Cloud Atlas Vocab P18-64

Front 1

cannonade (n)
[kan-uh-neyd]

Back 1

an attack, as of invective or censure, suggestive of cannon fire; barrage.

Usage: Language is powerless to describe the fury of this cannonade.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cannonade

Front 2

venal (adj)
[veen-l]

Back 2

willing to sell one's influence, especially in return for a bribe; open to bribery; mercenary

Usage: The investigations are ongoing, but at this point it is clear that venal self-interest has been widespread.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/venal

Front 3

chagrin (n)
[shuh-grin]

Back 3

a feeling of vexation, marked by disappointment or humiliation.

usage: The real action, much to their chagrin, takes place elsewhere.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chagrin

Front 4

pernicious (adj)
[per-nish-uhs]

Back 4

causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful: pernicious teachings; a pernicious lie.

usage: Food price inflation is pernicious as the poor tend to spend a large fraction of their household incomes on food.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pernicious

Front 5

denude (v)
[dih-nood]

Back 5

to make naked or bare; strip

usage: The storm completely denuded the trees.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/denuded

Front 6

obstreperous (adj)
[uhb-strep-er-uhs]

Back 6

resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.

usage: Not because you are trying to be churlish or obstreperous about it, but because you are not allowed.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/obstreperous

Front 7

clement (adj)
[klem-uhnt]

Back 7

mild or merciful in disposition or character; lenient; compassionate

usage: A clement judge reduced his sentence.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/clement

Front 8

resplendent (adj)
[ri-splen-duhnt]

Back 8

shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid

usage:troops resplendent in white uniforms; resplendent virtues.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/resplendent

Front 9

markish (adj)
[maw-kish]

Back 9

characterized by sickly sentimentality; weakly emotional; maudlin.

usage: He was sympathetic but not mawkish--a difficult balance to strike.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mawkish

Front 10

scarper (v)
[skahr-per]

Back 10

to flee or depart suddenly, especially without having paid one's bills.

usage: the duo scarpered from the restaurant

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scarpered

Front 11

taciturn (adj)
[tas-i-turn]

Back 11

inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation.

usage: Taciturn, blunt, gruff-and armed-Brown had become a symbol of the emerging holy crusade against slavery.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Taciturn

Front 12

prig (n)
[prig]

Back 12

a person who displays or demands of others pointlessly precise conformity, fussiness about trivialities, or exaggerated propriety, especially in a self-righteous or irritating manner.

usage: And then take a string of euphemisms so nasty that they would occur only to an aging, isolated, lecherous prig.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/prig

Front 13

truculent (adj)
[truhk-yuh-luhnt]

Back 13

fierce; cruel; savagely brutal.

usage: If monetary policy seems indifferent to the economy, then fiscal policy is downright truculent.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/truculent

Front 14

enmity (n)
[en-mi-tee]

Back 14

a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism.

usage: The exercise was excruciating, given the enmity and distrust that existed between the opposing sides.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/enmity

Front 15

pauper (n)
[paw-per]

Back 15

a person without any means of support, especially a destitute person who depends on aid from public welfare funds or charity.

usage: Waiving the fee for applications by a licensed funeral director for custody of the body in pauper burial cases.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pauper

Front 16

cosset (v)
[kos-it]

Back 16

to treat as a pet; pamper; coddle.

usage: Don't cosset the child, it will spoil him.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cossets

Front 17

irascible (adj)
[ih-ras-uh-buhl]

Back 17

easily provoked to anger; very irritable

usage: an irascible old man.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Irascible

Front 18

trice (n)
[trahys]

Back 18

a very short time; an instant

usage: It would be naive to urge or expect either country to become a full-blooded democracy in a trice.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/trice