lit vocab unit 4 Flashcards
syn- genial, amicable, cordial
ant- surly, cantankerous, dour, inhospitable
affable
affable
(adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to
aggrandize
(v.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater
syn- augment, amplify, enhance, exalt
ant- reduce, decrease, diminish
aggrandize
amorphous
(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion
syn- formless, unstructured, inchoate
ant- definite, well-defined, clear-cut
amorphous
archetype
(n.) an original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example of a particular type of person or thing
syn- model, prototype, epitome
archetype
aura
(n.) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality
syn- ambience, atmosphere
aura
contraband
(n. ) illegal traffic, smuggled goods
(adj. ) illegal, prohibited
syn- (adj.) bootleg, unlawful
ant- (adj.) legal, lawful, licit
contraband
erudite
(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pendantic
syn- profoundly, educated, well-read
ant- ignorant, uneducated, illiterate
erudite
gossamer
(adj.) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial
((n.) a very thin, light cloth
syn- (adj.) filmy, diapahnous, sheer, airy, feathery, gauzy
ant- (adj.) dense, solid, massive
gossamer
inscrutable
(adj.) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically
syn- impenetrable, incomprehensible, enigmatic
ant- comprehensible, intelligible, penetrable
inscrutable
insular
(adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience
syn- narrow-minded, parochial, provincial
ant- catholic, cosmopolitan, liberal
insular
irrevocable
(adj.) incapable of being changed or called back
syn- unrecallable, unalterable
ant- reversible, changeable
irrevocable
propensity
(n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward
syn- natural bent, proclivity, penchant
ant- natural incapacity or incability
propensity
querulous
(adj.) peevish, complaining, fretful
syn- petulant, irritable
ant- uncomplaining, stoical
querulous
remonstrate
(v.) to argue with someone against something, protest against
syn- reason against, expostulate
remonstrate
repudiate
(v.) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of
syn- disavow, renounce
ant- avow, affirm, aver
repudiate
resilient
(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly
syn- springy, elastic
ant- rigid, stiff, inflexible
resilient
reverberate
(v.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly
syn- rumble, thunder, boom, echo
reverberate
scurrilous
(adj.) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed
syn- obscene, filthy, abusive, vituperative
ant- decorous, seemly, tasteful, dignified
scurrilous
sedulous
(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination
syn- assidious, indefatigable
ant- indolent, listless
sedulous
sleazy
(adj.) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable
syn- inferior, cheesy
ant- superior, first-rate
sleazy
