Units 1-3 Vocab

Front 1

PROSELYTE

Back 1

(n.) One who has been converted from one religious belief or opinion to another, a convert

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RIBALD

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(adj.) Language or speech that is vulgar, mocking, coarse, abusive or irreverent

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MORASS

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(n.) An area of low, wet ground or a troublesome situation in which one is trapped or entangled

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QUASI

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(adj.) Resembling in some manner but not actually; (adv.) Partly, somewhat, or to some degree

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RAILLERY

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(n.) Good-natured teasing or ridicule,

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CHIMERICAL

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(adj.) Highly unrealistic or imaginary or improbable

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VIGNETTE

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(n.) A brief description or literary sketch; A picture or illustration that fades away at the edges; A decorative design or illustration used on title or chapter pages in a book

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NOISOME

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(adj.) Very offensive or disgusting, particularly to the sense of smell; Something harmful or injurious to one's health

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HIERARCHY

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(n.) A system in which things or people are ranked above one another

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BELLWETHER

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(n.) One that serves as a leader or indicates future trends

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EFFETE

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(adj.) Lacking energy or vigor and worn out and unable to produce

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LITURGY

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(n.) A ritual of public worship, such as in a religious service

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HIDEBOUND

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(adj.) Stubbornly prejudiced, narrow-minded or inflexible, especially in opinions

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MIRAGE

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(n.) An illusion that has no substance or reality, usually seen in the desert or at sea

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POLTROON

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(n.) A complete coward

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ADJUNCT

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(n.) Something added to another but not essential to it; (adj.) Joined or connected to another thing, usually in a subordinate or auxiliary position

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SUPINE

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(adj.) Lying on one's back with frontside upward; Listless; Apathetic

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FAIT ACCOMPLI

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(n.) A deed or fact that is already done and seemingly cannot be reversed

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OBLIVIOUS

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(adj.) Forgetful; Lacking consciousness or awareness of

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CATERWAUL

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(v.) To howl or have an argument that sounds like a cat in heat; (n.) A shrill, noisy howl or cry

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POLARIZE

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(v.) To cause division and concentration on two opposing or contrasting opinions

Front 22

MOUNTEBANK

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(n.) Any scammer or pretender who sells quack medicines; (n.) A charlatan; (n.) A quack

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PERSIFLAGE

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(n.) Frivolous or flippant bantering talk or writing

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SCHISM

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(n.) A split or division into factions, as within religious organizations or a group

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AEGIS

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(n.) Support; (n.) Protection; (n.) Endorsement

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CONDESCEND

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(v.) To come down or lower oneself voluntarily to be on equal terms with inferiors

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PLETHORA

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(n.) A superabundance; (n.) An excess

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RAPACITY

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(n.) The act or practice of extorting or exacting by oppressive injustice; (n.) greediness

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CLAQUE

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(n.) People hired to applaud a performance or a performer

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MINUSCULE

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(adj.) Very small or tiny; (n.) A letter written in lowercase

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ICON

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(n.) An image or likeness, sometimes of sacred, religious figures or sometimes as symbols

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PRAGMATIC

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(adj.) Dealing or concerned with the practicality of facts or actual occurrences; (adj.) Sensible

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OBFUSCATE

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(v.) To confuse or obscure or make unclear

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APPRISE

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(v.) To give notice to, orally or written; (v.) To inform

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BIBULOUS

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(adj.) Given to or fond of drink, usually alcohol; (adj.) Sponge-like

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SANGUINE

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(adj.) A reddish or ruddy complexion; (adj.) Habitually cheerful, optimistic or hopeful

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ELEEMOSYNARY

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(adj.) Funded by charity; (adj.) Pertaining to charity or alms

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VERISIMILITUDE

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(n.) Appearing to or having the semblance of truth, reality or likelihood

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QUIZZICAL

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(adj.) Queer; (adj.) Odd; (adj.) Amusing

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MELEE

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(n.) A confused fight or struggle among a few; (n.) Confusion and turmoil

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MICROCOSM

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(n.) A little or smaller world; (n.) A model representing the larger unit, such as the world or society

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ANCILLARY

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(adj.) Of secondary importance or in addition to the primary

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VIRTUOSO

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(n.) A master with skill and technique in a particular art, such as music or performance; (adj.) Having supreme mastery or skill

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LEXICON

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(n.) A wordbook or dictionary; (n.) Vocabulary unique to a group, person, field or subject

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FORTE

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(n.) A strong point of a person; (n.) That which a person excels in

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COZEN

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(v.) To deceive or mislead by tricking; (v.) To cheat

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SOLECISM

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(n.) An ungrammatical or nonstandard usage of language; (n.) A violation of etiquette or good manners

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PAEAN

Back 48

(n.) A fervent expression of joy or praise, like a song

Front 49

LACHRYMOSE

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(adj.) Inclined to shed tears easily; (adj.) Mournful

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PURVIEW

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(n.) The range of vision, insight, or comprehension; (n.) Legally, the purpose or limits of a statute

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BOWDLERIZE

Back 51

(v.) To remove or alter parts of a work, such as a book or movie, considered vulgar or offensive

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MACROCOSM

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(n.) The world or universe as a whole; (n.) The complete or total structure of a thing

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INTERSTICE

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(n.) A space, especially a small or narrow one, between things

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INDIGENOUS

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(adj.) Native, coming from that country or region

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GRATIS

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(adv.) Without charge or payment; (adj.) Complimentary or free

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THERAPEUTIC

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(adj.) Having or exhibiting healing powers; (adj.) Curative

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PATERNALISM

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(n.) The attitude or practice of controlling and managing others similar to how a father would interact with his children

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VASSAL

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(n.) A person allowed to work the land of a feudal lord but then owing the lord allegiance or homage; (n.) A slave or servant; (adj.) Compliant and obedient to authority, subservient

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ENCLAVE

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(n.) An area, territory or region distinct from the surrounding territory because of its people, characteristics or isolation

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DERACINATE

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(v.) To uproot or pull out by the roots; (v.) To displace from one's native or accustomed environment