English Semester 2 Vocab

Belligerent (adj)

hostile and aggressive

Castigate (v)

to subject to severe punishment

Contingency (n)

an event (such as an emergency) that may but is not certain to occur

Defunct (adj)

no longer living, existing, or functioning

Didactic (adj)

intended to teach; having the purpose of imparting a lesson

Evanescent (adj)

soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing

Gaffe (n)

a noticeable mistake

Gratuitous (adj)

excessive; uncalled for by the circumstances; not necessary, appropriate, or justified

Hamper (v)

to interfere with; to impede the natural activity of; to slow another in some way

Inure (v)

to accustom to accept something undesirable

Jeopardize (v)

to put (someone or something) into a situation in which there is a danger of loss, harm, or failure

Loathe (v)

feel intense dislike or disgust for

Modicum (n)

a small amount of something

Nadir (n)

the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization

Ostracize (v)

to exclude (someone) from a society or group

Preclude (v)

to rule out in advance for a specific reason; to make impossible by necessary consequence

Quintessential (adj)

perfectly typical or representative of a particular kind of person or thing

Respite (n)

a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant

Satiate (v)

to satisfy (a desire or an appetite) to the full

Temerity (n)

unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger or opposition