Vocab

ameliorate

(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

aplomb

(n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity

bombastic

(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

callow

(adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers

drivel

(n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; (v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly

epitome

(n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

exhort

(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly

ex officio

(adj., adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office

infringe

(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

ingratiate

(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)

interloper

(n.) one who moves in where he or she in not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder

intrinsic

(adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part

inveigh

(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

lassitude

(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

millennium

(n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

occult

(adj.) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; (v.) to hide, conceal; eclipse; (n.) matters involving the supernatural

permeate

(v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through

precipitate

(v.) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height, to give distinct form to; (adj.) characterized by excessive haste; (n.) moisture; the product of an action or process

stringent

(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste

surmise

(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof