Vocab H3 Flashcards
ancillary
(adj.) subordinate or supplementary
bowdlerize
(v. ) to remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film, etc.)
syn: censor, expurgate
condescend
(v. ) to come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner
syn: deign
cozen
(v.) to trick; to cheat or swindle
enclave
(n.) an enclosed district, region, or area inhabited by a particular group of people or having a special character
forte
(n.) a person’s strong point; what a person does best
gratis
(adj.) free; (adv.) without charge
icon
(n.) a representation or image of a sacred personage, often considered sacred itself; an image or picture; a symbol; a graphic symbol on a computer monitor display; an object of blind devotion
interstice
(n. ) a small, narrow space between things or parts of things
syn: lacuna
macrocosm
(n. ) the universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something
ant: microcosm
mountebank
(n. ) a trickster or swindler; a charlatan
syn: charlatan
paean
(n. ) a song of praise, joy, or triumph
ant: dirge, lament
persiflage
(n. ) lighthearted joking, talk, or writing
syn: repartee, badinage, raillery
plethora
(n. ) overfullness; superabundance; superfluity
syn: surfeit, glut
ant: paucity, dearth
pragmatic
(adj.) concerned with practical considerations or values; dealing with actions and results rather than with abstract theory; stiff in one’s opinions
quizzical
(adj. ) puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal
syn: equivocal, ambivalent
ant: unequivocal
rapacity
(n. ) inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one’s desires by force, extortion, or plunder
syn: avarice
ant: altruism
schism
(n.) a formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions
therapeutic
(adj. ) having the power to heal or cure; beneficial
syn: salutary, salubrious
ant: deleterious
virtuoso
(n. ) a brilliant performer; a person with masterly skill or technique; (adj.) masterly or brilliant
ant: mediocre
