Semester 1 Vocab (English) Flashcards
calamity
an event with disastrous consequences
debase
to lower the quality or esteem of something
fallacious
incorrect, misleading
juxtaposition
the act of placing two things next to each other for implicit comparison
sagacity
shrewdness, soundness of perspective
abet
to aid, help, encourage
bard
a poet, often a singer as well
camaraderie
brotherhood, jovial unity
latent
hidden, but capable of being exposed
sanctimonious
giving a hypocritical appearance of piety
abrogate
to abolish, usually by authority
behemoth
something of tremendous power or size
paramount
greatest in importance, rank, character
reciprocate
to give in return
utopia
an imaginary and remote place of perfection
delegate
to hand over responsibility for something
implicit
understood but not outwardly obvious, implied
semaphore
a visual signal
serendipity
luck, finding good things without looking for them
torrid
giving off intense heat, passionate
acrimony
bitterness, discord
coagulate
to thicken, clot
heterogeneous
varied, diverse in character
transgress
to violate, go over a limit
verdant
green in tint or color
affinity
a spontaneous feeling of closeness
anachronistic
being out of correct chronological order
pervasive
having the tendency to spread throughout
speculative
not based in fact
vindictive
vengeful
allay
to soothe, ease
despot
one who has total power and rules brutally
inquisitor
one who inquires, especially in a hostile manner
pillage
to seize or plunder, especially in war
plausible
believable, reasonable
aloof
reserved, distant
coronation
the act of crowning
dialect
a variation of a language
diffuse
to scatter, thin out, break up
frugal
thrifty, economical
anthology
a selected collection of writings, songs, etc
aspire
to long for, aim toward
cosmopolitan
sophisticated, worldly
nurture
to assist the development of
sycophant
one who flatters for self-gain
ruminate
to contemplate, reflect
commendation
a notice of approval or recognition
chide
to voice disapproval
tirade
a long speech marked by hard or biting language
raze
to demolish, level