Key Terms 2 Flashcards
abate
to lessen in intensity or degree
ameliorate
to make better or more tolerable
ascetic
one who practices rigid self-denial, especially as an act of religious devotion
avarice
greed, especially for wealth
burgeon
to grow rapidly or flourish
bucolic
rustic and pastoral; characteristic rural areas and their inhabitants
cacophony
harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
castigation
severe criticism or punishment
chary
wary; cautious; sparing
contrite
regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
dearth
smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack
demur
to question of oppose
ebullience
the quality of lively of enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
elegy
a mournful poem, especially one lamenting the dead
emollient
soothing, especially to the skin; making less harsh; mollifying; an agent that softens or smoothes the skin
sphemeral
brief, fleeting
esoteric
intended for or understood by a small, specific group
facetious
playful; humorous
furtive
marked by stealth; covert; surreptitious
surreptitious
kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
gregarious
sociable; outgoing; enjoying the company of other people
harangue
to deliver a forceful or angry speech; ranting speech or writing
impecunious
lacking funds; without money
innocuous
harmless; causing no damage
intransigent
refusing to compromise
inveigle
to obtain by deception or flattery
morose
sad; sullen; melancholy
odious
evoking intense aversion or dislike
penurious
penny-pinching; excessively thrifty; ungenerous
pernicious
extremely harmful in a way that is not easily seen or notcied
prodigious
abundant in size, force, or extent, extraordinary
quaff
to drink deeply
redoubtable
awe-inspiring; worthy of honor
squalid
sordid; wretched and dirty as from neglect
supplant
to take the place of; to supersede
torpid
lethargic; sluggish; dormant
