Vocab Unit 7

abeyance

a state of being temporarily inactive, suspended, or set aside

ambivalent

having opposite and conflicting feelings about someone or something

beleaguer

to set upon from all side; to surround with an army; to trouble, harass

carte blanche

full freedom or authority to act at one's own discretion

cataclysm

a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval; a surging flood, deluge

debauch

(v.) to corrupt morally, seduce; to indulge in dissipation; (n.) an act or occasion of dissipation or vice

eclat

(n.) dazzling or conspicuous success or acclaim; great brilliance (of performance or achievement)

fastidious

overly demanding or hard to please; excessively careful in regard to details; easily disgusted

gambol

to jump or skip about playfully

imbue

to soak or stain thoroughly; to fill the mind

inchoate

just beginning; not fully shaped or formed

lampoon

(n.) a malicious satire; (v.) to satirize, ridicule

malleable

(adj.) capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced

nemesis

(n.) an agent or force inflicting vengeance or punishment; retribution itself; an unbeatable rival

opt

to make a choice or decision

philistine

(adj.) lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent to cultural and artistic values or refinements; (n.) such a person

picaresque

(adj.) involving or characteristic of clever rogues or adventurers

queasy

(adj.) nauseated or uneasy; causing nausea or uneasiness; troubled

refractory

(adj.) stubborn; hard or difficult to manage; not responsive to treatment or cure

savoir-faire

the ability to say and do the right thing in any situation; social competence