vocab 27-28

caustic

Definitions: sarcastically biting. acrid
Synonyms: mordant, seathing
POS: Adj
Her criticism was swift, harsh, and notoriously caustic.

contaminant

Definitions: something that causes impurity, defiles or pollutes
Synonyms: pollutant
POS: Noun
A teaspoon of this contaminant in our drinking water may ruin thousands of gallons.

deference

Definitions: courteous going along with the opinions or wishes of another
Synonyms: homage, reverence, respect
POS: Noun
In deference to your request, I will attend your costume party dressed as Queen Victoria.

engrossed

Definition: completely occupied or absorbed
Synonyms: preoccupied
POS: Adj
I was so engrossed in my book that I did not hear what my sister said to me.

fickle

Definitions: likely to change, capricious
Synonyms: inconstant, mercurial, unstable
POS: Adj
The movie-going public is fickle: one minute it wants violence, the next minute it demands romance.

gilded

Definitions: overlaid with a thin covering of gold
Synonyms: prosperous, luxurious, ornate, meretricious, tawdry
POS: Adj Martha's autumn table was festively decorated with gilded leaves and pumpkins.

grandiose

Definitions: impressive, imposing
Synonyms: grand, magnificent, majestic, stately
POS: noun
The grandiose plan for the party included a five-tier champagne fountain and a foot-high cherry cheesecake.

graphic

Definitions: vivid
Synonyms: descriptive
POS: Adj
The graphic depiction of his injuries from the accident made me nauseous.

gravity

Definitions: seriousness, importance
Synonyms: earnestness, sedateness, sobriety, solemnity, staidness
POS: Noun
Only after he was asked to leave the school permanently did he understand the gravity of his infractions.

heterogeneity

Synonyms: disparateness, dissimilarity
Definitions: state of being dissimilar, composition from unlike elements
POS: Noun
The 'Foreign Foods Festival' was essentially a tribute to the class's heterogeneity.

prostration

Definition: a stretching out due to lacking vitality and being overcome
Synonyms: collapse, fatigue, lassitude, tiredness, weariness
POS: Noun
You must drink plenty of water in this heat, or you may suffer from prostration.

recapitulation

Definition: a summary
Synonyms: peroration, summary
POS: Noun
At the end of each chapter is a recapitulation of the important facts and details.

resilient

Definition: ability to return to a former state
Synonyms: supple
POS: Adj
The young man was resilient and able to recover quickly from the illness.

resolute

Definition: characterized by a decided purpose
Synonyms: staunch, steadfast, determined, resolved, faithful, firm
POS: Adj

savant

a scholar, a learned person
POS: Noun
Synonyms: academic, intellectual. philosopher, pundit, sage

stalwart

one who supports a cause with firm partisanship
Synonyms: resolute, strong
POS:Stalwart

steadfastness

quality of being fixed with little chance of moving or changing
Synonyms: resolution, staunchness
POS: Noun

syllabus

Synonyms: conspectus, curriculum, outline, program, schedule, synopsis
Definition: a brief outline of the main points of a text or course of study
POS: Noun

tactile

perceptible by touch; capable of being felt
Synonyms: tangible
POS: Adj

troupe

a company or group--usually theatrical performers
Synonyms: association, cast. crew, ensemble. team
POS: Noun

indigence

poverty
destitution, penury, want
POS: Noun

inception

the beginning of something
Definitions: the beginning of something
POS: noun

jocular

jesting or joking
Synonyms: facetious, jocose, jocund
POS: Adj

nebulous

lacking clarity of feature or sharpness of outline
Synonyms: hazy, indistinct, turbid, clouded
POS: Adj

proclivity

inclination, tendency
Synonyms: leaning, penchant, propensity
POS: Noun

prudent

wise and careful about practical matters
Synonyms: judicious, sage, sane, sapient
POS: Adj

prevalent

generally or widely accepted, current, or practiced
POS:an adjective
Synonyms: prevailing, victorious, dominant

recalcitrant

very stubborn, refusing to obey, unruly
Synonyms: headstrong, intractable, refractory, willful
POS: ADJ

sectarian

a member of a sect that is a faction with extreme beliefs
Synonyms: narrow-minded
POS: Noun

virtuous

having excellent morals, righteous
Synonyms: ethical, noble
POS: ADJ

ambulatory

Definition: able to walk or move around
Synonyms: moving, motile
POS: Adj

archipelago

Definition: a group ofislands
Synonyms: enclave isle islet peninsula reef
POS: Noun

buffoon

Definition: a clown, a silly or stupid person
Synonyms: droll, fool, joker
POS: noun

delineation

Definition: an outline, depiction, portrayal
Synonyms: rendition, representation, sketch
POS: Noun

demagogue

Definition: a person or leader who appeals to passions or prejudices:
Synonyms: agitator, fomenter, incendiary, instigator
POS: Noun

fledgling

Definition: an immature or inexperienced person, a young bird that is ready to fly Synonyms: apprentice, neophyte, novice
Adi/Noun

inculcate

Definition: to teach persistently and carnestly
Synonyms: drill, impart, impress, instill, plant
POS: Adj

malcontent

Definition: a person who is constantly dissatisfied and discontented
Synonyms: complaining, discontented, disgruntled, unsatisfied
POS: Noun

neophyte

Definition: a recent convert, beginner, novice
Synonyms: amateur, apprentice, fledgling, greenhorn, novice, reerut, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro
POS: Noun

parable

Definition: a short fetitious story that has a moral
Synonyms: allegory, fable, lesson, teaching
POS: Noun