hard vocab words
savoir vivre A familiarity and ease with polite society
savoir faire The Skill of saying and doing just the right thing in social situations
poltergeist (n.) pōltərˌgīst
A ghost that supposedly causes noisy disturbances in the environment.
zeitgeist (n.) tsītˌgīst
The mood of a particular time period as captured by ideas and
culture.
schadenfreude (n.) SHädənˌfroidə
Delight taken in another’s misfortune.
bildungsroman (n.) bildo NGzrōˌmän
A coming-of-age story.
burlesque (n.) bərˈlesk
An exaggerated imitation of something, typically in a dramatic work.
pastiche (n.) paˈstēSH
A mixture of elements that typically don’t go together.
archipelago (n.) ärkəˈpeləˌgō
A cluster of islands.
salvo (n.) salˌvō
A simultaneous discharge of guns, often used figuratively to mean a
verbal attack.
imbroglio (n.) imˈbrōlyō
A complicated (and embarrassing) situation or mess.
littoral (adj.) lidərəl
Located along the shoreline.
manifesto (n.) manəˈfestō
A document describing the aims of a group or organization.
ruffian (n.) rəfēən
A person inclined to violence and criminal behavior.
dilettante (n.) diləˈtänt
Someone who develops an interest in an area of art or music without
being a true expert.
cognoscenti (n.) känyəˈSHentē
Those who are well versed in a particular subject.
karma (n.) kärmə
In Hinduism and Buddhism, the determination of one’s fate by one’s
actions.
mantra (n.) mantrə
An oft-repeated phrase or slogan.
avatar (n.) avəˌtär
The embodiment of a certain idea in a person.
pariah (n.) pəˈrīə
An outcast.,
wanderlust (n.) wändərˌləst
A strong and constant desire to travel.
cosmopolitan (adj.) käzməˈpälətən
Comfortable and familiar with many different cultures.
insular (adj.) ins(y)ələr
Closed off from the rest of the world, unfamiliar with other cultures.
provincial (adj.) prəˈvin(t)SH(ə)l
Narrow-minded, unexposed to different cultures or ideas.
jaunt (n.) jônt
A journey taken for pleasure.
parochial (adj.) pəˈrōkēəl
Having a narrow or limited perspective.
junket (n.) jəNGkət
An extravagant trip, usually funded by the government or some other
entity.
sedulous (adj.) sejələs
Hardworking and attentive.
restive (adj.) restiv
Restless, agitated.
peruse (v.) pəˈro z
To read carefully.
punctilious (adj.) pəNG(k)ˈtilēəs
Extremely careful about details, to the point of being fussy.
equivocate (v.) əˈkwivəˌkāt
To be intentionally vague and misleading.
predicament (n.) prəˈdikəmənt
A difficult situation that isn’t easy to escape.
prepossessing (adj.) prēpəˈzesiNG
Attractive and charming.
gratuitous (adj.) grəˈt(y)o ətəs
Unwarranted or uncalled for, given the situation.
intemperate (adj.) inˈtemp(ə)rət
Given to excess, typically with regard to drinking alcohol.
burnish (v.) bərniSH
To make shiny.
quiescent (adj.) kwēˈesnt
Describing a state or period of inactivity.
redress (v.) rəˈdres
To make right or correct some wrongdoing.
remiss (adj.) rəˈmis
Negligent, derelict, lackadaisical, or neglectful.
preeminent (adj.) prēˈemənənt
The best of its kind.
mannerism (n.) manəˌrizəm
A way of speaking or behaving that is specific to an individual.
placid Tranquil, c
rambunctious
Out of control and overly excited.
susurrus
A whispering or rustling sound.
murmur (v.) mərmər
To say very softly, almost indiscernibly.
raucous (adj.) rôkəs
Loud and unruly.
hubbub (n.) həbəb
The loud noise caused by a crowd.
obstreperous (adj.) əbˈstrepərəs
Very noisy and out of control.
prudent (adj.) pro dənt
Careful and thoughtful.
wary (adj.) werē
Cautious and alert.
impetuous (adj.) imˈpeCH(o )əs
Acting without forethought, reckless.
heedless (adj.) hēdləs
Reckless.
chary (adj.) CHerē
Careful and cautious.
rash (adj.) raSH
Acting without thinking.
reticent (adj.) retəsənt
Tight-lipped, not offering one’s thoughts freely.
garrulous (adj.) ger(y)ələs
Speaking more than necessary, chatty.
verbose (adj.) vərˈbōs
Using more words than necessary.
taciturn (adj.) tasəˌtərn
Quiet and reserved, brooding.
mince (v.) mins
To not speak directly for fear of offending.
hedge (v.) hej
To not commit oneself fully verbally.
loquacious (adj.) lōˈkwāSHəs
Talkative, long-winded.
palaver
Idle chatter
cornucopia (n.) kôrn(y)əˈkōpēə
A large supply of something desirable.
legion (adj.) lējən
Large in number.
surfeit (n.) sərfət
Too much of something.
glut (n.) glət
An excess.
multitude (n.) məltəˌt(y)o d
A great number.
myriad (n.) mirēəd
An immense number.
plethora (n.) pleTHərə
An excessive number of something.
copious (adj.) kōpēəs
Abundant in number.
paucity (n.) pôsətē
Lack of something.
superfluous (adj.) so ˈpərflo əs
Excessive, nonessential.
wanting (adj.) wän(t)iNG
Lacking, deficient.
dearth (n.) dərTH
Lack, scarcity.
modicum (n.) mädəkəm
A limited quantity.
iota (n.) īˈōtə
An extremely small amount.
extraneous (adj.) ikˈstrānēəs
Nonessential.
retract (v.) rəˈtrakt
To take back a statement or an offer.
assertive (adj.) əˈsərdiv
Willing to advocate for oneself, confident.
repudiate (v.) rəˈpyo dēˌāt
To reject, to renounce.
adamant (adj.) adəmənt
Unyielding, not giving in.
doctrinaire (adj.) däktrəˈner
Sticking to a fixed way of doing something despite changes in
circumstances.
voracious (adj.) vəˈrāSHəs
Having an extremely large appetite.
ascetic (adj.) əˈsetik
Denying oneself simple pleasures, typically for religious reasons.
abstemious (adj.) əbˈstēmēəs
Refraining from drinking or eating too much.
insatiable (adj.) inˈsāSHəb(ə)l
Describing a hunger that cannot be satisfied.
sate (v.) ˈsāt
To satisfy in terms of consuming enough.
gourmand (n.) go rˈmänd
Person who enjoys fine food, typically to excess.
ravenous (adj.) rav(ə)nəs
Extremely hungry, insatiable.
hoodwink (v.) ho dˌwiNGk
To deceive.
charlatan (n.) SHärlədən
Someone who pretends to have knowledge they don’t to hoodwink you.
steadfast (adj.) stedˌfast
Firmly devoted.
bilk (v.) bilk
To cheat or swindle, usually involving money.
ruse (n.) ro z
A clever trick.
bamboozle (v.) bamˈbo zəl
To cheat or deceive.
stalwart (adj.) stôlwərt
Loyal and reliable.
fidelity (n.) fəˈdelədē
Faithfulness, loyalty.