My Kinsman, Major Molineaux Vocab

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ambiguous

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am·big·u·ous (m-bgy-s)
adj.
1. Open to more than one interpretation: an ambiguous reply.
2. Doubtful or uncertain: "The theatrical status of her frequently derided but constantly revived plays remained ambiguous" Frank Rich.

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approbation

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ap·pro·ba·tion (pr-bshn)
n.
1. An expression of warm approval; praise.
2. Official approval.

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ascend

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as·cend (-snd)
v. as·cend·ed, as·cend·ing, as·cends
v.intr.
1. To go or move upward; rise. See Synonyms at rise.
2. To slope upward.
3. To rise from a lower level or station; advance: ascended from poverty to great wealth; ascend to the throne.
4. To go back in time or upward in genealogical succession.
v.tr.
1. To move upward upon or along; climb: ascended the mountain.
2. To succeed to; occupy: ascended the throne upon the death of her father.

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decorum

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de·co·rum (d-kôrm, -kr-)
n.
1. Appropriateness of behavior or conduct; propriety: "In the Ireland of the 1940's ... the stolidity of a long, empty, grave face was thought to be the height of decorum and profundity" John McGahern.
2. decorums The conventions or requirements of polite behavior: the formalities and decorums of a military funeral.
3. The appropriateness of an element of an artistic or literary work, such as style or tone, to its particular circumstance or to the composition as a whole.

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despondency

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de·spon·den·cy (d-spndn-s)
n.
Depression of spirits from loss of hope, confidence, or courage; dejection

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domicile

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dom·i·cile (dm-sl, -sl, dm-)
n.
1. A residence; a home.
2. One's legal residence.
v. dom·i·ciled, dom·i·cil·ing, dom·i·ciles
v.tr.
1. To establish (oneself or another person) in a residence.
2. To provide with often temporary lodging.
v.intr.
To reside; dwell.

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edifice

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Get a t-shirt of "edifice"ed·i·fice (d-fs)
n.
1. A building, especially one of imposing appearance or size.
2. An elaborate conceptual structure: observations that provided the foundation for the edifice of evolutionary theory.

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endow

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en·dow (n-dou)
tr.v. en·dowed, en·dow·ing, en·dows
1. To provide with property, income, or a source of income.
2.
a. To equip or supply with a talent or quality: Nature endowed you with a beautiful singing voice.
b. To imagine as having a usually favorable trait or quality: endowed the family pet with human intelligence.
3. Obsolete To provide with a dower.

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impertinent

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im·per·ti·nent (m-pûrtn-nt)
adj.
1. Exceeding the limits of propriety or good manners; improperly forward or bold: impertinent of a child to lecture a grownup.
2. Not pertinent; irrelevant. See Synonyms at irrelevant.

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inebriation

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in·e·bri·ate (n-br-t)
tr.v. in·e·bri·at·ed, in·e·bri·at·ing, in·e·bri·ates
1. To make drunk; intoxicate.
2. To exhilarate or stupefy as if with alcohol.
adj. (-t)
Intoxicated.
n. (-t)
An intoxicated person.

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infernal

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in·fer·nal (n-fûrnl)
adj.
1.
a. Of or relating to a lower world of the dead.
b. Of or relating to hell: infernal punishments; infernal powers.
2. Fiendish; diabolical: infernal instruments of war.
3. Abominable; awful: the infernal racket of the jackhammers

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inscrutable

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in·scru·ta·ble (n-skrt-bl)
adj.
Difficult to fathom or understand; impenetrable. See Synonyms at mysterious.

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jaunty

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jaun·ty (jônt, jän-)
adj. jaun·ti·er, jaun·ti·est
1. Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk.
2. Crisp and dapper in appearance; natty.
3. Archaic
a. Stylish.
b. Genteel.

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oblique

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o·blique (-blk, -blk)
adj.
1.
a. Having a slanting or sloping direction, course, or position; inclined.
b. Mathematics Designating geometric lines or planes that are neither parallel nor perpendicular.
2. Botany Having sides of unequal length or form: an oblique leaf.
3. Anatomy Situated in a slanting position; not transverse or longitudinal: oblique muscles or ligaments.
4.
a. Indirect or evasive: oblique political maneuvers.
b. Devious, misleading, or dishonest: gave oblique answers to the questions.
5. Not direct in descent; collateral.
6. Grammar Designating any noun case except the nominative or the vocative.
n.
1. An oblique thing, such as a line, direction, or muscle.
2. Nautical The act of changing course by less than 90°.

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peal

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peal (pl)
n.
1. A ringing of a set of bells, especially a change or set of changes rung on bells.
2. A set of bells tuned to each other; a chime.
3. A loud burst of noise: peals of laughter.
v. pealed, peal·ing, peals
v.intr.
To sound in a peal; ring.
v.tr.
To sound loudly and sonorously.

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petty

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pet·ty (pt)
adj. pet·ti·er, pet·ti·est
1. Of small importance; trivial: a petty grievance.
2. Marked by narrowness of mind, ideas, or views.
3. Marked by meanness or lack of generosity, especially in trifling matters.
4. Secondary in importance or rank; subordinate. See Synonyms at trivial.
5. Law Variant of petit.

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plaintive

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plain·tive (plntv)
adj.
Expressing sorrow; mournful or melancholy.

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predilection

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pred·i·lec·tion (prdl-kshn, prd-)
n.
A partiality or disposition in favor of something; a preference.

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prodigious

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pro·di·gious (pr-djs)
adj.
1. Impressively great in size, force, or extent; enormous: a prodigious storm.
2. Extraordinary; marvelous: a prodigious talent.
3. Obsolete Portentous; ominous.

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propriety

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pro·pri·e·ty (pr-pr-t)
n. pl. pro·pri·e·ties
1. The quality of being proper; appropriateness.
2. Conformity to prevailing customs and usages.
3. proprieties The usages and customs of polite society.

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protrusion

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pro·tru·sion (pr-trzhn)
n.
1.
a. The act of protruding.
b. The state of being protruded.
2. Something that protrudes.

PROTRUDE:pro·trude (pr-trd)
v. pro·trud·ed, pro·trud·ing, pro·trudes
v.tr.
To push or thrust outward.
v.intr.
To jut out; project. See Synonyms at bulge.

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quell

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quell (kwl)
tr.v. quelled, quell·ing, quells
1. To put down forcibly; suppress: Police quelled the riot.
2. To pacify; quiet: finally quelled the children's fears.

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superfluous

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su·per·flu·ous (s-pûrfl-s)
adj.
Being beyond what is required or sufficient.

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taciturn

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tac·i·turn (ts-tûrn)
adj.
Habitually untalkative. See Synonyms at silent.

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tempestuous

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tem·pes·tu·ous (tm-psch-s)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or resembling a tempest: tempestuous gales.
2. Tumultuous; stormy: a tempestuous relationship.

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variegated

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var·i·e·gat·ed (vâr--gtd, vâr-g-, vr-)
adj.
1. Having streaks, marks, or patches of a different color or colors; varicolored: "If they recall the Colosseum . . . it is only as a showcase for cats more variegated than any fevered artist's mind could imagine" Michael Mewshaw.
2. Distinguished or characterized by variety; diversified.

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vivid

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viv·id (vvd)
adj. viv·id·er, viv·id·est
1. Perceived as bright and distinct; brilliant: a vivid star.
2.
a. Having intensely bright colors: a vivid tapestry.
b. Having a very high degree of saturation: a vivid purple.
3. Presented in clear and striking manner: a vivid account of the incident. See Synonyms at graphic.
4. Perceived or felt with the freshness of immediate experience: a vivid recollection of their childhood.
5. Active in forming lifelike images: a vivid imagination.