Outliers Vocab #1-#4

Precocious

having developed certain abilities or an inclination towards something at an earlier age than usual.

Expertise

expert skill or knowledge in a particular field.

Nondescript

lacking distinctive or interesting features or characteristics.

Meritocracy

government or the holding of power by people selected based on their ability.

Tumultuous

Characterized by confusion, disorder, or loud noise.

Squandered

Wasted in a reckless and foolish manner, especially regarding a resource or opportunity.

Cohort

A group defined by a shared time period, such as birth years that line up with key opportunities.

Overrepresentation

A group that appears more often than expected. (Q1 birthdays on elite rosters)

Gatekeeper

Person or rule that controls access. (tryout coaches are gatekeepers).

Abstruse

difficult to understand.

Subversive

seeking or intending to undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).

Antecedent

a thing that existed before or logically precedes another.

Virtuoso

a person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit.

Hardy

robust; capable of enduring difficult conditions.

Ecology

the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

Ubiquity

the state of being everywhere at once.

Disparagement

negative criticism; belittling.

Gawky

nervously awkward or clumsy, ungainly.

Keypunch Machine

an early data-entry device used to encode information by punching holes into a stiff paper card.

Tedious

too long, slow, or dull; tiresome or monotonous.

Erudition

Quality of having great knowledge.

Invariably

In every case or on every occasion; always.

Affirmative

Agreeing with or consenting to a statement or request.

Piecework

work paid for by how much is produced rather than by the hour.

Autonomy

independence; the ability to make your own decisions.

Divergence

Departure or spread-apart.

Despondent

In low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

Deference

respectful submission to another's authority.

Egalitarian

relating to or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.

Ostracism

exclusion from a society or group.

Subsist

maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level.

Repugnant

extremely distasteful; unacceptable.

Convergence

when two or more things come together at a common point.

Contextual

dependent on surrounding circumstances or conditions.

Niche

a specialized segment of the market for a product and a service.

Litigation

the process of taking legal action or settling disputes in court.

Perpetuate

to cause something to continue indefinitely.

Proximity

nearness in space, time, or relationship.

Retribution

punishment inflicted as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act

Mitigated Speech

communication that is softened to show deference or avoid offense, often to authority

Unequivocal

leaving no doubt; very clear and definite.

Astonished

very surprised or amazed.

Addendum

an extra part added at the end of a document, book, or contract.

Sensationalized

presented in an exaggerated or shocking way to grab attention.

Incapacitated

deprived of strength or power; debilitated.

Contingent

depending on something else.

Honor Culture

a society where personal reputation and respect are highly valued and defended, sometimes through violence.

Hierarchy

a system in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.

Cosmopolitan

familiar with and at ease in many different cultures or countries

Notorious

widely known, typically for a negative reason

Ambiguity

the quality of having more than one meaning or interpretation; uncertainty

Jurisdiction

the legal authority of a court or government agency