List 2 Flashcards
abate
to lessen in intensity; reduce
accolade
an expression of praise
adulation
excessive praise; intense adoration; kudos
aesthetic
dealing with, responsive to art or the beautiful
ameliorate
to make better; improve
ascetic
one who practices rigid self-denial; austere
avarice
greed
axiom
universally recognized principle; maxim
bucolic
rustic and pastoral; uncouth(Lacking Good Manners)
burgeon
to grow rapidly or flourish
cacophony
harsh, discordant sound; vociferous
canon
an established set of principles or code of laws, often religious in nature
castigation
severe criticism or punishment; vituperation
catalyst
substance that accelerates the rate of chemical reaction without itself changing
caustic
burning or stinging; causing corrosion; acerbic
chary
wary; cautious
cogent
logically concrete and clear
complaissance
the willingness to comply with the wishes of the others
contentious
argumentative; quarrelsome
contrite
regretful; seeking forgiveness
culpable
deserving blame
dearth
scarcity; paucity
demur
to question or oppose
didactic
intended to teach or instruct
discretion
ability to make responsible decisions; cautious reserve in speech
disinterested
free of bias or self-interest; impartial
dogmatic
expressing a rigid opinion based on unproved principles
ebullience
the quality of lively or enthusiastic expression of thoughts or feelings
eclectic
composed of elements drawn from various sources
elegy
mournful poem