Module 2 Vocabulary List

Question 1

aesthetic

Answer 1

adj.
1. Relating to the philosophy or theories of aesthetics.
2.
a. Of or concerning the appreciation of beauty or good taste: aesthetic judgment; the aesthetic appeal of the exhibit.
b. Attractive or appealing: the more aesthetic features of the building.
3. Characterized by a heightened sensitivity to beauty: the poet and his aesthetic friends.
4. Being or relating to a work of art; artistic: The play was an aesthetic success.
5. Informal Conforming to accepted notions of good taste.
6. often Aesthetic Of or characteristic of aestheticism in the arts.

Question 2

chateau

Answer 2

1. A castle or manor house in a French-speaking region.
2. An estate where wine is produced and often bottled, especially in the Bordeaux region of France.
3. A large country house.

Question 3

debacle

Answer 3

n.
1. A sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout.
2. A total, often ludicrous failure.
3. The breaking up of ice in a river.
4. A violent flood.

Question 4

deplore

Answer 4

1. To feel or express strong disapproval of; condemn: “Somehow we had to master events, not simply deplore them” (Henry A. Kissinger).
2. To express sorrow or grief over.
3. To regret; bemoan.

Question 5

deride

Answer 5

To laugh at, speak of, or write about dismissively or contemptuously. See Synonyms at ridicule.

Question 6

flounder

Answer 6

1. To move clumsily or with little progress, as through water or mud. See Synonyms at blunder.
2. To act or function in a confused or directionless manner; struggle: “Some … floundered professionally, never quite deciding what they wanted to do” (Steve Olson). See Usage

Question 7

grievous

Answer 7

griev·ous (grēvəs)
Share:
adj.
1. Causing grief, pain, or anguish: a grievous loss.
2. Serious or dire; grave: a grievous crime.

Question 8

inconsequential

Answer 8

adj.
1. Lacking importance.
2. Not following from premises or evidence; illogical.

Question 9

inevitable

Answer 9

adj.
1. Impossible to avoid or prevent; certain to happen. See Synonyms at certain.
2. Invariably occurring or appearing; predictable: the inevitable changes of the seasons.

Question 10

inscrutable

Answer 10

adj.
Difficult to understand or interpret; impenetrable: “that little creature, whose innocent life had sprung, by the inscrutable decree of Providence … out of the rank luxuriance of a guilty passion” (Nathaniel Hawthorne).

Question 11

insolent

Answer 11

adj.
1. Audaciously rude or disrespectful; impertinent or impudent.
2. Archaic Presumptuous and insulting in manner or speech; arrogant.

Question 12

malodorous

Answer 12

adj.
Having a bad odor; foul.

Question 13

moiety

Answer 13

1. A half.
2. A part, portion, or share.
3. Anthropology Either of two kinship groups based on unilateral descent that together make up a tribe or society.
4. Chemistry A well-defined part of a larger molecule.

Question 14

naive

Answer 14

adj.
1. Lacking worldly experience and understanding, especially:
a. Simple and guileless; artless: a child with a naive charm.
b. Unsuspecting or credulous: naive victims of the scam.
2. Showing or characterized by a lack of sophistication and critical judgment: “this extravagance of metaphors, with its naive bombast” (H.L. Mencken).
3. Not having experienced or been subjected to something, as:
a. Not previously subjected to experiments: testing naive mice.
b. Not having previously taken or received a particular drug: patients naive to antipsychotic medication.
n.
One who is artless, credulous, or uncritical.

Question 15

palate

Answer 15

n.
1. The roof of the mouth in vertebrates having a complete or partial separation of the oral and nasal cavities and consisting of the hard palate and the soft palate.
2. Botany The projecting part on the lower lip of a bilabiate corolla that closes the throat, as in a snapdragon.
3. The sense of taste: delicacies pleasing to the most refined palate.

Question 16

palette

Answer 16

n.
1. The roof of the mouth in vertebrates having a complete or partial separation of the oral and nasal cavities and consisting of the hard palate and the soft palate.
2. Botany The projecting part on the lower lip of a bilabiate corolla that closes the throat, as in a snapdragon.
3. The sense of taste: delicacies pleasing to the most refined palate.

Question 17

parsimony

Answer 17

n.
1. Unusual or excessive frugality; extreme economy or stinginess.
2. Adoption of the simplest assumption in the formulation of a theory or in the interpretation of data, especially in accordance with the rule of Ockham’s razor.

Question 18

progressive

Answer 18

adj.
1. Moving forward; advancing.
2. Proceeding in steps; continuing steadily by increments: progressive change.
3. Open to or favoring new ideas, policies, or methods: a progressive politician; progressive business leadership.
4. Progressive Of or relating to a Progressive Party: the Progressive platform of 1924.
5. Of or relating to progressive education: a progressive school.
6. Increasing in rate as the taxable amount increases: a progressive income tax.
7. Tending to become more severe or wider in scope: progressive paralysis.
8. Grammar Designating a verb form that expresses an action or condition in progress.
9. Music Of or being a style that emphasizes virtuoso technique, rhythmic and melodic complexity, and unconventional forms and instrumentation: progressive rock; progressive jazz.
n.
1. A person who is open to or favors new ideas, policies, or methods, especially in politics.
2. Progressive A member or supporter of a Progressive Party.
3. Grammar A progressive verb form.

Question 19

pungent

Answer 19

adj.
1. Affecting the organs of taste or smell with a sharp acrid sensation.
2.
a. Penetrating, biting, or caustic: pungent satire.
b. To the point; sharp: pungent talks during which the major issues were confronted.
3. Pointed: a pungent leaf.

Question 20

recompose

Answer 20

tr.v. re·com·posed, re·com·pos·ing, re·com·pos·es
1. To compose again; reorganize or rearrange.
2. To restore to composure; calm.

Question 21

repast

Answer 21

n.
A meal or the food eaten or provided at a meal.

Question 22

rhapsody

Answer 22

1. Exalted or excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing.
2. A literary work written in an impassioned or exalted style.
3. A state of elated bliss; ecstasy.
4. Music A usually instrumental composition of irregular form that often incorporates improvisation.
5. An ancient Greek epic poem or a portion of one suitable for uninterrupted recitation.

Question 23

sallow

Answer 23

Of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion.

Question 24

sensuous: adjective

Answer 24

1. Relating to enjoyment of the senses
2. Sensory: direct, sensuous experience of the world

Question 25

surmount

Answer 25

1. To overcome (an obstacle, for example); triumph over.
2. To ascend to the top of; climb: surmount a hill.
   3.
   a. To place something above; top: The lintel was surmounted with a frieze.
   b. To be above or on top of: The church steeple surmounts the square.
3. Obsolete To surpass or exceed in amount.