cheer, give spirit or liveliness to

fallow

(adj.) plowed but not seeded; inactive; reddish-yellow
(n.) land left unseeded
(v.) to plow but not seed

harass

(v.) to disturb, worry; to trouble by repeated attacks

inclement

(adj.) stormy, harsh; severe in attitude or action

liquidate

(v.) to pay a debt, settle an account; to eliminate

muse

(v.) to think about in a dreamy war, ponder

negligible

(adj.) so unimportant that it can be disregarded

perpetuate

(v.) to make permanent or long lasting

precedent

(n.) an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

punitive

(adj.) inflicting or aiming at punishment

redress

(v.) to set right, remedy
(n.) relief from wrong or injury

sojourn

(n.) a temporary stay
(v.) to stay for a time

urbane

(adj.) refined in manner or style, suave

affiliated

(adj., part.) associated, connected

ascertain

(v.) to find out

attainment

(n.) an accomplishment, the act of achieving

bequeath

(v.) to give or pass on as an inheritance

cogent

(adj.) forceful, convincing; relevant, to the point

converge

(v.) to move toward one point, approach nearer together

disperse

(v.) to scatter, spread far and wide

esteem

(v.) to regard highly
(n.) a highly favorable opinion or judgement

expunge

(v.) to erase, obliterate, destroy

finite

(adj.) having limits; lasting for a limited time

invulnerable

(adj.) not able to be wounded or hurt; shielded against attack

malevolent

(adj.) spiteful, showing ill will

nonchalant

(adj.) cool and confident, unconcerned

omniscient

(adj.) knowing everything; having unlimited awareness or understanding

panacea

(n.) a remedy of all ills; cure-all, an answer to all problems

scrupulous

(adj.) exact, careful, attending thoroughly to details; having high moral standards, principled

skulk

(v.) to move about stealthily; to lie in hiding

supercilious

(adj.) proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of feeling or superiority

uncanny

(adj.) strange, mysterious, weird, beyond explanation

venial

(adj.) easily excused; pardonable

altruistic

(adj.) unselfish, concerned with the welfare of others

assent

(v.) to express agreement; (n.) agreement

benefactor

(n.) one who does good to others

chivalrous

(adj.) marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly

clemency

(n.) mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness

dearth

(n.) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine

diffident

(adj.) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved

discrepancy

(n.) a difference; a lack of agreement

embark

(v.) to go aboard; to make a start; to invest

facile

(adj.) easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt

indomitable

(adj.) unconquerable, refusing to yield

infallible

(adj.) free from error; absolutely dependable

plod

(v.) to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly

pungent

(adj.) causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting

remiss

(adj.) neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless

repose

(v.) to rest; lie; place
(n.) relaxation, peace of mind, calmness

temerity

(n.) rashness, boldness

truculent

(adj,) fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh

unfeigned

(adj.) sincere, real, without pretense

virulent

(adj.) extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful