Vocab Weeks 13-16

Front 1

allegory

Back 1

n- a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another

Front 2

apotheosis

Back 2

n- the elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god

Front 3

assiduous

Back 3

adj.- constant; unremitting, hard working

Front 4

blight

Back 4

v- any cause of impairment, destruction, ruin, or frustration

Front 5

burgeon

Back 5

v- to grow or develop quickly; flourish

Front 6

capitulate

Back 6

v- to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms

Front 7

copious

Back 7

adj- large in quantity or number; abundant; plentiful

Front 8

capricious

Back 8

adj- subject to, led by, or indicative of caprice or whim; erratic

Front 9

delineation

Back 9

n- a chart or diagram; sketch; rough draft

Front 10

didactic

Back 10

adj- intended for instruction; instructive

Front 11

enervate

Back 11

v- to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken

Front 12

foment

Back 12

to instigate or foster (discord, rebellion, etc.); promote the growth or development of

Front 13

forbearance

Back 13

n- a refraining from something

Front 14

idiosyncrasy

Back 14

n- a characteristic, habit, mannerism, or the like, that is peculiar to an individual

Front 15

pithy

Back 15

adj- brief, forceful, and meaningful in expression; full of vigor, substance, or meaning; terse; forcible

Front 16

querulous

Back 16

adj- full of complaints; complaining

Front 17

solecism

Back 17

n- a nonstandard or ungrammatical usage, as unflammable and they was

Front 18

sycophant

Back 18

n- a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite

Front 19

unctuous

Back 19

adj- characterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, esp. in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug

Front 20

venerate

Back 20

v- to regard or treat with reverence; revere

Front 21

ancillary

Back 21

adj- subordinate; subsidiary, auxiliary, assisting

Front 22

coalesce

Back 22

v- to grow together or into one body

Front 23

incursion

Back 23

n- a hostile entrance into or invasion of a place or territory, esp. a sudden one; raid

Front 24

antipathy

Back 24

n- a natural, basic, or habitual repugnance; aversion

Front 25

conjure

Back 25

v- to affect or influence by or as if by invocation or spell; to effect, produce, bring, etc., by or as by magic

Front 26

iniquity

Back 26

n- gross injustice or wickedness; a violation of right or duty; wicked act; sin

Front 27

ardor

Back 27

n- great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion

Front 28

convoke

Back 28

v- to call together; summon to meet or assemble

Front 29

assuage

Back 29

v- to make milder or less severe; relieve; ease; mitigate

Front 30

declivity

Back 30

n- a downward slope, as of ground

Front 31

avarice

Back 31

n- insatiable greed for riches; inordinate, miserly desire to gain and hoard wealth

Front 32

denigrate

Back 32

v- to speak damagingly of; criticize in a derogatory manner; sully; defame

Front 33

banal

Back 33

adj- devoid of freshness or originality; hackneyed; trite

Front 34

ebullient

Back 34

adj- overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited

Front 35

bourgeois

Back 35

adj- belonging to, characteristic of, or consisting of the middle class

Front 36

fallow

Back 36

adj- not in use; inactive

Front 37

cadence

Back 37

n- rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words

Front 38

goad

Back 38

v- to prick or drive with, or as if with, a goad; prod; incite

Front 39

centripetal

Back 39

adj- directed toward the center

Front 40

gratis

Back 40

adj- free; gratuitous

Front 41

improvident

Back 41

v- not provident; lacking foresight; incautious; unwary

Front 42

impugn

Back 42

v- to challenge as false (another's statements, motives, etc.); cast doubt upon

Front 43

incendiary

Back 43

adj- used or adapted for setting property on fire

Front 44

lissome

Back 44

adj- lithesome or lithe, esp. of body; supple; flexible

Front 45

maladroit

Back 45

adj- lacking in adroitness; unskillful; awkward; bungling; tactless

Front 46

martinet

Back 46

adj- someone who stubbornly adheres to methods or rules

Front 47

nettle

Back 47

v- to irritate, annoy, or provoke

Front 48

notoriety

Back 48

n- the state, quality, or character of being notorious or widely known

Front 49

occlude

Back 49

v- to shut in, out, or off

Front 50

parley

Back 50

n- an informal conference between enemies under a truce, esp. to discuss terms, conditions of surrender

Front 51

paucity

Back 51

n- smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness

Front 52

pilfer

Back 52

v- to steal, esp. in small quantities

Front 53

quixotic

Back 53

adj- enthusiastic but impractical

Front 54

raconteur

Back 54

v- a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly

Front 55

recant

Back 55

v- to withdraw or disavow (a statement, opinion, etc.), esp. formally; retract

Front 56

sacrosanct

Back 56

adj- extremely sacred or inviolable

Front 57

scintilla

Back 57

n- a minute particle; spark; trace

Front 58

solipsism

Back 58

n- extreme preoccupation with and indulgence of one's feelings, desires, etc.; egoistic self-absorption

Front 59

tacit

Back 59

adj- understood without being openly expressed; implied

Front 60

truncate

Back 60

v- to shorten by cutting off a part; cut short

Front 61

arduous

Back 61

adj- requiring great exertion; laborious; difficult

Front 62

attenuate

Back 62

v- to weaken or reduce in force, intensity, effect, quantity, or value

Front 63

august

Back 63

adj- inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic

Front 64

circumspect

Back 64

adj- watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent

Front 65

commodious

Back 65

adj- spacious and convenient; roomy

Front 66

debase

Back 66

v- to lower in rank, dignity, or significance

Front 67

despot

Back 67

n- any tyrant or oppressor

Front 68

epigram

Back 68

n- any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed

Front 69

equanimity

Back 69

adj- mental or emotional stability or composure, esp. under tension or strain; calmness

Front 70

founder

Back 70

v- to become wrecked; fail utterly

Front 71

inchoate

Back 71

adj- not yet completed or fully developed; rudimentary

Front 72

inculcate

Back 72

v- to implant by repeated statement or admonition; teach persistently and earnestly

Front 73

invective

Back 73

n- vehement or violent denunciation, censure, or reproach

Front 74

militate

Back 74

v- to have a substantial effect; weigh heavily

Front 75

onerous

Back 75

adj- burdensome, oppressive, or troublesome; causing hardship

Front 76

opulence

Back 76

adj- wealth, riches, or affluence

Front 77

palliate

Back 77

v- to relieve or lessen without curing; mitigate; alleviate

Front 78

pedant

Back 78

v- a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning

Front 79

pejorative

Back 79

adj- having a disparaging, derogatory, or belittling effect or force

Front 80

sardonic

Back 80

adj- characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering