English II Honors Vocab: Definition + Association

Question 1

Omniscient

Answer 1

Definition: — adj.

1. having infinite knowledge or understanding
2. having very great or seemingly unlimited knowledge

Association: point of view; a god

Question 2

Scrupulous

Answer 2

Definition: — adj.

1. having scruples; having or showing a strict regard for what one considers right; principled.
2. punctiliously or minutely careful, precise, or exact: “a scrupulous performance.”

Association: to pay attention to details; to have moral scruples

Question 3

Nonchalant

Answer 3

Definition: — adj.
coolly unconcerned, indifferent, or unexcited; casual: “His nonchalant manner infuriated me.”

Association: heydays - carefree times

Question 4

Affiliated

Answer 4

Definition: — adj.
being in close formal or informal association; related: “a letter sent to all affiliated clubs; a radio network and its affiliated local stations.”

Association: clubs; professional organizations; (Latin) filia, filiae, f. - daughter

Question 5

Invulnerable

Answer 5

Definition: — adj.

1. incapable of being wounded, hurt, or damaged.
2. proof against or immune to attack: “A strong navy made Great Britain invulnerable.”
3. not open to denial or disproof: “an invulnerable argument.”

Association: citadel; fortress

Question 6

Infallible

Answer 6

Definition: — adj.

1. absolutely trustworthy or sure: “an infallible rule.”
2. unfailing in effectiveness or operation; certain: “an infallible remedy.”
3. not fallible; exempt from liability to error, as persons, their judgment, or pronouncements: “an infallible principle.”

Association: authority figures; papal infallibility

Question 7

Remiss

Answer 7

Definition: — adj.

1. negligent, careless, or slow in performing one’s duty, business, etc.: “He’s terribly remiss in his work.”
2. characterized by negligence or carelessness.
3. lacking force or energy; languid; sluggish.

Association: daydreaming in class

Question 8

Assent

Answer 8

Definition: — v., n.
verb (used without object)
1. to agree or concur; subscribe to (often followed by to): “to assent to a statement”.
2. to give in; yield; concede: “Assenting to his demands, I did as I was told.”
noun:
3. agreement, as to a proposal; concurrence.
4. acquiescence; compliance.

Association: news stations; political/religious views

Question 9

Facile

Answer 9

Definition: — adj.

1. moving, acting, working, proceeding, etc., with ease, sometimes with superficiality: “facile fingers; a facile mind.”
2. easily done, performed, used, etc.: “a facile victory; a facile method.”
3. easy or unconstrained, as manners or persons.
4. affable, agreeable, or complaisant; easily influenced: “a facile temperament; facile people.”

Association: “EASY” button

Question 10

Embark

Answer 10

Definition: — v.
verb (used without object)
1. to board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, as for a journey.
2. to start an enterprise, business, etc.
verb (used with object)
3. to put or receive on board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
4. to involve (someone) in an enterprise.
5. to venture or invest (something) in an enterprise.

Association: Indiana Jones

Question 11

Virulent

Answer 11

Definition: — adj.

1. actively poisonous; intensely noxious: “a virulent insect bite.”
2. Medicine/Medical. highly infective; malignant or deadly.
3. Bacteriology. causing clinical symptoms.
4. violently or spitefully hostile.
5. intensely bitter, spiteful, or malicious: “a virulent attack.”

Association: virus; disease; plague; viral; infection

Question 12

Benefactor

Answer 12

Definition: — n.

1. a person who confers a benefit; kindly helper.
2. a person who makes a bequest or endowment, as to an institution.

Association: Spiderman; heroes; protagonist of a story

Question 13

Pungent

Answer 13

Definition: — adj.

1. sharply affecting the organs of taste or smell, as if by a penetrating power; biting; acrid.
2. acutely distressing to the feelings or mind; poignant.
3. caustic, biting, or sharply expressive: “pungent remarks.”
4. mentally stimulating or appealing: “pungent wit.”

Association: rotten eggs; ammonia; dirty laundry

Question 14

Clemency

Answer 14

Definition: — n.

1. the quality of being clement; disposition to show forbearance, compassion, or forgiveness in judging or punishing; leniency; mercy.
2. an act or deed showing mercy or leniency.

Association: warning

Question 15

Indomitable

Answer 15

Definition: — adj.
that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable: an indomitable warrior.

Association: the human race

Question 16

Altruistic

Answer 16

Definition: — adj.

1. unselfishly concerned for or devoted to the welfare of others (opposed to egoistic ).
2. Animal Behavior . of or pertaining to behavior by an animal that may be to its disadvantage but that benefits others of its kind, often its close relatives.

Association: do-gooder; super heroes

Question 17

Discrepancy

Answer 17

Definition: — n.

1. the state or quality of being discrepant; difference; inconsistency.
2. an instance of difference or inconsistency: “There are certain discrepancies between the two versions of the story.”

Association: lying, false alibi, tall tale; accounting error

Question 18

Repose

Answer 18

Definition: — n., v.
noun
1. the state of reposing or being at rest; rest; sleep.
2. peace; tranquillity; calm.
3. dignified calmness, as of manner; composure.
4. absence of movement, animation, etc.: “When in repose, her face recalls the Mona Lisa.”
verb (used without object)
5. to lie or be at rest, as from work, activity, etc.
6. to lie dead: “His body will repose in the chapel for two days.”
7. to be peacefully calm and quiet: “The sea reposed under the tropical sun.”
8. to lie or rest on something.
9. Archaic. to depend or rely on a person or thing.
verb (used with object)
10. to lay to rest; rest; refresh by rest (often used reflexively).

Association: naps, breaks

Question 19

Dearth

Answer 19

Definition: — n.

1. an inadequate supply; scarcity; lack: “There is a dearth of good engineers.”
2. scarcity and dearness of food; famine.

Association: textbooks at school; food

Question 20

Temerity

Answer 20

Definition: — n.
reckless boldness; rashness

Association: drunk driver; steroids

Question 21

Unfeigned

Answer 21

Definition: — adj.
not feigned; sincere; genuine.

Association: love; saint, Mother Teresa

Question 22

Diffident

Answer 22

Definition: — adj.

1. lacking confidence in one’s own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy.
2. restrained or reserved in manner, conduct, etc.

Association: Definitely NOT Naomi…

Question 23

Truculent

Answer 23

Definition: — adj.

1. fierce; cruel; savagely brutal.
2. brutally harsh; vitriolic; scathing: “his truculent criticism of her work.”
3. aggressively hostile; belligerent.

Association: barbarians; cannibals

Question 24

Chivalrous

Answer 24

Definition: — adj.

1. having the qualities of chivalry, as courage, courtesy, and loyalty.
2. considerate and courteous to women; gallant.
3. gracious and honorable toward an enemy, especially a defeated one, and toward the weak or poor.

Association: knight; King Arthur; gentlemen

Question 25

Plod

Answer 25

Definition: — v., n.
verb (used without object)
1. to walk heavily or move laboriously; trudge: “to plod under the weight of a burden.”
2. to proceed in a tediously slow manner: “The play just plodded along in the second act.”
3. to work with constant and monotonous perseverance; drudge.
verb (used with object)
4. to walk heavily over or along.
noun
5. the act or a course of plodding.
6. a sound of a heavy tread.

Association: elephant; awkward giant

Question 26

Clandestine

Answer 26

Definition: — adj.
characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment, especially for purposes of subversion or deception; private or surreptitious: “Their clandestine meetings went undiscovered for two years.”

Association: spies, CIA, agents; drug-trafficking; assassination of Osama bin Laden

Question 27

Acrid

Answer 27

Definition: — adj.

1. sharp or biting to the taste or smell; bitterly pungent; irritating to the eyes, nose, etc.: “acrid smoke from burning rubber.”
2. extremely or sharply stinging or bitter; exceedingly caustic: “acrid remarks.”

Association: smells: locker room; garbage; dead fish, urinal, diaper

Question 28

Callous

Answer 28

Definition: — adj., v.
adjective
1. made hard; hardened.
2. insensitive; indifferent; unsympathetic: “They have a callous attitude toward the sufferings of others.”
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
3. to make or become hard or callous.

Association: working hard; high school teacher; Simon Cowell

Question 29

August

Answer 29

Definition: — adj.

1. inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic: “an august performance of a religious drama.”
2. venerable; eminent: “an august personage.”

Association: Caesar Augustus; august business tycoons, really important people

Question 30

Quell

Answer 30

Definition: — v.
verb (used with object)
1. to suppress; put an end to; extinguish: “The troops quelled the rebellion quickly.”
2. to vanquish; subdue.
3. to quiet or allay (emotions, anxieties, etc.): “The child’s mother quelled his fears of the thunder.”

Association: police quelling a riot; quell a fire; deans of students

Question 31

Tangible

Answer 31

Definition: — adj., n.
adjective
1. capable of being touched; discernible by the touch; material or substantial.
2. real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary: “the tangible benefits of sunshine.”
3. definite; not vague or elusive: “no tangible grounds for suspicion.”
4. (of an asset) having actual physical existence, as real estate or chattels, and therefore capable of being assigned a value in monetary terms.
noun
5. something tangible, especially a tangible asset.

Association: rewards, payments; anything you can literally get your hands on

Question 32

Trenchant

Answer 32

Definition: — adj.

1. incisive or keen, as language or a person; caustic; cutting: “trenchant wit.”
2. vigorous; effective; energetic: “a trenchant policy of political reform.”
3. clearly or sharply defined; clear-cut; distinct.

Association: review, examination, analysis

Question 33

Abjure

Answer 33

Definition: — v.
verb (used with object), ab·jured, ab·jur·ing.
1. to renounce, repudiate, or retract, especially with formal solemnity; recant: “to abjure one’s errors.”
2. to renounce or give up under oath; forswear: “to abjure allegiance.”
3. to avoid or shun.

Association: juries, formal statements

Question 34

Ruminate

Answer 34

Definition: — v.
verb (used without object; often followed by upon, on, etc.)
1. (of ruminants) to chew (the cud)
2. to meditate or ponder (upon)

Association: major decisions in life; Rodin’s “The Thinker” statue; a cow has a ruminate stomach

Question 35

Tacit

Answer 35

Definition: — adj.

1. understood without being openly expressed; implied: “tacit approval.”
2. silent; saying nothing: “a tacit partner.”
3. unvoiced or unspoken: “a tacit prayer.”

Association: a person who is “taciturn” is characteristically not talkative; approval

Question 36

Nocturnal

Answer 36

Definition: — adj., n.
adjective
1. of or pertaining to the night (opposed to diurnal).
2. done, occurring, or coming at night: “nocturnal visit.”
3. active at night (opposed to diurnal): nocturnal animals.
4. opening by night and closing by day, as certain flowers (opposed to diurnal).
noun
5. Archaic. an astrolabe for telling time at night or for determining latitude by the position of certain stars in reference to Polaris.

Association: owls, bats; nox, noctis, f. - night

Question 37

Quiescent

Answer 37

Definition: — adj.
being at rest; quiet; still; inactive or motionless: “a quiescent mind.”

Association: People; Shakespeare – death

Question 38

Compunction

Answer 38

Definition: — n.

1. a feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain; contrition; remorse.
2. any uneasiness or hesitation about the rightness of an action.

Association: scruples, morals; conscience - knowing right from wrong

Question 39

Elated

Answer 39

Definition: — adj.
very happy or proud; jubilant; in high spirits: “an elated winner of a contest.”

Association: Receiving a much-wanted gift; a 100% on a vocabulary test; high-fives

Question 40

Platitude

Answer 40

Definition: — n.

1. a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.
2. the quality or state of being flat, dull, or trite: “the platitude of most political oratory.”

Association: some commercials; doggerel writing (poor)

Question 41

Exuberant

Answer 41

Definition: — adj.

1. effusively and almost uninhibitedly enthusiastic; lavishly abundant: “an exuberant welcome for the hero.”
2. abounding in vitality; extremely joyful and vigorous.
3. extremely good; overflowing; plentiful: “exuberant health.”
4. profuse in growth or production; luxuriant; superabundant: “exuberant vegetation.”

Association: pep rallies; come from behind victories

Question 42

Applicable

Answer 42

Definition: — adj.
applying or capable of being applied; relevant; suitable; appropriate: an applicable rule; a solution that is applicable to the problem.

Association: class - discussions; real-world applications of material learned in school; internships

Question 43

Facsimile

Answer 43

Definition: — adj., n., v.
noun
1. an exact copy, as of a book, painting, or manuscript.
2. Also called fax. Telecommunications.
a. a method or device for transmitting documents, drawings, photographs, or the like, by means of radio or telephone for exact reproduction elsewhere.
b. an image transmitted by such a method.
3. dropout ( def 5 ) .
verb (used with object)
4. to reproduce in facsimile; make a facsimile of.
adjective
5. Also, fax. Telecommunications.
a. (of an image) copied by means of facsimile: “facsimile mail.”
b. (of a method or device) used to produce a facsimile: “facsimile transmission.”

Association: modems; fax machines

Question 44

Decorum

Answer 44

Definition: — n.

1. dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
2. the quality or state of being decorous; orderliness; regularity.
3. Usually, decorums. an observance or requirement of polite society.

Association: Duchess of Cambridge (Kate Middleton)

Question 45

Duress

Answer 45

Definition: — n.

1. compulsion by threat or force; coercion; constraint.
2. Law. such constraint or coercion as will render void a contract or other legal act entered or performed under its influence.
3. forcible restraint, especially imprisonment.

Association: signing contracts; getting married (72 hour waiting period)

Question 46

Ultimatum

Answer 46

Definition: — n.

1. a final, uncompromising demand or set of terms issued by a party to a dispute, the rejection of which may lead to a severance of relations or to the use of force.
2. a final proposal or statement of conditions.

Association: parents and teenagers about grades and privileges

Question 47

Imbibe

Answer 47

Definition: — v.

1. to drink (esp. alcoholic drinks)
2. literary to take in or assimilate (ideas, facts, etc.): “to imbibe the spirit of the Renaissance”
3. ( tr. ) to take in as if by drinking: “to imbibe fresh air”
4. to absorb or cause to absorb liquid or moisture; assimilate or saturate

Association: liquid (esp. potent potables)

Question 48

Implacable

Answer 48

Definition: — adj.

not to be appeased, mollified, or pacified; inexorable: “an implacable enemy.”

Question 49

Infinitesimal

Answer 49

Definition: — adj., n.
adjective
1. indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute: “infinitesimal vessels in the circulatory system.”
2. immeasurably small; less than an assignable quantity: “to an infinitesimal degree.”
3. of, pertaining to, or involving infinitesimals.
noun
4. an infinitesimal quantity.
5. Mathematics. a variable having zero as a limit.

Association: under a microscope (paramecium)

Question 50

Innocuous

Answer 50

Definition: — adj.

1. not harmful or injurious; harmless: “an innocuous home remedy.”
2. not likely to irritate or offend; inoffensive; an innocuous remark.
3. not interesting, stimulating, or significant; pallid; insipid: “an innocuous novel.”

Association: fun; small misdeeds, some pranks (esp. pranksters)

Question 51

Patent

Answer 51

Definition: — n.

1. the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years.
2. an invention or process protected by this right.
3. an official document conferring such a right; letters patent.
4. the instrument by which the government of the United States conveys the legal fee-simple title to public land.

Association: patent pending; license of licensed professionals (hairdressers, etc.)

Question 52

Prowess

Answer 52

Definition: — n.

1. exceptional valor, bravery, or ability, especially in combat or battle.
2. exceptional or superior ability, skill, or strength: his prowess as a public speaker.
3. a valiant or daring deed.

Association: penchants; best classes in school

Question 53

Stentorian

Answer 53

Definition: — adj.
very loud or powerful in sound: a stentorian voice.

Association: angry crowds; angry coaches; my mother

Question 54

Compassion

Answer 54

Definition: — n., v.
     noun  
1. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. 
     verb (used with object)  
2. Archaic. to compassionate. 

Association: Haiti victims; victims of Hurricane Sandy; volunteer agencies; To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Question 55

Militate

Answer 55

Definition: — v.

1. to have a substantial effect; weigh heavily: His prison record militated against him.
2. Obsolete.
   a) to be a soldier.
   b) to fight for a belief.

Association: miles, militis, m. - soldier; military; strict parents, teachers, or routines

Question 56

Sedate

Answer 56

Definition: — adj., v.
     adjective  
1. calm, quiet, or composed; undisturbed by passion or excitement: a sedate party; a sedate horse.  
     verb (used with object)  
2. to put (a person) under sedation. 

Association: doctors (anesthesiologists); easy-going people

Question 57

Stipulate

Answer 57

Definition: — v.

1. ( tr; may take a clause as object ) to specify, often as a condition of an agreement
2. to insist (on) as a term of an agreement
3. Roman law to make (an oral contract) in the form of question and answer necessary to render it legally valid
4. ( tr; may take a clause as object ) to guarantee or promise

Association: terms and conditions of use

Question 58

Antipathy

Answer 58

Definition: — n.

1. a natural, basic, or habitual repugnance; aversion.
2. an instinctive contrariety or opposition in feeling.
3. an object of natural aversion or habitual dislike.

Association: fear of the dark (instinctive aversion)

Question 59

Asset

Answer 59

Definition: — n.

1. a useful and desirable thing or quality: “Organizational ability is an asset.”
2. a single item of ownership having exchange value.
3. assets.
   a) items of ownership convertible into cash; total resources of a person or business, as cash, notes and accounts receivable, securities, inventories, goodwill, fixtures, machinery, or real estate (opposed to liabilities ).
   b) Accounting. the items detailed on a balance sheet, especially in relation to liabilities and capital.
   c) all property available for the payment of debts, especially of a bankrupt or insolvent firm or person.
   d) Law. property in the hands of an heir, executor, or administrator, that is sufficient to pay the debts or legacies of a deceased person.

Association: “Our assets are frozen!” - A Muppet Christmas Carol; physical assets; personal property

Question 60

Beset

Answer 60

Definition: — v.

1. to attack on all sides; assail; harass: “to be beset by enemies; beset by difficulties.”
2. to surround; hem in: “a village beset on all sides by dense forest.”
3. to set or place upon; bestud: “a gold bracelet beset with jewels.”
4. Nautical . to surround (a vessel) by ice, so that control of the helm is lost.

Association: battles; personal wars; beset by homework!!!