British Lit Vocab List Two

Front 1

Pretext

Back 1

1. An excuse
2. An effort or strategy intended to conceal something

Front 2

Extricate

Back 2

To release from an entanglement or difficulty; disengage

Front 3

Denounce

Back 3

1. To condemn openly as being evil or reprehensible
2. To accuse formally
3. To give formal announcement of the ending of (a treaty)

Front 4

Obeisance

Back 4

1. A gesture or movement of the body, such as a curtsy, that expresses deference or homage
2. An attitude of deference or homage

Front 5

Demeanor

Back 5

The way in which a person behaves

Front 6

Parenthetical

Back 6

Set off within or as if within parentheses; qualifying or explanatory

Front 7

Infallible

Back 7

Incapable of erring

Front 8

Prosaic

Back 8

1. Consisting or characteristic of prose
2. Matter-of-fact; straightforward
3. Lacking in imagination and spirit; dull

Front 9

Debauchery

Back 9

Extreme indulgence in sensual pleasures

Front 10

Aquiline

Back 10

1. Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an eagle
2. Curved or hooked like an eagle's beak

Front 11

Sinecure

Back 11

A position or office that requires little or no work but provides a salary

Front 12

Truism

Back 12

A self-evident truth

Front 13

Anodyne

Back 13

1. Capable of soothing or eliminating pain
2. Relaxing

Front 14

Pugnacious

Back 14

Combative in nature; belligerent

Front 15

Proprietor

Back 15

One who has legal title to something; an owner

Front 16

Grovel

Back 16

1. To behave in a servile or demeaning manner; cringe.
2. To lie or creep in a prostrate position, as in subservience or humility.
3. To give oneself over to base pleasures

Front 17

Formidable

Back 17

1. Arousing fear, dread, or alarm
2. Inspiring awe, admiration, or wonder
3. Difficult to undertake, surmount, or defeat

Front 18

Impassive

Back 18

1. Revealing no emotion
2. Motionless; still

Front 19

Fecundity

Back 19

1. The quality or power of producing abundantly; fruitfulness or fertility
2. Productive or creative power

Front 20

Inimical

Back 20

1. Injurious or harmful in effect
2. Unfriendly; hostile