English Words 2

1. Ameliorate (v.) – To improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming.

2. Aplomb (n.) – Poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity.

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

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

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

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

7. Exhort (v.) – To urge strongly, advise earnestly.

8. Ex officio (adj., adv.) – By virtue of holding a certain office.

9. Infringe (v.) – To violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds.

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

11. Interloper (n.) – One who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder.

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

13. Inveigh (v.) – To make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval.

14. Lassitude (n.) – Weariness of body or mind, lack of energy.

15. Millennium (n.) – A period of one thousand years; a period of great joy.

16. Occult (adj., v., n.) – (adj.) Secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; mysterious, magical, uncanny. (v.) To hide, cover up; eclipse. (n.) Matters involving the supernatural.

17. Permeate (v.) – To spread through, penetrate, soak through.

18. Precipitate (v., adj., n.) – (v.) To fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height. (adj.) Characterized by excessive haste. (n.) Moisture; the product of an action or process.

19. Stringent (adj.) – Strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste.

20. Surmise (v., n.) – (v.) To think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess. (n.) Likely idea that lacks definite proof.