📖📚List 3.6 Vocabulary

VISIONARY n. &

adj.

Someone who is preoccupied with developing and communicating – and sometimes bringing into

existence—a compelling mental ‘picture’ or ‘dream’ of what 'could be' in the future (or 'once was' in

some lost past). A “visionary” is alert to the possibility of significant change, whether to inspire it, or warn

of it. The term connotes imagination working in a more developed, systematic, impersonal manner than

‘daydreams’ or ‘pipe dreams’ or 'fantasies'—on behalf of ‘humanity’ or ‘the world.’ Term can apply to

inventors, social reformers, artists, prophets, mystics, designers. -- "Daring to think that the rules do not

apply is the mark of a visionary" (Slate). -- "But a good narrative in Silicon Valley means everything, and

Mr. Musk has long played the role of visionary to great effect" (NYT). -- "My wife is good at operations.

I am the visionary one" (WPost). -- "Technology may fall short of visionaries' lofty promises" (WSJ).

[Business managemenat "buzz words": visionary, innovative - 'chief visionary officer']

2 VOYEUR n.

voyeurism n.

voyeuristic adj.

Peeping Tom -- Person who takes pleasure in watching others who are not aware of and would not

appreciate being watched, as opposed to spying as a job for some organization. (A stereotypical voyeur

also lacks confidence in social situations.) -- a voyeuristic society -- "For every exhibitionist, there are a

million voyeurs " (WPost). --"Financial incentives apparently aren't necessary to get people to indulge

their inner voyeur and their inner cattiness" (NYT). -- "Instead, they were trying to get the fire voyeurs to

keep moving" (Slate). --"He was arrested on extortion and video voyeurism charges" (Seattle T). -- "It's a

thriller, a whodunit, a story of loneliness, alcoholism, and voyeurism" (Reuters). [leer]

3 MYSTIC n. & adj.

mysticism n .

mystical adj .

1. NOUN - person who "is subject to" solitary visionary experiences, that they undergo

involuntarily or solicit esoterically, and that present otherworldy messages or images or symbols; 2.

ADJ -- characteristic of or comparable to an involuntary 'visionary' or 'otherworldly' experience perceived as

spiritually and symbolically significant -- Certain medieval religious mystics lived alone in caves for years

on end. -- The Divine Comedy concludes with a mystic vision of a heavenly rose, an image of the Virgin

Mary. -- It has been speculated that various experiences historical cultures have categorized as "mystical"

could very well have been instances of what contemporary psychiatry would categorize as physical or

mental "disorders." -- "Abraham Lincoln said that 'the better angels of our nature' would be summoned by

'the mystic chords of memory" (WPost). -- "In rural areas, poor devotees seek not only spiritual guidance,

but cures for diseases, in rituals performed by mystics and shrine custodians" (NYT). [anchorite, hermit,

vs. mythic]

4 ROBUST adj.

robustness n.

(of some resources or institution or plan, or of someone or some group's actual or metaphorical 'health')

strong, energetic, healthy, durable, dependable, and of ample quantity -- a robust alliance . . . a

robust debate . . . "Factories added jobs at a robust pace over the winter, including 22,000 in February,

the most in a year" (Seattle T). -- "The construction sector remains robust as the government strengthened

investments in infrastructure projects" (NYT). -- "The bones look squatter and more robust than their

counterparts in animals like Troodon" (Scientifc Am).

5 VESTIGE n.

vestigial adj .

[Origin: footprint] a trace, remnant, or other "sign" of something that no longer serves its prior

function or holds its prior significance – last vestiges of -- "The following year, the Bolsheviks

eliminated the last vestiges of the Romanov dynasty" (Time). -- "A vegetable and a starch accompany all

main dishes, an endearing vestige of old-school style" (Seattle T). "But the South's loss still echoes; there

is a vestigial rebellion that children learn even before they ever study the Civil War in school" (LAT). --

"Though long considered an expendable, vestigial organ, the appendix is now being looked at as 'a

storehouse of good bacteria,' Dr. Dunn Said" (NYT). -- "But what if our worst feelings are just vestigial

garbage?" (NYer). [dregs]

VOCAB LIST 3-6 2019-2020 “visionary” to “campy” 2

6 SALIENT adj.& n. [of some element in a larger whole] having a quality that—either literally, or in effect—'leaps out’ or

‘sticks out’ or ‘stands out’ – in a way that is bound to be noticed or noteworthy. [‘Salient’ tends to

get used in analyses or criticisms or summaries of a situation or of speech, or of a person. The term often

gets used to flag whatever a commentator thinks or believes ‘should’ come across as ‘obvious’ or ‘urgent’

or ‘conspicuous’ . . . but ‘just in case’ uses the word ‘salient’ to provide an extra ‘what-to-look-out-for’

heads-up for those who are new to the issue/situation, or who aren’t direct witnesses to what is being

described.] -- a salient fact . . . salient characteristic . . . its / his / her most salient point, feature,

example . . . . . . “Before we get to the details, a few salient facts:” -- “For all Don Jr.’s brash

boisterousness, his single most salient feature is a constant insecurity in his relationship with his father”

(Slate). – “Nate’s most salient quality, besides his talent for solving mysteries, was his taste for

pancakes” (WPost). – “The disconnect between city and country is most salient in the coal industry”

(Fox). – “The places where stories are set become salient landmarks in the geographies of our

imaginations” (NYT). -- “Viral usually means videos that with no salient advantages or support become

must-sees, passed gleefully across social media.” -- "Because his claim to the presidency is founded on his

claimed success as a businessman, his tax and financial records are particularly salient " (WPost).

7 PRODIGIOUS adj. impressive, marvellous, or appalling due to great size, extent, scope, force, etc. -- a prodigious feat --

at a prodigious rate -- a prodigious appetite -- prodigious quantities of -- "a testament to Mr. James's

vaulting ambition and prodigious talent " (NYT). -- "Designed for the 1943 Western 'The Outlaw,' the

cantilevered garment was intended to enhance the prodigious bust of leading lady Jane Russell" (BBC).

[prodigy, prolific, cantilevered, compare with 'ponderous']

8 TENTATIVE adj . hesitant because not certain or confident -- tentative plans to meet on . . . tentative solution . . .

tentative voice -- "A major health crisis . . . interrupts the lead characters' tentative courtship, changing

their lives profoundly" (Slate). -- "Buyers of new construction often find themselves planning and then

readjusting their lives around tentative delivery dates" (WPost). -- "Lawmakers say they have struck a

tentative budget deal, but are keeping it secret until Thursday" (SeattleT).

9 CURSORY adj .

cursorily adv .

engaging with material briefly, quickly, and superficially, without attention to detail -- cursory

reading -- cursory treatment -- After only a cursory glance at the menu, Bob ordered a Caesar salad. --

"And even a cursory search of Facebook unearths networks of extremists using groups to recruit and

organize" (Guardian). -- "But even a cursory review of his resume suggest that what Roof really wanted

was attention" (WPost).

10 TRANSIENT adj.& n. 1. not lasting because just "passing by"; 2. a person who moves from place to place with no permanent

residence -- transient laborer -- transient lifestyle -- transient housemates -- transient mood -- "In cases

involving juveniles, judges are required to consider a number of factors including age and whether the

crime reflects transient immaturity or irreparable corruption" (SeattleT). -- "Avenin concludes that

neither rainbows, comets, meteors nor the aurora borealis surpass the 'transient, exquisite beauty' of a

total solar eclipse" (Nature). -- "Vornado's customers will also pay the county's transient occupancy tax,

as hotel users do" (WPost). [vagabond, itinerant, vagrant, homeless, transit]

11 FORTUITOUS adj.

fortuitously adv .

experienced as an unanticipated accident or coincidence, which turns out to be fortunate, or even

'suitable' or 'desirable,' as if it were a sign of 'fate' or 'grace' -- Fortuitously, just when I ran out of gas, my

friend was driving by and picked me up. -- "The senator's latest star turn arrives at a particularly

fortuitous moment " (NYT). -- "Losing the job in the chicken factory proved [turned out to be] fortuitous "

(Guardian). [serendipity, gratuitous, auspicious]

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12 ASSIDUOUS adj .

assiduously adv .

assiduity n .

assiduousness n.

working with close focus and constant, careful attention; -- work assiduously to -- assiduously avoid --

"Two decades of assiduous efforts turned an implacable killer into a treatable chronic illness" (Slate). --

"Through assiduous documentation, Glassner then showed that the various 'crisis' then striking fear into

the hearts of Americans were not crises at all" (Salon). -- "Just as assiduously as he pursued donors,

Schumer wooed the press" (NYer). [diligent, persevering, implacable]

13 LAUDABLE adj.

laud v .

LAUDABLE: (of some action or motive) worthy of receiving praise (but very often used in concession

phrases/clauses, as a set-up for an alternate perspective) LAUD: praise publicly (often implying 'excessively'

or 'misguidedly') -- a laudable goal . . . a laudable decision -- "Veganism is a laudable lifestyle choice,

but there is something about it that seems to get on people's nerves" (Guardian). -- "Against that standard,

his ethics package contains some laudable protections but falls short in two crucial ways" (WPost). --

"For his part, Schatz seems fully and laudably aware of the tricky territory he's driving into" (Salon). --

"Republicans lauded the measure as common-sense legislation that would protect jobs" (SeattleT). "That

such a travesty would be embraced and lauded on mainstream television is truly a feast of everything that

is wrong with humanity" (Guardian).

14 RAPPORT n.

(pron. "ra-pore")

pleasant, comfortable, mutually trusting mode of personal interaction -- . . . to build rapport

between X and Y . . . foster rapport among . . . close rapport . . . easy rapport -- "But Ms. Midler's

rapport with the audience, and the feedback loop of joy that it causes, is absent from the recording"

(NYT). -- "My goal was to establish that I am not a crazy person, to build up a sense of rapport before

any romantic stuff per se" (WPost). -- "There is no such rapport between the flamboyant Mr. Trump and

the brainy, buttoned-down Ms. Merkel" (NYT). [morale]

15 FECKLESS adj. laughably or shamefully ineffective, incompetent, naive, or half-hearted (often used when the object is

being pitied or teased, often applied to adolescents) -- a feckless youth . . . feckless parent . . . feckless

management . . . feckless Congress -- "Guiseppe Garibaldi, rather than a dashing warrior, emerged as a

waffler, and Victor Emmanuel II, Italy's first king, as a feckless playboy" (NYT). -- "Nuclear fear offered

another familiar figure for 20th century novelists and screenwriters to play with: the warmonger whose

feckless ego dooms us all" (Salon). -- "We may be saved by the fact that the feckless Trump is often the

authoritarian Trump's worst enemy" (WPost). [gormless-lacking intelligent ambition and drive]

16 PONDEROUS adj . unwieldy (difficult to manage or get/see through, burdensome, dull, sluggish) due to excessive volume,

density, or irregular shape [‘ponderous’ usually conveys subjective annoyance; it’s an ‘eye of the

beholder’ term] -- ponderous bureaucracy . . . ponderous process/task . . . ponderous analysis . . .

ponderous pace . . . ponderous furniture . . . ponderous legal jargon -- “Eeyore, the negative,

ponderous donkey character from A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh series.” – “The book is marketed as

‘propulsive,’ but I often found it ponderous” (WTimes). -- “The air was thick and ponderous with

humidity” (Poisonwood Bible). – “When the pathos of his lyrics required a ponderous squish-face, he

still appeared to be grinning” (WPost). – “They [a sports team] were ponderous in possession and

lacked bite in attack” (BBC). -- "a sly twist on the formulaic reporting and ponderous tone of

conventional obituaries" (Sense of Style). [compare with 'prodigious']

17 DILAPIDATED adj.

dilapidation n.

(usually of houses or buildings) reduced to or fallen into serious disrepair, decay, partial ruin, as from

age, wear, or neglect -- "In Philadelphia, lasers beamed from airplanes are used to detect danger roof

damage in dilapidated properties " (WSJ). -- "The Kokomo Inn, dilapidated and beloved, was right there

waiting for him" (WTimes). -- "Dilapidated, forgotten park space sits empty beneath the expressway"

(Slate). [hovel, sleazy, squalid, derelict, ramshackle, tumble-down]

VOCAB LIST 3-6 2019-2020 “visionary” to “campy” 4

18 JADED adj . feeling disillusioned and wearily fed-up from over-exposure to something (often something one was

previously enthusiastic about) -- "Writing for a jaded audience at the sumptuous court of Louis XIV, he

entertained them with the simple stories of the people" (Guardian). -- "Some shoppers are already jaded

about Black Friday deals " (Time). -- "But even the most jaded of industry veterans appeared starry-eyed

when face-to-face with Brangelina" (LAT). -- "'Most people are redeemable,' he said. 'The worst thing a

judge can do is get jaded'" (WTimes).

19 FAUX adj. simulating the apppearance of some more "natural" or "authentic" (and usually more expensive)

material ["faux" is often used an an advertiser's euphemism for "fake-but-still-stylish-and-more

affordable/ethical-than-the-real-thing"] -- a 'faux pas' [do not] -- faux fur -- faux pearls -- the faux version

of -- faux polite -- "The Duchess of Windsor was buried in a Kenneth Jay Lane faux emerald snake

bracelet, per her request" (WPost). -- "There is also the faux Oscar he received at a staff Christmas

party, calling him 'the most likely to start a drug ring'" (NYT). [paste]

20 KITSCH n. pl.

kitschiness n .

kitschy adj .

Mass-produced decorative items or displays that are apt to be perceived by some as egregiously

"cheap," "vulgar,""cheezy," "junky," "touristy" -- and by others as treasured mementos, decorations,

souvenirs ["Kitschiness" is very much a projected "in the (ironic) eye of the beholder" quality. The

designation of something as "kitschy" could either be a condescending insult OR a perception of self-

irony/mockery/sarcasm/playfulness -- it all depends on who views, owns, or controls the "kitsch."] --"rich

or kitsch" -- I love my kitschy plastic Jesus figurine and display it prominently on my dashboard. --

Postmodern art relies heavily on kitsch. -- "It offers not only tidbits about the brand's origin story and

other Shake Shack kitsch, but also, of course, recipes" (WTimes). --"You'll see plenty of wide collars and

gold medallions, but there's little of the cheesy kitsch often associated with the decade" (LAT). [tkotchke]

21 CAMPY adj .

camp n. & adj .

campiness n.

"Camp" and "campy" refer to an ironic-but-celebratory way of perceiving or performing some "excess"

of "style." (Whereas "sarcastic" irony highlights the 'abnormal' or 'excessive' so as to sneer at and criticize

it, "campy" irony highlights the 'abnormal' or 'excessive' so as to laugh-at-yet-celebrate it, playfully.)

Sometimes "camp/campy" implies nostalgia, an affectionately revived performance or display of something

the performer or audience was uncritically "enchanted" by in the past, and now still enjoys, but in a less

serious or naive way. The terms "camp/campy" often apply to performances or displays we enjoy as "so

FABulously bad they're good" or as "laughably cheezy." Sometimes "camp" performances mock themselves

(stealing their critics' fire). Applied more often to stage or film productions or other performative gestures

than to concrete objects. -- a campy cult classic -- classic camp -- a campy skit -- "West emerged as a pop

icon during the 1960s for his role in "Batman," a campy tongue-in-cheek TV adaptation of the superhero

comic book series " (Salon). -- Participants in the annual gay pride parade often dress in campy, over-the-

top costumes -- "Scream Queens the Green Meanie's plan for revenge is set in motion in this campy horror

drama's sophomore-season finale" (LAT). -- "Campy icons like Marilyn Monroe or Mae West " (Seattle T).

-- "Next year's Met gala will be downright campy" (LATimes). [kitschy, cult]