Vocab Ch. 9-12 pt. 2 Flashcards
cautionary
Offering or serving as a warning.
constrain
To confine, inhibit, or hold back by force or necessity.
flotilla
A fleet of boats or small ships.
gossamer
- Thin, sheer fabric resembling gauze.
2. A fine, filmy substance made of strands of cobweb.
ignominous
Marked by, deserving, or causing shame or disgrace.
incur
To bring upon oneself something undesirable, such as a debt.
liquidate
- To settle the affairs of a business; to convert into cash.
- To get rid of; to kill or destroy.
magnate
An important, often wealthy, person prominent in a large industry or business.
misnomer
A name that does not fit.
onerous
Burdensome; oppressive.
pandemonium
A state or place of great confusion or uproar.
quixotic
Romantic and idealistic, but impractical.
tenacious
Holding fast; persistent in adhering to something valued or habitual.
vestige
A trace of something that once was present.
zephyr
A light, gentle breeze.
attest
To declare or be evidence of something as true, genuine, or accurate.
axiom
A statement or principle that requires no proof because its truth is obvious.
churlish
Lacking good manners; rude, impolite.
concoct
To make up, prepare, or invent.
derivative
- Something that grows out of or results from an earlier form or condition.
- Based on what has gone before; lacking originality.
differentiate
- To see the difference; to distinguish.
2. To be or make different.
disparage
To criticize in a negative, disrespectful manner.
dissipate
- To break up and spread out so thinly as to disappear; to scatter or be scattered.
- To spend or use foolishly.
esoteric
Not generally known or understood; familiar to only a relatively small number of people.
olfactory
Relating to the sense of smell.
plethora
Too great a number; an excess.
refurbish
To make like new; to renovate.
secrete
- To produce and give off.
2. To place so as to be hidden from view; to conceal.
vagary
(usually plural) A departure from the normal, expected course; a whim or unpredictable action.
volatile
- Evaporating quickly.
2. Changing readily; explosive; unpredictable.
agrarian
Having to do with farming or agriculture.
burgeon
To grow and expand rapidly; to flourish.
cataclysm
A sudden and violent change; a catastrophe.
culinary
Having to do with cooking.
denigrate
To attack the reputation of; to criticize in a derogatory manner.
gourmet
A person who likes fine food and is a good judge of its quality.
gradiloquent
Using lofty or pompous speech or expression.
hybrid
- The offspring of two animals or plants of different species or varieties.
- Anything that is of mixed origin or composition.
manifold
Having many different kinds, forms, or parts.
palatable
Acceptable or pleasing, especially to the sense of taste.
panacea
Something that is supposed to cure all ills or difficulties; a cure-all.
plebian
Of or pertaining to the common people; common; unrefined.
scourge
- Something that causes great pain and suffering; a social evil.
- To punish severely, especially by whipping; to devastate.
stalemate
A halt in a struggle because both sides are equally strong and neither side will give in; a deadlock.
temperate
Mild, moderate; restrained.
aftermath
A consequence or result, often a negative one.
aphorism
A short statement of truth or principle; an adage.
catharsis
A releasing of the emotions, often through the arts, that brings about spiritual renewal or a relieving of tension.
cohort
- A group that is moving or working together.
2. One who assists another, especially in a dubious or criminal activity; an accomplice.
culpable
Deserving blame or censure.
diabolical
Devilish; wicked or evil.
enormity
- The state or quality of being monstrous or outrageous.
2. The state or quality of being huge, immense.
gibe
- To utter taunting, sarcastic words.
2. A taunting, scornful remark.
innocucous
Harmless; unlikely to offend.
necessitate
To require; to make necessary.
odyssey
- A long, adventurous journey.
2. An intellectual or spiritual quest.
partisan
- A strong supporter or advocate.
- An armed fighter opposed to an occupying army.
- Strongly biased in favor of a particular party, cause, or position.
posterity
A person’s descendants; future generations.
premediated
Fully planned beforehand; deliberate.
scurrilous
Vulgar; coarsely abusive.