Honors 1984 Vocab List #2

Catechism

An elementary book summarizing the principles of a religion

Disseminate

Cause to become widely known

Persiflage

Light teasing

Spurious

Plausible but false

Execrate

Curse or declare to be evil or an anathema

Dissipate

Cause to separate and go in different directions

Vilify

Spread negative information about

Cynicism

A pessimistic feeling of distrust

Truncheon

A short, stout club used primarily by police officers

Sanctimonious

Excessively or hypocritically pious

Consign

Give over to another for care or safekeeping

Seditious

Inciting action or rebellion

Abject

Of the most contemptible kind

Penitent

Feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds

Malleable

Capable of being shaped or bent

Torpid

In a condition of biological rest or suspended animation

Sallow

Unhealthy looking

Euphony

Any pleasing and harmonious sounds

Ambivalent

Uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow

Monotonous

Sounded or spoken in a tone unwavering in pitch

Inimical

Tending to obstruct or cause harm

Utopia

Ideally perfect state

Pragmatism

The doctrine that practical consequences determine value

Prevaricate

Be deliberately ambiguous or unclear

Diminution

Change toward something smaller or lower