Unit 2 Vocab Flashcards
ex officio
(adj., adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office
infringe
(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds
callow
(adj.) without feathers; without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise
ameliorate
(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming
bombastic
(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas
ingratiate
(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favorable acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)
epitome
(n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality
aplomb
(n.) poise, assurance, great self confidence, perpendicularity
exhort
(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly
drivel
(n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish aimless talk or thinking; nonsense
(v.) to let saliva flow from mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly
inveigh
(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval
surmise
(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess
(n.) an idea or thought that seems likely but lacks definite proof
intrinsic
(adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part; good for its own sake
occult
(adj.) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means
(v.) to hide, conceal; eclipse;
(n.) matters involving the supernatural
precipitate
(v.) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to;
(adj.) characterized by excessive haste;
(n.) moisture; the product of an action or process
lassitude
(n.) weariness of the body or mind, lack of energy
millenium
(n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy, prosperity, or peace
permeate
(v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through
stringent
(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste
interloper
(n.) an intruder, one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be
the mere fact that we cannot explain at the present time how she was hurt doesn’t mean that she was the victim of some ______ power
occult
“the rash and _____ actions of that young hothead almost cost us the battle, to say nothing of the war,” the general remarked sourly
precipitate
“if you think my training rules are too _____ and confining,” the coach said, “then you probably shouldn’t be a candidate for the team.”
stringent
though fossils show that human beings have been on earth a very, very long time, the earliest written records of their activities date back only about five _____
millenium/millenia
he tries to give the impression of being a true man of the world, but his conduct shows him to be a(n) _____ and somewhat feckless youth
callow
the Vice President of the United States, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense are _____ members of the National Security Council
ex officio
after completing those long grueling exams, I was overwhelmed by a(n) _____ so great that I felt I would never be able to study again
lassitude
we do not know what her motives were, but we may _____ that she was concerned mainly for the child’s well-being
surmise
he has a great deal to say on the subject, but unfortunately most of it is meaningless _____
drivel
we looked up hungrily as the delightful odor of broiled steak and fried onions _____ the room
permeated
