Vocab

consternation

dismay or worry; concern

conundrum

a puzzle or dilemma; a problem

coterie

a small group of people who share interests and associate frequently; a clique

emollient

something softening; soothing to the skin

expiate

to atone, to make amends for

extricate

to release, disentangle

flippancy

disrespect

foist

to pass off as worthy or real

incongruous

incompatible; not harmonious to the situation or surroundings

innocuous

harmless

inveterate

habitual, continuing

plethora

abundance; excess

preamble

a preliminary statement

soluble

easily dissolved

vitriolic

bitterly spiteful; caustic

acme

the highest point

apocryphal

of doubtful origin; fictitious

catharsis

an extremely emotional experience

desiccate

to dry up completely

dissipate

to waste; exhaust

efficacious

effective; producing the desired outcome

ineffable

inexpressible; beyond description

intrinsic

of or relating to the basic nature of a thing; inherent

inundate

to cover with; to be overwhelmed with

kudos

praise, fame, glory

maxim

fundamental principle; rule; familiar statement

putrid

partially decayed or decomposed; having a foul smell

revere

to regard with respect, awe, and adoration

servile

submissive, slavish

superfluous

unneccessary; excessive

abstemious

eating and drinking moderately

archaic

no longer current or applicable; antiquated

dulcet

melodious, pleasant to hear

expurgate

to remove objectionable words from

idyllic

carefree, simple; nearly perfect

iniquity

sin; a wicked or evil act

lithe

supple; graceful in motion

patronizing

to treat in a condescending manner, talk down to

pellucid

transparent; clear

perspicacious

keen, mentally sharp

relegate

to assign

scapegoat

one who bears the blame for an offense

talisman

magical charm for protection

usurp

to take over; to seize power

vacillate

waver; to sway indecisively

anomaly

deviation from the norm; odd or peculiar occurrence

equanimity

stability, calmness

consomme

a clear soup

contemptuous

scornful, haughty

cosmopolitan

worldly, sophisticated

discerning

distinguishing differences, detecting

interminable

tiresome and long

lugubrious

mournful, gloomy

nondescript

having no individuality

propitious

favorable, auspicious

serendipity

a fortunate discovery made by accident

stentorian

extremely loud

vestige

trace, evidence

abjure

to renounce

ubiquitous

occurring everywhere, omnipresent

vernacular

everyday language

zealous

fervent, fanatical

rife

abundant, prevalent

truncate

to shorten

donnybrook

fight, uproar

incantation

charm; recited magical spell

estrange

to alienate

flay

to whip, to remove skin

florid

rosy-colored, reddish

interlocutor

questioner, an on-stage speaker

metamorphosis

transformation or dramatic change

nomenclature

naming system in an art or science

arable

fit for cultivation (land)

brigand

robber, bandit

carte blanche

authority with no bounds

camaraderie

rapport between friends; comradeship

haughty

proud, arrogant

hubris

arrogance resulting from excessive pride

imbroglio

difficult situation

impetuous

impulsive; rash

malinger

to pretend to be ill or injured to avoid work

peregrination

traveling on foot; walking

platitude

cliche

sanctimonious

false piety or righteousness

scullion

a kitchen servant

sectarian

narrowly confined to a particular group

stringent

strict; rigorous

trite

hackneyed; cliched; lacking interest

venerate

to respect, worship, or revere

wrenching

violent, forceful twisting

anecdote

a short account or story

cerebral

relating to the brain; intelligent

churlish

boorish or vulgar; surly

cogent

convincing; clear reasoning

convoluted

intricate, difficult to discern; overlapping

entreat

to ask or petition for; plead

gibberish

nonsense; unintelligible speech

incumbent

obligatory; necessary

inimical

adverse; hostile

livid

angry, furious

lurid

sensational; ghastly

promulgate

to announce; to make known

spurious

false, incorrect

staid

sedate, dignified; proper

surfeit

an excessive amount

allay

to reduce the intensity of; relieve; pacify

ameliorate

to make better, improve

asperity

roughness or harshness; severity

exegesis

an analysis; interpretation of

extradite

to release an accused criminal to another jurisdiction

hypocrisy

two-faced, falseness

inveigh

to protest, oppose

lionize

to honor or celebrate

pander

to act as a go-between; to exploit weaknesses of others

profligate

wasteful; immoral

recalcitrant

stubbornly resistant

renunciation

rejection; abandonment

unimpeachable

beyond doubt; unquestionable

unwieldy

not easily held

vitiate

to reduce the value of; to corrupt or debase

benign

beneficial; favorable

blithe

carefree and lighthearted

bumpkin

an unsophisticated person

corroborate

to make more certain, add evidence to

culpable

blameable, responsible for

frenetic

frenzied

goad

to urge, to prod

indecorous

lacking good taste; improper

indolent

lazy

pervasive

permeating; present throughout

provocative

stimulating; inciting to action

punitive

punishing

recrimination

an accusation made to counter another

soporific

something that induces sleep

toady

a person who flatters; sycophant

circuitous

indirect, roundabout

circumlocution

an unnecessarily wordy or evasive form of expression

deleterious

having a harmful effect; injurious

extenuating

lessening the seriousness of

inchoate

unformed or undeveloped

largesse

generosity

luminous

bright; full of light

majordomo

follower, butler

perambulate

to walk about, stroll

prevaricate

to lie; mislead

propriety

appropriateness

timorous

timid

tremulous

timid; fearful

untenable

incapable of being defended

veneer

any thin, attractive surface layer

bulwark

a wall or embankment for defense

crescendo

a steady increase in intensity or force

disingenuous

crafty, not straightforward

dogged

unrelenting, persistent

etymology

the study of word origin and change

extant

in existence

impresario

producer of entertainment; manager

intransigent

refusing to moderate a position; uncompromising

lachrymose

inclined to shed many tears; mournful

malaise

discomfort; unease

pallid

pale, dull

palpable

able to be handled or touched; obvious

pundit

a critic

requisite

required; important

waive

not enfore a rule; set aside

assiduous

diligent, persistent

condescend

to deal with in a superior way

epiphany

a revelation; sudden knowledge

exhilaration

elation, thrill

panacea

cure-all

physiognomy

facial features

polyphonic

many sounds together

propensity

tendency

propinquity

nearness; proximity

rescind

to repeal; void

revel

to enjoy; take pleasure in

rhapsodize

to express oneself enthusiastically

umbrage

offense; resentment

voluble

talkative

wizened

shriveled or dried up; withered