Vocab Semester 2 Flashcards
chide
v. to express disapproval of; scold
expound
v. to make detailed statemnt (often followed by “on”)
erudite
adj. educated, learned or scholarly
morose
adj. gloomy or ill-humored, as in a person or a mood
mercurial
adj. constantly changing; volatile; erratic
chagrin
v. to embarass and ennoy; mortify
castigate
v. to criticize or reprimand severely
apathetic
adj. lacking feelings; showing little or no emotions
reproach
v. to find fault with, blame
ascertain
v. to find out definitely; determine with certainty
strident
adj. harsh shrill, grating sound or chamber
reticent
adj. reluctant to speak; reserved
maudlin
adj. foolishly sentimental; overly emotional
tacit
adj. understood without being openly expressed; implied
contrition
n. deeply felt remorse
illusory
adj. deceptive or misleading
transitory
adj. short-lived; temporary
laconic
adj. expressing much in few words
confound
v. to astound or perplex; bewilder; confuse
terse
adj. neatly or effectively concise
sagacity
n. wisdom; the ability to make good judgements
slander
v./n. to say something untrue to damage soneone’s reputation
confer
v. to bestow upon as a gift honor, favor, etc.
lucid
adj. easily understood; completely intelligible or comprehensible
wrath
n. strong, stern or fierce anger; ire
avarice
n. insatiable greed for riches
proselytize
v. to preach to and/or try to convert someone
piety
n. religious devotion; a reverence for God
sloth
n. laziness
rudimentary
adj. basic; fundamental
doldrums
n a dull listless, depressed mood; low spirits
pejorative
adj. having derogatory, disparaging or belittling effect
surly
adj. sullenly ill-tempered or rude
hubris
n. excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance
penitent
adj. feeling or expressing sorrow for wrongdoing or sinning
sanctimonious
adj. making hypocritical show of religious devotion
covetous
adj. jealously eager for the possession of something
libel
v./n. to write something untrue to damage soneone’s reputation
gluttony
n. excessive eating or drinking; over-indulgence
kinetic
adj. related to or caused by motion
frenetic
adj. frantic; frenzied
boisterous
adj. rough and noisy; rowdy
vociferous
adj. making an outcry, clamour or loud noise
ephemeral
adj. lasting a very short time (with emotions and feelings)
bombastic
adj. obnoxiously loud and pretentious
empathy
n. feeling the same emotion as someone else
despondent
adj. feeling profound gloom; depressed
symapthy
n. understanding and/or supporting the same emotion as someone
vilify
v. to speak ill of; defame; scathing
illustrious
adj. highly distinguished; renonwned; famous
loquacious
adj. overly wordy, verbose
absolve
v. to release from blame, sin, or obligation
vitriolic
adj. severely bitter or caustic; scathing
peremptory
adj. leaving no opportunity for debate or denial, decisive
reprisal
n. an act or instance of retaliation
florid
adj. excessively ornate; flowery
erratic
adj. having no certain of definitie course; unpredictable
tenet
n. a fundamental belief
crestfallen
adj. dejected, pessimistic or dishartened
entreat
v. to ask a peson earnestly; beg and plead with.
austere
adj. grave; sober; solemn; serious
nonchalant
adj. cooly unconcerned, indifferent or unexcited; casual
admonish
v. to caution or advise against something; to scold
dissemble
v. to give false or misleading appeareance to; conceal the truth
antipathy
n. a feeling of intense dislike or hatred
lasciviousness
n. lustfulness
impetuous
adj. impulsive; liable to act without consideration
parochial
adj. narrow minded; of or relating to a church parish
affable
adj. pleasantly easy to approach and talk to; warmly polite
garrulous
adj. excessively talkative in a rambling manner
agnostic
n. one who is skeptical about the existence of God
disparage
v. to belittle someone; to damage their reputation
dilatory
adj. tending to delay or procrastinate; tardy
indolence
n. laziness
lethargy
n. the state of being drowsy, dull and unenergetic
listless
adj. having or showing little interest in anything; indifferent
phlegmatic
adj. sluggish; not easily excited to action or displaying emotion
sedentary
adj. accustomed to sit or rest a great deal
stupor
n. state of reduced sensibilities
torpid
adj. slow, dull, apathetic
expiate
v. to atone for; make amends or reparations for
squalid
adj. foul and repulsive, as from lack of cleanliness
enigma
n. a person, thing, or situation that is mysterous or puzzling
indigenous
adj. originating in and characteristic of a particular region, native
innate
adj. existing in one from birth; inborn
intrinsic
adj. belonging to a thing by its very nature; essential
inherent
adj. existing in someone or something as a permanent element, trait.
inveterate
adj. habitual
cavalcade
n. a procession of people on horseback, in cars, etc.
tepid
adj. moderately warm; lukewarm
beset
v. to trouble or harass constantly; to attack from all sides
pensive
adj. deeply or seriously thoughtful, often with a tinge of sadness
aloof
adj. at a distance, especially in feeling or interest
supercilious
adj. displaying arrogant pride, scorn, or indifference
dogged
adj. persistent in effort; stubbornly tenacious
dogmatic
adj. unyielding in an arrogant manner; stubbornly opinionated
fervent
adj. intense passion
ardent
adj. intensely devoted, eager or enthusiastic
zeal
n. extreme or fanatical devotion
recalcitrant
adj. resisting authority or control; disobedient
tenacious
adj. keeping a firm or forceful grip; persistent
trenchant
adj. deeply rooted
goad
v. to prick or prod; incite
demur
v. to raise objections or show reluctance; object
vagabond
n. a person with no fixed home; a wanderer
wane
v. to decrease in strength, intensity
abhor
v. to detest with extreme aversion; loathe
conundrum
n. a riddle or a puzzling question or problem
quandry
n. a state of uncertainty, expecially as to what to do; a delimma
dubious
adj. doubtful; questionable
capricious
adj. fickle; subject to whim; erratic
ambivalent
adj. having mixed feelings about someone or something
ambiguous
adj. having more than one meaning or interpretations
stymie
v. to hinder, block or thwart
nebulous
adj. vague, indistinct or unclear
impunity
n. exemption or immunity from punishment
auspicious
adj. promising success; favorable
petulant
adj. irritable, impatient, or sullen in a peevish way
malaise
n. a feeling of unease or depression
