Unit 2 Vocabulary

Front 1

ameliorate

Back 1

(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming
amend, better
S: worsen, aggravate, exacerbate

Front 2

aplomb

Back 2

(n.) poise, assurance, great self confidence; perpendicularity
S: composure, self-possession, levelheadedness
A: confusion, embarrassment, abashment

Front 3

bombastic

Back 3

(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of idea
S: inflated, highfalutin, high-flown, pretentious
A: unadorned, simple, plain, austere

Front 4

callow

Back 4

(adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers
S: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced
A: mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated

Front 5

drivel

Back 5

(n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense
(v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly
S: (n.) balderdash, hogwash, tommyrot; (v) slaver

Front 6

epitome

Back 6

(n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality
S: abstract, digest, model, archetype

Front 7

exhort

Back 7

v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly
S: entreat, implore, adjure
A: discourage, advise against, deprecate

Front 8

ex officio

Back 8

(adj., adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office

Front 9

infringe

Back 9

(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds
S: encroach, impinge, intrude, poach
A: stay in bounds

Front 10

ingratiate

Back 10

v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)
S: cozy up to, curry favor with
A: alienate, humiliate oneself, mortify oneself

Front 11

interloper

Back 11

(n.) one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder
S: trespasser, meddler, buttinsky

Front 12

intrinsic

Back 12

adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part
S: immanent, organic
A: extrinsic, external, outward

Front 13

inveigh

Back 13

(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval
S: rail, harangue, fulminate, remonstrate
A: acclaim, glorify, extol

Front 14

lassitude

Back 14

(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy
S: fatigue, lethargy, torpor, languor
A: energy, vitality, animation, liveliness

Front 15

millenium

Back 15

(n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy
S: chiliad, golden age, prosperity, peace
A: doomsday, day of judgment

Front 16

occult

Back 16

(adj.) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means
(v.) to hide, conceal; eclipse
(n.) matters involving the supernatural
S: (adj.) supernatural, esoteric, abstruse, arcane
A: (adj.) mundane, common, public, exoteric

Front 17

permeate

Back 17

v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through

Front 18

precipitate

Back 18

(v.) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to
(adj.) characterized by excessive haste
(n.) moisture; the product of an action or process
S: (v.) provoke, produce; (adj) reckless, impetuous
A: (adj.) wary, cautious, circumspect

Front 19

stringent

Back 19

(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste
S: stern, rigorous, tough, urgent, imperative
A: lenient, mild, lax, permissive

Front 20

surmise

Back 20

(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess
(n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof
S: (v.) infer, gather; (n) inference, presumption