English Vocab Midterm (Group Knowt)
- extrapolates:: to extend the application of a method or conclusion to an unknown situation
- lambasts:: criticize someone/something harshly
- fantasizes:: indulging in a daydream about something
- impels:: to urge or drive something
- inundates:: to overwhelm someone with things that need to be dealt with
- lampoons:: to publicly criticize by using sarcasm, irony, or ridicule
- moralizes:: to comment on the issue of right and wrong (often with an air of superiority)
- patronizes:: to treat in a way which is meant to be kind/helpful but instead belies one’s feeling of superiority
- postulates:: to suggest the existence of something as the basis of reasoning
- vacillates:: to alternate between different opinions/actions
- certifies:: to attest in a formal statement or to recognize
- confirms:: to establish the truth or correctness of a statement
- typifies:: to be a characteristic/representative example of
- delineates:: to describe/portray something accurately
- substantiates:: to provide evidence to prove the truth of
- connotes:: to imply or suggest something along with the original meaning of a word
- abjures:: to solemnly renounce a belief or , cause, or claim
- entreats:: to ask someone anxiously/earnestly to do something
- expiates:: to atone for guilt or sin
- besieges:: to surround and harass; to surround a place with armed forces to force a surrender
- exhorts:: to strongly encourage or urge
- avouches:: affirm or assert
- requisition:: an official claim laying claim to the use of property, animals, etc.
- expounds:: to present an idea or theory in detail
- piquant:: having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor
- aphoristic:: a brief statement which encapsulates a general principle or lesson i.e. “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
- syllogistic:: characterized by using deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion; logical
- pithy:: concise or forcefully expressive
- prosaic:: having the style/diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty; unromantic
- homespun:: simple and unsophisticated
- sonorous:: (of a voice) imposingly deep and full; rich; imposing
- bombastic:: high-sounding but with little meaning; inflated
- pedantic:: characterized by being overly concerned with minor details (often to an annoying degree)
- pragmatic:: characterized by dealing with things in a sensible, realistic, and reasonable manner
- naturalistic:: characterized by being derived from or studying/imitating nature
- impressionistic:: characterized by being based on subjective, unsystematic reactions
- recondite:: a little known or obscure subject or knowledge
- esoteric:: something which is intended to be understood by only a small number of specialized people
- sensuous:: relating to or affecting the senses rather than the intellect
- neologistic:: a new word, expression, or usage; of a person, one who is a proponent of a new doctrine or belief
- epigrammatic:: in the nature of an epigram; something which is concise, clever, and amusing
- cacophonic:: to have an unpleasant sound
- euphonic:: to have a pleasing or pleasant sound
- torturous:: characterized by or involving or causing excruciating pain or suffering
- austere:: severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance
- obfuscating:: rendering something obscure or unintelligible
- laconic:: (of a person, speech, style of writing) using very few words; often associated with being disinterested
- mellifluous:: (of a voice or words) sweet or musical; pleasant to hear
- spatial:: relating to or occupying space
- bucolic:: related to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life
- kinetic:: relating to or resulting from motion
- kinesthetic:: relating to a person's awareness of the position and movement of the parts of the body
- comely:: pleasant to look at or attractive (typically used when referring to a woman)
- winsome:: attractive or appealing in appearance or character
- adroit:: cleverness or skill
- cadaverous:: resembling a corpse, often through being pale, thin, or bony
- incongrous:: not in harmony; not keeping with the surrounding aspects of something
- ungainly:: (of a person or movement) awkward; clumsy
- invidious:: (of an action or situation) likely to incur resentment or anger in others; unfairly discriminating or unjust
- erudite:: having or showing great knowledge or learning
- unlettered:: poorly educated; illiterate
- puerile:: childishly silly; trivial
- fatuous:: silly and pointless
- inane:: silly; stupid
- temperate:: showing moderation or self-restraint
- abstentious:: self-restraining; not indulging an appetite (especially for food and drink)
- ribald:: lewd in speech, writing, thought, or appearance; referring to such matters coarsely or humorously
- reprobate:: used humorously or affectionately to refer to an unprincipled person
- intemperate:: having or showing a lack of self-control or restraint
- dissolute:: lax in morals; debauched; often promiscuous
- base:: one who is morally degenerate; dishonorable
- recalcitrant:: obstinately uncooperative towards authority figures
- philandering:: one who is readily willing to enter casual intimate relationships with others
- regenerate:: reformed, especially in a moral sense
- agnostic:: one who claims neither belief nor disbelief in God
- profane:: something secular, not religious; not respectful of orthodox religious practice
- carnal:: relating to physical (especially intimate) needs and activities
- unregenerate:: not reforming or showing remorse; obstinately wrong
- contentious:: causing/likely to cause argument
- urbane:: courteous and refined in manner
- convivial:: (of an atmosphere) friendly, lively, and enjoyable
- acrimonious:: (typically of a speech or debate) angry and bitter
- impudent:: not showing respect for another person; impertinent
- rustic:: relating to countryside; rural
- brusque:: abrupt or offhand in speech or manner; curt
- churlish:: rude in a mean-spirited, surly way
- obseqious:: obedient or attentive to an excessive/servile degree
- reticent:: not revealing one’s thoughts or feelings readily
- garrulous:: excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters
- conservative:: averse to change; one who holds conservative values
- vivacious:: attractively lively and animated
- unyielding:: not giving way to pressure; (of an object) hard and solid
- extended metaphor:: metaphor which an author uses across multiple lines, stanzas, paragraphs, etc.; also known as a sustained or conceit metaphor
- novella:: short novel or long short story
- précis: a summary or abstract of a text or speech
- travelogue:: a movie, book, or illustrated lecture about the places visited and experiences encountered by a traveler
- polemic:: strong verbal or written attack on someone or something
- assonance:: in poetry, the repetition of a sound of a vowel in non-rhyming stressed syllables which is discernible
- feminine rhyme:: a rhyme between stressed syllables followed by one or more unstressed syllables (e.g., stocking / shocking, glamorous / amorous .)
- masculine rhyme:: a rhyme of final stressed syllables (e.g., blow / flow, confess / redress ).
- meter:: arrangement of syllables in a poem
- slant rhyme:: a type of rhyme with words that have similar, but not identical sounds
- incremental rhyme:: poem in which a line is repeated in a changed context or with minor changes in the repeated part.
- eye rhyme:: a similarity between words in spelling but not in pronunciation, e.g., love and move.