Unit 2 vocabulary

Question 1

ameliorate

Answer 1

to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

Question 2

aplomb

Answer 2

poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity

Question 3

bombastic

Answer 3

pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

Question 4

callow

Answer 4

without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers

Question 5

drivel

Answer 5

saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense

Question 6

epitome

Answer 6

a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

Question 7

exhort

Answer 7

to urge strongly, advise earnestly

Question 8

ex officio

Answer 8

by virtue of holding a certain office

Question 9

infringe

Answer 9

to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

Question 10

ingratiate

Answer 10

to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)

Question 11

interloper

Answer 11

one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder

Question 12

intrinsic

Answer 12

belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part

Question 13

inveigh

Answer 13

to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

Question 14

lassitude

Answer 14

weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

Question 15

millennium (pl., millennia)

Answer 15

a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

Question 16

occult

Answer 16

mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view, not detectable by ordinary means; matters involving the supernatural; to hide, conceal; eclipse

Question 17

permeate

Answer 17

to spread through, penetrate, soak through

Question 18

precipitate

Answer 18

to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to

Question 19

stringent

Answer 19

strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste

Question 20

surmise

Answer 20

to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess, likely idea that lacks definite proof