Hit Parade Group 2 Flashcards
abate
to lessen in intensity or degree
accolade
an expression of praise
adulation
excessive praise; intense adoration
aesthetic
dealing with, apprecaitive of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
ameliorate
to make better or more tolerable
ascetic
one who practices rigid self-denial, usually as an act of religious devotion
avarice
greed, esp for wealth
axiom
universally recognized principle
burgeon
to grow rapidly or flourish
bucolic
rustic and pastoral, charactertics of rural areas and their inhabitants
cacophony
harsh, jarring, discordant sound
canon
an established set of principles or code of laws
castigation
severe criticism or punishment
catalyst
reaction without itself changing; a person or thing that causes change
caustic
burning or stinging; causing corrosion
chary
wary; cautious; sparing
cogent
appealing forcibly to the mind or reason
complaisance
the willingness to comply with the wishes of others
contentious
argumentative, quarrelsome, causing controversy
contrite
regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
culpable
deserving blame
dearth
smallness of quantity or number
demur
to question or oppose
didactic
intended to teach or instruct
discretion
cautious reserve in speech; ability to make responsbile decision
disinterested
free of bias or self-interest
dogmatic
expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles
ebullience
the quality of lively or enthisastic expression or thoughts and feelings
eclectic
composed of elements drawn from various sources
elegy
a mournful poem, esp one lamenting the dead