Key Terms Group 4

Question 1

acerbic

Answer 1

having sour or bitter taste

Question 2

aggrandize

Answer 2

increase in intensity, power, influence, or prestige

Question 3

alchemy

Answer 3

medieval science aimed at the transmutation of metals

Question 4

amendable

Answer 4

agreeable

Question 5

anachronism

Answer 5

something or someone out of place in terms of historical context

Question 6

contiguous

Answer 6

sharing a border

Question 7

convention

Answer 7

generally agreed upon practice or attitude

Question 8

credulous

Answer 8

tending to believe too readily

Question 9

cynicism

Answer 9

attitude that people are all motivated by selfishness

Question 10

decorum

Answer 10

polite or appropriate conduct or behavior

Question 11

derision

Answer 11

scorn

Question 12

desiccate

Answer 12

dry out or dehydrate

Question 13

dilettante

Answer 13

one with a superficial interested in the arts

Question 14

disparage

Answer 14

slight or belittle

Question 15

divulge

Answer 15

disclose in secret

Question 16

fawn

Answer 16

flatter or praise excessively

Question 17

flout

Answer 17

show contempt for, as in a rule or convention

Question 18

garrulous

Answer 18

pointlessly talkative

Question 19

glib

Answer 19

nonchalant, superficial

Question 20

hubris

Answer 20

overbearing presumption or pride, arrogance

Question 21

imminent

Answer 21

about to happen, impending

Question 22

immutable

Answer 22

not capable of change

Question 23

impetuous

Answer 23

hastily or rashly energetic

Question 24

inimical

Answer 24

damaging

Question 25

intractable

Answer 25

stubborn

Question 26

intrepid

Answer 26

steadfast

Question 27

laconic

Answer 27

using few words

Question 28

maverick

Answer 28

independent individual who does not go along with the group

Question 29

mercurial

Answer 29

characterized by rapid and unpredictable change in mood

Question 30

mollify

Answer 30

calm or smooth, or reduce in emotional intensity

Question 31

neophyte

Answer 31

recent convert

Question 32

obfuscate

Answer 32

to make confusing

Question 33

obstinate

Answer 33

stubborn

Question 34

ostentatious

Answer 34

showy

Question 35

pervade

Answer 35

permeate throughout

Question 36

phlegmatic

Answer 36

calm, sluggish, unemotional

Question 37

plethora

Answer 37

surplus

Question 38

pragmatic

Answer 38

practical rather than idealistic

Question 39

probity

Answer 39

uprightness

Question 40

proclivity

Answer 40

natural predisposition

Question 41

profligate

Answer 41

excessively wasteful

Question 42

propensity

Answer 42

natural inclination

Question 43

prosaic

Answer 43

dull

Question 44

quixotic

Answer 44

foolishly impractical

Question 45

quotidian

Answer 45

occurring or recurring daily

Question 46

rarefy

Answer 46

make or become thin

Question 47

recondite

Answer 47

hidden

Question 48

refulgent

Answer 48

radiant, shy

Question 49

renege

Answer 49

fail to honor a commitment

Question 50

sedulous

Answer 50

diligent, hard working, persistent

Question 51

shard

Answer 51

broken piece of pottery

Question 52

soporific

Answer 52

causing drowsiness

Question 53

sparse

Answer 53

thin, not dense

Question 54

spendthrift

Answer 54

one who spends money wastefully

Question 55

tacit

Answer 55

implicit

Question 56

terse

Answer 56

brief and concise in wording

Question 57

tour

Answer 57

publicly praise or promote

Question 58

trenchant

Answer 58

penetrating, sharply perceptive

Question 59

unfeigned

Answer 59

genuine, not false or hypothetical

Question 60

untenable

Answer 60

indefensible

Question 61

vacillate

Answer 61

waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another

Question 62

variegated

Answer 62

multicolored

Question 63

vigilant

Answer 63

alertly watchful

Question 64

vituperate

Answer 64

use harsh language

Question 65

volatile

Answer 65

fickle, explosive