Vocab Lists #1-4 Henry English 10 HN

For upcoming final test on all vocab words.

adamant

(adj) firm in purpose or opinion, unyielding. (n.) an extremely hard substance.

brouhaha

(n.) confused hodgepodge of sounds or an uproar or commotion that goes far beyond what is justified

bulwark

(n.) a strong defense or protection, a solid wall-like structure for defense (v.) to provide such defense or protection

choleric

(adj.) easily made angry, bad-tempered

cloy

(v.) to spoil or destroy an appetite by too much indulgence, especially in sweet or rich things

curtail

(v.) to cut short, bring to a halt or end sooner than expected

deference

(n.) courteous yielding to the wishes and ideas of another person

definitive

(adj.) conclusive, final, representing the limit of what can be done

demeanor

(n.) the way a person behaves or the overall impression they give

enigmatic

(adj.) puzzling, perplexing, not easily understood

impromptu

(adj./adv.) without preparation, suddenly or hastily done (n.) an unprepared composition or remark

mawkish

(adj.) excessively and objectionably sentimental or having a mildly sickening flavor

mollify

(v.) to calm, pacify, or reduce in intensity

onus

(n.) a burden, stigma, or blame

presentiment

(n.) a vague sense of approaching misfortune

profligate

(adj.) recklessly extravagant, or extremely self indulgent (n.) a person with extreme self indulgence and wild spending

remit

(v.) to send money, to cancel a punishment, or to forgive/pardon

requisite

(adj.) needed, regarded as essential or indispensable

sartorial

(adj.) pertaining to a tailor or his work or having to do with men's clothes

thwart

(v.) to oppose successfully or to prevent

Abstemious

(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self-discipline

Censurable

(adj.) deserving of blame or correction

contingent

(adj.) likely but not certain to happen, possible; dependent on uncertain events or conditions; happening by chance; (n.) a representative group forming part of a larger body

corroborate

(v.) to confirm, make more certain, bolster, substantiate, verify

denizen

(n.) an inhabitant, resident; one who frequents a place

discursive

(adj.) passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling, roving, nomadic

disseminate

to scatter or spread widely

dowdy

(adj.) poorly dressed, shabby; lacking smartness and good taste

florid

(adj.) highly colored, reddish; excessively ornate, showy

foist

(v.) to impose by fraud; to pass off as worthy or genuine; to bring about by stealth, dishonesty, or coercion

guache

(adj.) awkward, lacking in social graces, tactless, clumsy

heresy

(n.) an opinion different from accepted belief; the denial of an idea that is generally held sacred

inculcate

(v.) to impress on the mind by repetition, teach persistently and earnestly

palpable

(adj.) capable of being touched or felt; easily seen, heard, or recognized

perceptive

(adj.) having sympathetic insight or understanding, capable of keen appreciation

pernicious

(adj.) extremely harmful; deadly, fatal

salient

(adj.) leaping, jumping, or springing forth; prominent, standing out, conspicuous; (n.) a projection or bulge, a land form that projects upward or outward

saitiate

(v.) to satisfy completely; to fill to excess; (adi.) full, satisfied

sear

(v) to make or become dry and withered; to cher or scorch the surface of; to harden or make unfeeling; to parch, dessicate, singe

specious

(adj.) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit.

abominate

(v.) to have an intense hatred or disliking for

acculturation

(n.) the modification of social patterns, traits, or structures of one group of society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend

adventitious

(adj.) resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congenital

ascribe

(v.) to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute

circuitous

(adj.) roundabout, not direct

commiserate

(v) to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress

enjoin

(v.) to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit

expedite

(v) to make easy, cause to progress faster

explate

(v.) to make amends, make up for; to advert

ferment

(n.) a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence; (v) to be in or work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action

inadvertent

(adj.) resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental

nominal

(adj.) existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously

noncommittal

(adj.) not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no

peculate

(v.) to steal something that has been given into one's trust; to take improperly for one's own use

proclivity

(n.) a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior)

sangfroid

(n.) composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances

seditious

(adj.) resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government

tenuous

(adj.) thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly supported

vitriolic

(adj.) bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid)

wheedle

(v.) to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end

abet

(v.) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy)

aver

(v.) to affirm, declare confidently

blatant

(adj.) noisy in a coarse, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense

broach

(v.) to bring up or begin to talk about (a subject); to announce, introduce; to break the surface of the water; to turn sideways to the wind and waves; to pierce (a keg or cask) in order to draw off liquid; (n.) a spit for roasting; a tool for tapping casks

buttress

(v.) to support, prop up, strengthen; (n.) a supporting structure

carousal

(n.) noisy revelry or merrymaking (often with a suggestion of heavy drinking)

collate

(v) to compare critically in order to note differences, similarities etc.; to arrange in order for some specific purpose.

connoisseur

(n.) an expert; one who is well qualified to pass critical judgments, especially in one of the fine arts

disconsolate

(adj.) deeply unhappy or dejected; without hope, beyond consolation

encumber

(v) to weigh down or burden (with difficulties, cares, debt, etc.); to fill up, block up, hinder

foment

(v.) to promote trouble or rebellion; to apply warm liquids to, warm

grisly

(adj.) frightful, horrible, ghastly

herculean

(adj.) (capital H) relating to Hercules; (lowercase h)

characterized by great strength; very hard to do in the sense of requiring unusual strength v

Impassive

(adj.) showing no feeling or emotion; inanimate; motionless

inauspicious

(adj.) unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future

incontrovertible

(adj.) unquestionable, beyond dispute

nonplussed

(adj., part.) puzzled, not knowing what to do, at a loss

opportune

(adj.) suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occurring at an appropriate time

prolific

(adj.) abundantly productive; abundant, profuse

rejoinder

(n.) a reply to a reply, especially from the defendant in a legal suit