Vocabulary List - All That Glitters

unpretentious: not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance, talent, or culture than is actually possessed; not trying to wow people by pretending to be something one is not.

assuage: to make an unpleasant feeling less strong (to soothe or alleviate); to satisfy an appetite or desire

surreptitiously: in a way that attempts to avoid notice or attention; secretively

contemptuous: scornful or disdainful

inestimable: too great to calculate

amenable: a willingness to agree or cooperate

ostentatious: attracting or seeking to attract attention, admiration, or envy, often by gaudiness or obviousness; overly elaborate or conspicuous

ambivalent: having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

feign: (v.) to give false appearance of; pretend

levity: (n.) humor; the treatment of a serious matter without respect

proximity: (n.) nearness in time, space, or relationship

reproach: (n.) disapproval; (v.) to express disapproval or displeasure

supercilious: (adj.) behaving as though thinking oneself better than others; 

arrogant: (adj.) having an exaggerated sense of one’s importance

paternal: (adj.) characteristic of a father

wistful: (adj.) demonstrating melancholy thoughtfulness; showing vague yearnings/desires

desolate: (adj.) bleakly or depressingly empty and bare

fervent: (adj.) having or displaying a passionate intensity

complacency: (n.) an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself, one’s situation, or one’s achievements

devoid (of): (adj.) entirely lacking something usual or expected

coherence: (n.) the sense of overall understandability; the quality of being logical and complete

peremptorily: (adv.) in a way that does not allow for denial or refusal

corroborate: (v.) to confirm; to help support (a statement, etc.) by providing information or evidence)

oculist: (n.) an eye-doctor (modern-day optometrist or ophthalmologist)

jovial: (adj.) lighthearted cheerfulness and friendliness

pastoral: (adj.) having the simplicity, charm, serenity, or other characteristics generally attributed to rural areas 

regal: (adj.) befitting or resembling a monarch; stately, splendid

apathetic: (adj.) having or showing a lack of interest or concern

discreet: (adj.) appropriately quiet, prudent, or restrained, especially to avoid drawing attention to something that would cause embarrassment

hauteur: (n.) unfriendly or overbearing pride, evidenced by a superior manner

ambiguous: (adj.) open to more than one interpretation

fortnight: (n.) period of two weeks

hors d’oeuvre: (n.) small savory dish typically served as an appetizer

permeate: (v.) to spread throughout something and be present in every part of it

vehemently: (adv.) in a strong, forceful, and emotional way

staid: (adj.) serious, respectable, maybe even boring

notorious: (adj.) famous for a bad reason

florid: (adj.) having a red or flushed complexion

corpulent: (adj.) physically bulky or overweight

elude: (v.) to escape or evade something or someone

convivial: (adj.) friendly, lively, cheerful

malevolence: (n.) the desire to see another person experience pain or distress

apparition: (n.) an appearance, especially of a ghost or ghostlike figure

chasm: (n.) a deep fissure; a profound difference between people, viewpoints, feelings, etc.

poignant: (adj.) arousing deep emotions

subterfuge: (n.) deceit used to achieve one’s goal

sporadic: (adj.) occurring at irregular intervals

punctilious: (adj.) extremely attentive to details

divine retribution: (n.) punishment from a deity in response to sin or crime

rajah: (n.) an Indian king or prince

incredulity: (n.) disbelief or refusal to accept something as true

succulent: (adj.) juicy or rich in desirable qualities (relating to food)

beaux: (n.) boyfriends or admirers

wan: (adj.) pale or weak, often suggesting physical or emotional distress

scornful: (adj.) showing open dislike or contempt

scrutinize: (v.) to examine carefully and critically

disheveled: (adj.) description of a person’s appearance, hair, clothes, etc. as untidy or in disorder

nebulous: (adj.) unclear, vague, or undefined

hue: (n.) a color or shade