Cumulitive HAL Vocab (#1-12)

abstract

(adj.) existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.

atrophy

(n.) a wasting away or progressive decline

condone

(v.) accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue

discerning

(adj.) having or showing good judgment

emaciated

(adj.) abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food

extricate

(v.) free (someone or something) from a constraint or difficulty

hypothetical

(adj.) of, based on, or serving as a hypothesis

inherent

(adj.) existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute

meticulous

(adj.) showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise

congenial

(adj.) (of a person) pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests that are similar to one's own

inauspicious

(adj.) not conducive to success; unpromising

tribunal

(n.) a court of justice

sumptuary

(adj.) relating to or denoting laws that limit private expenditure on food and personal items

ignominy

(n.) public shame or disgrace

magistrate

(n.) a civil officer or lay judge who administers the law, especially one who conducts a court that deals with minor offenses and holds preliminary hearings for more serious ones

acquiesce

(v.) accept something reluctantly but without protest

audacious

(adj.) showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks

converge

(v.) (of lines) tend to meet at a point

discordant

(adj.) disagreeing or incongruous

embellish

(v.) make (something) more attractive by the addition of decorative details or features

fallacious

(adj.) based on a mistaken belief

immutable

(adj.) unchanging over time or unable to be changed

innate

(adj.) inborn; natural

miserly

(adj.) of or characteristic of a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible

placate

(v.) make (someone) less angry or hostile

relegate

(v.) consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position

succinct

(adj.) (especially of something written or spoken) briefly and clearly expressed

visage

(n.) a person's face, with reference to the form or proportions of the features

sagacity

(n.) the quality of having or showing understanding and the ability to make good judgments

peremptory

(adj.) (especially of a person's manner or actions) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way

adulation

(n.) obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise

austere

(adj.) severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance

conviction

(n.) a firmly held belief or opinion

disdain

(v.) consider to be unworthy of one's consideration

emulate

(v.) match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation

fanaticism

(n.) belief or behavior involving uncritical zeal or an obsessive enthusiasm

implication

(n.) the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated

innocuous

(adj.) not harmful or offensive

mitigate

(v.) make less severe, serious, or painful

ponderous

(adj.) slow and clumsy because of great weight

renounce

(v.) formally declare one's abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession)

superfluous

(adj.) unnecessary, especially through being more than enough

efficacy

(n.) the ability to produce a desired or intended result

expostulation

(n.) the act of expressing disagreement or complaint

infamy

(n.) the state of being well known for some bad quality or deed

adversary

(n.) one's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute

banal

(adj.) so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring

corroborate

(v.) confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding)

disinclination

(n.) a reluctance or lack of enthusiasm

enervate

(v.) cause (someone) to feel drained of energy or vitality; weaken

fastidious

(adj.) very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

implicit

(adj.) (1) implied though not plainly expressed (2) essentially or very closely connected with; always to be found in

insipid

(adj.) lacking flavor, vigor, or interest

morose

(adj.) sullen and ill-tempered

pragmatic

(adj.) dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations

reprehensible

(adj.) deserving censure or condemnation

surreptitious

(adj.) kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of

lurid

(adj.) very vivid in color, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect

inscrutable

(adj.) impossible to understand or interpret

progenitors

(n.) a person or thing from which a person, animal, or plant is descended or originates; an ancestor or parent

advocate

(n.) a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy

sycophant

(n.) a person who acts obsequiously toward someone important in order to gain advantage

beguile

(v.) charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way

reticence

(n.) the quality of not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily

cryptic

(adj.) having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure

preclude

(v.) prevent from happening; make impossible

disparage

(v.) regard or represent as being of little worth

mundane

(adj.) lacking interest or excitement; dull

engender

(v.) cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition)

instigate

(v.) bring about or initiate (an action or event)

fervor

(n.) intense and passionate feeling

impecunious

(adj.) having little or no money

martyrdom

(n.) the death or suffering of a martyr (a person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs)

repugnance

(n.) intense disgust

insidious

(adj.) proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects

affirmation

(n.) a statement or sign that something is true

benevolent

(adj.) kind and with positive intentions

cursory

(adj.) hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed

disseminate

(v.) spread (something, especially information) widely

enigma

(n.) a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand

flagrant

(adj.) (of something considered wrong or immoral) conspicuously or obviously offensive

inane

(adj.) silly; stupid

insuperable

(adj.) (of a difficulty or obstacle) impossible to overcome

notoriety

(n.) the state of being famous or well known for some bad quality or deed.

precocious

(adj.) (of a child) having developed certain abilities or proclivities at an earlier age than usual

retract

(v.) draw back

terse

(adj.) sparing in the use of words; abrupt

plebeian

(n.) a member of the common people, contrasting with the aristocratic patrician class

placidity

(adj.) the quality or state of being pleasantly calm, peaceful, serene, and undisturbed by commotion or stress

enmity

(n.) the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something

altruistic

showing a selfless concern for the well-being of others, without care for one's own interests; unselfish

bequeath

leave (a personal estate or one's body) to a person or other beneficiary by a will

criterion

a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided

disparity

a difference in level or treatment, especially one that is seen as unfair

ephemeral

lasting for a very short time

florid

(1) having a red or flushed complexion; (2) elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated

inception

the establishment or starting point of an institution or activity

intractable

hard to control or deal with

nullify

make legally null and void; invalidate

predilection

a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something