Vocab List 1

Question 1

husband

Answer 1

verb

use (resources) economically; conserve

Question 2

enervated

Answer 2

adj.

drained of energy; tired

Question 3

peddle

Answer 3

verb

sell

Question 4

procure

Answer 4

verb

get or acquire

Question 5

capricious

Answer 5

adj.

given to sudden & unaccountable changes of mood or behavior

Question 6

fickle

Answer 6

adj.

liable to sudden unpredictable change

Question 7

vacillating

Answer 7

verb

going back and forth (between different opinions or actions)

Question 8

derivative

Answer 8

n.

based on another source

Question 9

trite

Answer 9

adj.

overused and lacking originality or freshness

Question 10

enigmatic

Answer 10

adj.

hard to understand or mysterious

Question 11

fledgling

Answer 11

adj.

young, new, or inexperienced

Question 12

torpid

Answer 12

adj.

sluggish; lethargic

Question 13

lithe and lissome

Answer 13

adj.

thin, supple (flexible), & graceful

Question 14

paean

Answer 14

n.

a song or speech of praise

Question 15

polemic

Answer 15

n.

a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something

Question 16

tirade

Answer 16

n.

a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation

Question 17

panacea

Answer 17

n.

cure-all

Question 18

flagging

Answer 18

adj.

becoming tired or less dynamic; declining in strength

Question 19

hale

Answer 19

adj.

strong and healthy

Question 20

paucity

Answer 20

n.

scarcity

Question 21

dearth

Answer 21

n.

a scarcity or lack of something

Question 22

bald

Answer 22

adj.

plain or blunt

Question 23

tacit

Answer 23

adj.

understood or implied without being stated

Question 24

didactic

Answer 24

adj.

instructive

Question 25

priggish

Answer 25

adj. self-righteously materialistic and superior

Question 26

auspicious

Answer 26

adj. favorable or promising

Question 27

impious

Answer 27

n. irreverence (a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously)

Question 28

punctilious

Answer 28

adj. conscientious; showing great attention to detail or correct behavior

Question 29

ephemeral

Answer 29

adj. short-lived

Question 30

equivocal

Answer 30

adj. questionable; doubtful, uncertain; suspicious

Question 31

omnipotent

Answer 31

adj. all-powerful; almighty or infinite in power, as God

Question 32

recant

Answer 32

v. renounce; take back something said

Question 33

herald(ed)

Answer 33

v. to give news or tidings of; announce; proclaim

Question 34

concomitant

Answer 34

adj. accompanying (often in a subordinate way)

Question 35

unobtrusive

Answer 35

adj. keeping a low profile

Question 36

obsequious

Answer 36

adj. attentive to an excessive degree; groveling; submissive

Question 37

vestigial

Answer 37

adj. residual or leftover

Question 38

sanguine

Answer 38

adj. cheerful & optimistic

Question 39

high-handed

Answer 39

adj. tactlessly (carelessly) overbearing

Question 40

evanescent

Answer 40

adj. fading quickly, short-lived

Question 41

peccadilloes

Answer 41

n. minor faults or sins [small enough that they might be overlooked if the person has other virtues]

Question 42

incendiary

Answer 42

n. bombs used for arson OR n. a person who stirs up conflict

Question 43

menacing

Answer 43

adj. intimidating, ominous; dangerous

Question 44

quixotic

Answer 44

adj. idealistic or unrealistic

Question 45

banal

Answer 45

adj. unoriginal, commonplace

Question 46

sagacious

Answer 46

adj. smart, judicious (wise, thoughtful)

Question 47

verdant

Answer 47

adj. green and lush, like a forest OR adj. new and inexperienced

Question 48

depose

Answer 48

v. force out of power (kings, dictators, etc)

Question 49

facile

Answer 49

adj. easily influenced [describing a person]

Question 50

dulcet

Answer 50

adj. melodious; sweet-sounding, soothing

Question 51

precocious

Answer 51

adj. forward or advanced for one’s age; exceptionally smart, ahead of age in understanding

Question 52

skittish

Answer 52

adj. 1. excitable 2. unpredictable, jittery

Question 53

solicitous

Answer 53

adj. concerned or attentive

Question 54

motley

Answer 54

adj. mixed, varied; composed of various and often incongruent elements

Question 55

ameliorate

Answer 55

v. the process of mitigating or making better

Question 56

circumscribing

Answer 56

v. to enclose or encircle