LIT WEEKLY WORDS

acolyte: a person who assists in some religious services by carrying out minor duties; who attends or assists; a follower.

usurp: To take over; to seize or use something without authority

quintessence: someone or something that is a classic, most perfect and/or typical example of quality or class.

portentous: foreboding; threatening; sinister; momentous.

dirge: funeral song; death march

dole: lamentation; sadness

visage: the face or facial expression of a person

denote: to indicate; to mark; to signal; to mean

chimera: i. In figurative use, derived from the mythological meaning, "chimera" refers to an unrealistic, or unrealisable, wild, foolish or vain dream, notion or objective.

(you do not need to necessarily know the following definitions, but the first is a good allusion to know)

ii. In origin, the Chimera refers to was a monstrous fire-breathing hybrid creature composed of different animal parts. Typically, it is depicted as a lion with a goat's head protruding from its back and a tail ending with a snake's head. Essentially, a chimera can be any hybrid creature.

iii. In human genetics, a chimera is an organism or tissue that contains at least two different sets of DNA, most often originating from the fusion of as many different zygotes

importune: to insistently beg; plead

cacophony: a harsh discordant mixture of sounds

fetters: chains or shackles attached to the ankles

whet: to sharpen; to stimulate

superfluous: extra; beyond what is needed

Incensed: angered; infuriated

cudgel: to beat with a heavy club

prate: to talk idly; to chatter

perdition: eternal damnation; hell

aloof: distant; indifferent; unapproachable

eponymous: i. (of a person) giving their name to something

ii. (of a thing) named after a particular person

(typically used to avoid repetition)

absolve: to clear of guilt or free from a promise or responsibility.

coalesce: to grow old together; to unite; to form a whole

declaim: to recite something in the style of a public speech; to speak in a loud, theatrical way

delineate: to describe vividly and in detail; to draw an outline of; represent by drawing.

demagogue: a leader who seeks power by appealing to people’s emotions and prejudices by making false claims.

sedulous: completed with careful perseverance; diligent

dissent: the expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held

hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially expressed.

germane: pertinent and fitting

candid: truthful and straightforward

duplicity: deceitfulness; double-dealing, deceptive

esteem: respect and admiration, typically for a person; to respect and admire

fastidious: very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail; very concerned about matters of cleanliness.

pompous: affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important

felicity: intense happiness; a particularly effect feature of work of literature or art.

pragmatic: dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations

charlatan: one who falsely claims knowledge or ability

denizen: an inhabitant, resident, or frequenter of a place.

imbibe: to consume by drinking; to absorb or take in mentally

clandestine: kept secret or done secretively, especially illicit

cede: give up (power or territory)

prolific: (of a plant, animal, or person) producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring; present in large numbers or quantities; plentiful

cognizant: having knowledge or being aware of

savant: a person with detailed knowledge in a specialized field.

vendetta: a blood feud; a prolonged and bitter feud.

nefarious: very wicked

credo: a strongly held belief; a guide to one’s actions

respite: a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.

ambiguous: i. (of language) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning.

ii. unclear or inexact because a choice between alternatives has not been made.

nihilism: a viewpoint that denies any meaning or value to life

decry: to criticize strongly; to denounce

chasten: to correct or improve by discipline; to cause to be more careful or restrained.

lachrymose: tearful; tending to induce tears; melancholic

unscrupulous: having or showing no moral principles; not honest or fair

preternatural: beyond what is normal or natural; incapable of being explained or understood.

sundry: of various kinds; several; various items not important enough to be mentioned individually.

ubiquitous: present, appearing, or found everywhere

zeal: great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.

scintillating: sparkling or shining brightly; brilliantly and exciting clever or skillful

reproach: express criticism towards; the expression of disapproval or disappointment.

veneer: a pleasant appearance, or polite way of behaving that is not sincere

umbrage: offense or annoyance

restitution: a paying back for what has been lost or damaged

placate: to make (someone) less angry or hostile

asinine: extremely stupid or foolish

luminous: full of or shedding light; bright or shining, especially in the dark; (of a color) very bright, harsh to the eye.

atonement: reparation for a wrong or injury; amends for wrongdoing; (in religious contexts) reparation or expiation for sin; reconciliation.

camaraderie: a spirit of trust and goodwill among people closely associated in an activity or endeavor.

sublime: of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe; (the state of being sublime)

convergence: an act or instance of converging came together

haughty: disdainfully proud

imprint: impress or stamp (a mark or outline) on a surface or body; ZOOLOGY:(of a young animal) come to recognize (another animal,person, or thing) as a parent or other object of habitual trust.

precarious: not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse; dependent on chance; uncertain

maim: wound or injure (someone) so that part of the body is permanently damaged

callous: showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others

gallows: a structure, typically of two uprights an a crosspiece, for the hanging of criminals.