Key Terms 2 Flashcards
abate
to lessen in intensity or degree
accolade
an expression of praise
adulation
excessive praise; intense adoration
aesthetic
dealing with, appreciative of, or responsive to art or the beautiful
ameliorate
to make better or more tolerable
ascetic
one who practices rigid self denial esp as an act of religious devotion
avarice
greed, esp for wealth
axiom
a universally recognized principle
burgeon
to grow rapidly or flourish
bucolic
rustic and pastoral; characteristic of rural areas and their ingabitants
cacophony
harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance
canon
an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature
castigation
severe criticism or punishment
catalyst
a substance that accelerates the rate of a chemical 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; convincing
complaisance
the willingness to comply with the wishes of others
contentious
argumentative; quarrelsome; causing controversy or disagreement
contrite
regretful; penitent; seeking forgiveness
culpable
deserving blame
dearth
smallness of quantity or number; scarcity; a lack
demur
to question or oppose
didactic
intended to teach or instruct
discretion
cautious reserve or speech; ability to make responsible decisions
disinterested
free of bias or self interest; impartial
dogmatic
expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved or improvable principles
ebullience
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts and feelings
eclectic
composed of elements drawn from various sources
elegy
mournful poem, esp one lamenting the dead