Spring Vocabulary Words

Front 1

agnostic

Back 1

unknown. of or relating to the belief that the existence of any ultimate reality is unknown and probably unknowable

Front 2

allusion

Back 2

an implied or indirect reference especially in literature. the act of making an indirect reference to something

Front 3

altercation

Back 3

a noisy heated angry dispute

Front 4

amiable

Back 4

friendly present

Front 5

annul

Back 5

To say officially that something is no longer valid. To make legally void

Front 6

formidable

Back 6

very powerful or strong. very difficult to deal with. large or impressive in size or amount

Front 7

portend

Back 7

to give an omen or anticipatory sign of.

Front 8

surfeit

Back 8

an overabundant supply. an intemperate or immoderate indulgence in something. disgust caused by excess

Front 9

mausoleum

Back 9

usually stone building with placed for entombment of the dead above ground. a large gloomy building or room

Front 10

peremptory

Back 10

putting an end to or precluding a right of action, debate, or delay. expressive of urgency or command

Front 11

beseech

Back 11

to bef for urgently or anxiously. to request earnestly

Front 12

precedent

Back 12

prior in time, order, arrangement, or significance

Front 13

sordid

Back 13

very bad or dishonest. very dirty

Front 14

unscrupulous

Back 14

not honest or fair: doing things that are wrong, dishonest, or illegal

Front 15

vindicate

Back 15

to show that someone should not be blamed for a crime. to show that is correct, true, or reasonable.

Front 16

ineffable

Back 16

incapable of being expressed in words. not to be uttered

Front 17

lethargy

Back 17

abnormal drowsiness. the quality or state of being lay, sluggish, or indifferent

Front 18

misanthropy

Back 18

a hatred or distrust of humankind

Front 19

mundane

Back 19

of, relating to, or characteristics of the world. characterized by the practical transitory, and the ordinary

Front 20

forte

Back 20

the part of a sword or foil blade that is between the middle and the hilt. one's strong point

Front 21

unmitigated

Back 21

not lessened. being so definitely what is stated as to offer little chance of change or relief

Front 22

plebeian

Back 22

a member of the Roman plebs. one of the common people

Front 23

urbane

Back 23

polite and confident. fashionable and somewhat formal

Front 24

connoisseur

Back 24

one who understands the details, technique, or principles of an art and is competent to act as a critical judge. one who enjoys with discrimination

Front 25

expedient

Back 25

suitable for achieving a particular end in a given circumstance. characterized by concern with what is opportune

Front 26

jargon

Back 26

the language used for a particular activity or by a particular group of people

Front 27

precipitous

Back 27

very steep. happening in a very quick and sudden way. done too quickly and without enough though or planning

Front 28

transcendent

Back 28

going beyond the limits of ordinary experience. far better or greater than what is usual

Front 29

pinnacle

Back 29

a high mountain top. the best or most important part of something. the point of greatest success or achievemet

Front 30

precipitate

Back 30

to cause something to happen quickly or suddenly. to become separated from liquid especially by a chemical process

Front 31

recant

Back 31

to publicly say that you no longer have an opinion or belief that you once had

Front 32

renaissance

Back 32

the period of European history between the 14th and 17th centuries when there was a new interest in science and in ancient art and literature especially in Italy

Front 33

pedagogue

Back 33

teacher, schoolmaster; especially : a dull, formal, or pedantic teacher

Front 34

docile

Back 34

easily taught. easily led or managed

Front 35

expiation

Back 35

the act of making atonement. the means by which atonement is made

Front 36

poise

Back 36

to hold (something) in a balanced and steady position

Front 37

urban

Back 37

of or relating to cities and the people who live in them

Front 38

vex

Back 38

to bring trouble, distress, or agitation to. to bring physical distress to

Front 39

scurrilous

Back 39

said or done unfairly to make people have a bad opinion of someone

Front 40

spurious

Back 40

not genuine, sincere, or authentic: based on false ideas or bad reasoning

Front 41

stereotype

Back 41

to believe unfairly that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same

Front 42

terse

Back 42

brief and direct in a way that may seem rude or unfriendly

Front 43

transient

Back 43

not lasting long: staying somewhere only a short time

Front 44

contingency

Back 44

an event (as an emergency) that may but is not certain to occur

Front 45

furtively

Back 45

done in a quiet and secret way to avoid being noticed

Front 46

ponderous

Back 46

very boring or dull: slow or awkward because of weight and size

Front 47

trenchant

Back 47

very strong, clear, and effective

Front 48

urchin

Back 48

a usually poor and dirty child who annoys people or causes minor trouble

Front 49

virulent

Back 49

full of hate or anger: extremely or excessively harsh or strong: extremely dangerous and deadly and usually spreading very quickly

Front 50

censure

Back 50

a judgment involving condemnation. the act of blaming or condemning sternly an official reprimand