Vocab List 7 Flashcards
abominal
something despised or abhorred; extreme loathing
aboriginal
native
adjourn
to suspend a meeting to a future time
adjunct
something added to or connected with something else; an assistant
allegiance
loyalty
allegory
a symbolic story with morals or spiritual meanings
annuity
an annual allowance or income
anomaly
irregularity; aberration; deviation
appropriate
to take without permission
appurtenance
something extra; an appendage; an accessory
assail
to attack vigorously
assert
to claim strongly; to affirm
axiom
self-evident truth
bacchanal
a drunken revelry or orgy
bivouac
a temporary encampment, especially for soldiers
blanch
to turn pale; to cause to turn pale
bulwark
a wall for a defense fortification
bureaucracy
inflexible administration
catalyst
reactant
categorical
unconditional
circumnavigate
to sail or travel all the way around
circumscribe
to restrict
compendium
summary
competent
capable
congeal
to solidify
congenial
agreeably suitable
converse
opposite
convex
curved outward
crux
the central point; the essence
cryptic
mysterious
deft
skillful
defunct
no longer in effect; no longer in existance
derogatory
disapproving
desiccate
to dry out
discursive
rambling from one topic to another, usually aimlessly
disdain
arrogant scorn; contempt
dogmatic
arrogantly assertive
doldrums
low spirits; a state of inactivity
electorate
the voters of an election
elegy
a mournful poem or other piece of writing; a mournful piece of music
entail
to cause or involve by necessity or as a consequence
entity
something that exists; a distinct thing
exacting
extremely demanding
exalt
to raise high
exuberant
highly joyous or enthusiastic; overflowing; lavish
exult
to rejoice
fledgling
inexperienced or immature
flee
to run away
gaffe
a social blunder; an embarrassing mistake; a faux pas
galvanize
to startle into sudden activity; to revitalize
hedonism
a lifelong pursuit of pleasure
hegemony
leadership
impecunious
without money; penniless
impede
obstruct; hinder
incongruous
not harmonious
incorrigible
incapable of being reformed
inimitable
impossible to imitate; incomparable; matchless; the best
injunction
court order
intricate
complicated; sophisticated; having many parts or facets’
intrigue
a secret scheme; a crafty plot
latent
hidden; present but not visible
laud
to praise
mania
crazed; excessive excitement; insanity; delusion
manifest
visible; evident; clear
mode
method of doing; type; manner; fashion
modulate
to reduce or regulate; to lessen the intensity of
notorious
famous for something bad
novel
new; original
ostracize
to shun; to shut out
oust
to expel or remove from a place or position occupied
pathos
that which makes people feel pity or sorrow
patina
surface discoloration caused by age and oxidation
philistine
smugly ignorant person
phlegmatic
calm or indifferent; not easily roused to excitement
precipitous
steep
preclude
to prevent
profess
to declare
proficient
thoroughly competent
pummel
to beat or thrash with or as if with the fists
punctilious
meticulously attentive to detail; scrupulously exact
raucous
stridently loud; harsh; rowdy
reactionary
ultraconservative; right-wing; backward-thinking
repartee
a quick, witty reply; witty, spirited conversation full of quick, witty replies
repercussion
consequence
rife
occurring frequently; widespread; common; swarming
rigorous
strict
sect
a small religious subgroup or religion; any group with a uniting theme of purpose
secular
having nothing to do with religion
sordid
morally vile; filthy; squalid
sovereign
supreme ruler; monarch
sublime
awesome
subordinate
lower in importance
tacit
implied
taciturn
naturally not talkative
touchstone
standard
tout
to brag publicly about
utilitarian
pragmatic
utopia
ideal society
vitriolic
caustic
vivacious
lively; animated; full of pep
