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General Vocab
Undergraduate 4
10/10/2009

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Term
abate
Definition
to subside or moderate
Term
aberrant
Definition
abnormal or deviant
Term
abeyance
Definition
suspended action
sent. = the deal was held in abeyance until he arrived
Term
abscond
Definition
to depart secretly and hide
Term
abstemious
Definition
sparing in eating and drinking; temperate
Term
admonish
Definition
to warn; reprove
Term
adulterate
Definition
to make impure by adding inferior or tainted substances
Term
aesthetic
Definition
artistic; dealing with or capable of appreciating the beautiful
Term
aggregate
Definition
to gather; accumulate
Term
alacrity
Definition
cheerful promptness; eagerness
Term
alleviate
Definition
to relieve
Term
amalgamate
Definition
to combine; unite in one body
Term
ambiguous
Definition
unclear or doubtful in meaning
Term
ambivalence
Definition
the state of having contradictory or conflicting emotional attitudes
Term
ameliorate
Definition
to improve
Term
anachronism
Definition
something or someone misplaced in time
Term
anarchy
Definition
absence of governing body; state of disorder
Term
anomalous
Definition
abnormal; irregular
Term
apathy
Definition
aversion; dislike
Term
antipathy
Definition
aversion; dislike
Term
appease
Definition
to pacify or soothe; relieve
Term
apprise
Definition
to inform
sent. = when he was apprised of the information
Term
approbation
Definition
approval
Term
appropriate
Definition
to acquire; take possession of for one's own use
Term
arduous
Definition
hard; strenuous
sent. = her arduous efforts
Term
artless
Definition
without guile; open and honest
Term
ascetic
Definition
practicing self-denial; austere
sent. = the ascetic life led by the clergy man
Term
assuage
Definition
to ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)
Term
assiduous
Definition
diligent
Term
attenuate
Definition
to make thinner; weaken or lessen (in density, force, degree)
Term
audacious
Definition
daring; bold
Term
austere
Definition
forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented
Term
autonomous
Definition
self-governing, independent
Term
aver
Definition
to assert confidently or declare; as used in law, state formally as a fact
Term
banal
Definition
hackneyed; commonplace; trite; lacking originality
sent. = cliches made it seem banal
Term
belie
Definition
to contradict; give a false impression
Term
beneficent
Definition
kindly; doing good
Term
bolster
Definition
to support; reinforce
Term
bombastic
Definition
pompous; using inflated language
Term
boorish
Definition
rude; insensitive
Term
burgeon
Definition
to grow forth; send out buds
sent. = the plants that burgeon are a promise of the beauty that is to come
Term
burnish
Definition
to make shiny by rubbing; polish
Term
buttress
Definition
to support; prop up
Term
cacophonous
Definition
discordant; inharmonious
Term
capricious
Definition
unpredictable; fickle
sent. = the storm was fickle and changed course constantly
Term
castigation
Definition
punishment; severe criticism
Term
catalyst
Definition
agent that influences the pace of a chemical reaction while it remains unaffected and unchanged; person or thing that causes action
Term
caustic
Definition
burning; sarcastically biting
Term
chicanery
Definition
trickery; deception
sent. = depended on chicanery to win the tobacco lawsuit
Term
coagulate
Definition
to thicken; congeal; clot
Term
coda
Definition
concluding section of a musical or literary composition; something that rounds out, summarizes, or concludes
Term
cogent
Definition
convincing
sent. = several cogent reasons for doing so
Term
commensurate
Definition
corresponding in extent, degree, amount; proportionate
Term
compendium
Definition
brief, comprehensive summary
Term
complaisant
Definition
trying to please; overly polite; obliging
Term
compliant
Definition
yielding; conforming to requirements
Term
conciliatory
Definition
reconciling; soothing
Term
condone
Definition
to overlook; forgive; give tacit approval; excuse
Term
confound
Definition
to confuse; puzzle
Term
connoisseur
Definition
person competent to act as a judge of art, etc.; a lover of an art
Term
contention
Definition
claim; thesis
sent. = it is our contention that
Term
contentious
Definition
quarrelsome
sent. = became so contentious they threw him out
Term
contrite
Definition
penitent
sent. = her contrite tears did not influence the judge when he imposed sentence
Term
conundrum
Definition
riddle; difficult problem
sent. = invented conundrums to entertain the kids
Term
converge
Definition
to approach, tend to meet; come together
s = men converged on the princess
Term
convoluted
Definition
coiled around; involved; intricate
s = his convoluted theory was hard to understand
Term
craven
Definition
cowardly
s = craven refusal to join the group was met with criticism
Term
daunt
Definition
to intimidate; frighten
s = the hero said "words cannot daunt me"
Term
decorum
Definition
propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners
s = even good students have problems with decorum on the last day of school
Term
default
Definition
failure to act
s = team lost the game by default OR jack had defaulted on his car payments and his jaguar was taken away
Term
deference
Definition
courteous regard for another's wish
s = in deference to the minister's request, please don't take photos
Term
delineate
Definition
to portray; depict; sketch
s = the author delineated the character
Term
denigrate
Definition
to blacken

s = attempts to denigrate him failed; people still love him
Term
deride
Definition
to ridicule; make fun of

s = derided his play
Term
derivative
Definition
unoriginal; obtained from another source

s = her poetry was derivative in nature and the teacher hoped she would eventually find her own voice
Term
desiccate
Definition
to dry up

s = pioneers would desiccate food to preserve it
Term
desultory
Definition
aimless; haphazard; digressing at random

s = reading is purposeful and not desultory
Term
deterrent
Definition
something that discourages; hindrance

does capital punishment serve as a deterrent to potential killers?

Term
diatribe
Definition
bitter scolding; invective

during the lengthy diatribe delivered by his opponent he remained calm

Term
dichotomy
Definition
split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)

the dichotomy between joining the circus or going to college

Term
diffidence
Definition
shyness

he needs to overcome his diffidence to be a salesman

Term
diffuse
Definition
wordy; rambling; spread out (like a gas)

paying authors by the word causes them to write diffuse manuscripts rather than brief ones

Term
digression
Definition
wandering away from the subject

his

Term
dirge
Definition
lament with music

sent. = the funeral dirge stirred us to tears

Term
disabuse
Definition
to correct a false impression; undeceive

sent. = i will disabuse you of your impression of my client's guilt

Term
discerning
Definition
mentally quick and observant; having insight

sent. = she was discerning to distinguish her true friends from those who weren't

Term
discordant
Definition
not harmonious; conflicting

sent. = the discordant sound of the high school band

Term
discredit
Definition
to defame; destroy confidence in; disbelieve

sent. = he tried to discredit his opponent

Term
distend
Definition
to expand; swell out

his veins distend when he is angry

Term
distill
Definition
to purify; refine; concentrate

distills mash into whiskey

Term
diverge
Definition
to vary; go in different directions from the same point

the spokes of the wheel diverge from the center

Term
divest
Definition
to strip; deprive

divested of his power and could no longer rule the people

Term
document
Definition
to provide written evidence

documented her expenses

Term
dogmatic
Definition
opinionated; arbitrary; doctrinal

he was dogmatic and could never be convinced otherwise

Term
dormant
Definition
sleeping; lethargic; latent

long-dormant ambition to write flared up again

Term
dupe
Definition
someone easily fooled

made a dupe by tricksters

Term
ebullient
Definition
showing excitement; overflowing with enthusiasm

her ebullient nature could not be repressed

Term
eclectic
Definition
selective; composed of elements drawn from disparate sources

his interior decoration was eclectic: bits and pieces from different places

Term
efficacy
Definition
power to produce desired effect

efficacy of this drug depends on the regularity of the dosage

Term
effrontery
Definition
impudence; shameless boldness; sheer nerve; presumptuousness

she didn't like him and he had the effrontery to ask her for a recommendation

Term
elegy
Definition
poem or song expressing lamentation

composed the elegy for the death of the king

Term
elicit
Definition
to draw out by discussion

tried to elicit where he had hidden his loot

Term
embellish
Definition
to adorn; ornament; enhance, as a story

embellished the gown with ribbons and lace

Term
empirical
Definition
based on experience

based his theory on empirical data, not on hunches

Term
emulate
Definition
to imitate; rival

jason emulated his big brother

Term
endemic
Definition
prevailing among a specific group of people or in a specific area or country

the disease is endemic to africa

Term
enervate
Definition
to weaken

sent. = recovering from cancer, a slow walk enervated her

Term
engender
Definition
to cause; produce

sent. = receiving praise engenders self-confidence

Term
enhance
Definition
to increase; improve

sent. = an excellent essay will enhance your chances of a good grade

Term
ephemeral
Definition
short-lived; fleeting

sent. = the bug is an ephemeral creature lasting only a day

Term
equanimity
Definition
calmness or temperament; composure

sent. = caring for her ailing mother did not disturb her equanimity

Term
equivocate
Definition
to lie; mislead; attempt to conceal the truth

sent. = don't equivocate the bad news

Term
erudite
Definition
learned; scholarly

sent. = the writing was entertaining and erudite

Term
esoteric
Definition
hard to understand; known only to the chosen few

sent. = esoteric allusions to obscure people and events

Term
eulogy
Definition
expression of praise, often on the occasion of someone's death

sent. = delivered a spoken eulogy at the funeral

Term
euphemism
Definition
mild expression in place of an unpleasant one

sent. = "he passed away" is a euphemism for "he died"

Term
exacerbate
Definition
to worsen; embitter

sent. = his last action exacerbated the teacher's resolve and she sent him out

Term
exculpate
Definition
to clear from blame

sent. = exculpated of the crime when the real criminal confessed

Term
exigency
Definition
urgent situation; pressing needs or demands; state of requiring immediate attention

sent. = the exigencies of war gave impetus to computer research

Term
extrapolation
Definition
projection; conjecture

sent. = based on their extrapolation of the voting, obama will win

Term
facetious
Definition
joking (often inappropriately); humorous

sent. = i dislike facetious remarks when i'm serious about this project

Term
facilitate
Definition
to help bring about; make less difficult

sent. = vitamin C should facilitate your health

Term
fallacious
Definition
false; misleading

sent. = fallacious reasoning will lead to mistakes

Term
fatuous
Definition
brainless; inane; foolish, yet smug

sent. = she was sick of pretending that the fatuous comments of some males were humane

Term
fawning
Definition
trying to please by behaving obsequiously, flattering, or cringing

sent. = the fans fawned upon the rock stars

Term
felicitous
Definition
apt; suitably expressed; well chosen

sent. = famous for his felicitous remarks, he was chosen to host the meeting

Term
fervor
Definition
glowing ardor; intensity of feeling

sent. = students cheered the strikers and booed the dean with equal fervor

Term
flag
Definition
to droop; grow feeble

sent. = the team's spirits flagged after losing

Term
fledgling
Definition
inexperienced

sent. = the fledgling dancers received hints from the experts

Term
flout
Definition
to reject; mock; show contempt for

sent. = he flouted the lifestyle of the elite social class

Term
foment
Definition
to stir up; instigate

sent. = rumors fomented trouble among the group of friends

Term
forestall
Definition
to prevent by taking action in advance

sent. = tried to forestall any arguments about money by signing the prenup

Term
frugality
Definition
thrift; economy

sent. = practicing frugality prevents bankruptcy

Term
futile
Definition
useless; hopeless; ineffectual

sent. = it's futile to study with the football game on TV

Term
gainsay
Definition
to deny

sent. = she was too honest to gainsay the truth of the report

Term
garrulous
Definition
loquacious; wordy; talkative

sent. = my mom talked to everyone because of her garrulous personality

Term
goad
Definition
to urge on

sent. = she was goaded to smoke

Term
gouge
Definition
to overcharge

sent. = scalpers gouged the students trying to buy georgia tickets

Term
grandiloquent
Definition
pompous; bombastic; using high-sounding language

sent. = he couldn't speak simply and was always grandiloquent

Term
discrepancy
Definition
lack of consistency; difference

sent. = discrepancies in his alibi

Term
discrete
Definition
separate; unconnected; consisting of distinct parts

sent. = classifying humans into discrete racial groups

Term
disingenuous
Definition
lacking genuine candor; insincere

sent. = they divorced, so their earlier comments regretting their lack of time together seem disingenuous

Term
disinterested
Definition
unprejudiced

sent. = the only disinterested person in the courtroom was the court reporter

Term
disjointed
Definition
lacking coherence; separated at the joints

sent. = wrote a few disjointed sentences because he didn't know what to write

Term
dismiss
Definition
to eliminate from consideration; reject

sent. = dismissed the notion that he might be unfaithful

Term
disparage
Definition
to belittle

sent. = she praises rather than disparages him

Term
disparate
Definition
basically different; unrelated

sent. = disparate notions about abortion

Term
dissemble
Definition
to disguise; pretend

sent. = tried to dissemble his reason for taking dance, but they knew it was to see girls

Term
disseminate
Definition
to distribute; spread; scatter

sent. = can disseminate information fast via the internet

Term
dissolution
Definition
disintegration; looseness in morals

sent. = the dissolution of the city appalled the historians

Term
dissonance
Definition
discord; opposite of harmony

sent. = used dissonance to portray thunder with his music

Term
gregarious
Definition
sociable;
Typically, party-throwers are gregarious; hermits are not.
Term
guileless
Definition
without deceit;
He is naive, simple, and guileless; he can not be guilty of fraud.
Term
gullible
Definition
easily deceived
Term
harangue
Definition
long, passionate, and vehement speech.
In her lengthy harangue, the principal berated the offenders.
Term
homogeneous
Definition
of the same kind
Term
hyperbole
Definition
exaggeration; overstatement
Term
iconoclastic
Definition
attacking cherished traditions;
Deeply iconoclastic, Jean Genet purposely set out to shock conventional theatergoers
Term
idolatry
Definition
worship of idols; excessive admiration
Term
immutable
Definition
unchangeable;
nothing is immutable
Term
impair
Definition
injure; hurt
Term
impassive
Definition
without feeling; imperturbable; stoical
Refusing to let the enemy see how deeply shaken he was by his capture, the prisoner kept his face impassive.
Term
impede
Definition
hinder; block
Term
impermeable
Definition
impervious; not permitting passage through its substance.
Material impermeable to liquids.
Term
imperturbable
Definition
calm; placid
Term
impervious
Definition
impenetrable; incapable of being damaged or distressed.
Term
implacable
Definition
incapable of being pacified.
Madame Defarge was the implacable enemy of the Evremonde family.
Term
implicit
Definition
understood but not stated
Term
implode
Definition
burst inward.
If you break a vacuum tube, the glass tube implodes.
Term
inadvertently
Definition
unintentionally; by oversight; carelessly
Term
inchoate
Definition
recently begun; rudimentary; elementary.
Before the creation, the world was an inchoate mass.
Term
incongruity
Definition
lack of harmony; absurdity.
The incongruity of his wearing sneakers with formal attire amused the observers.
Term
inconsequential
Definition
insignificant; unimportant.
Term
incorporate
Definition
introduce something into a larger whole; combine; unite
Term
indeterminate
Definition
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite.
When interest rates shall rise is indeterminate.
Term
indigence
Definition
poverty
Term
indolent
Definition
lazy

Couch potatoes lead an indolent life.
Term
inert
Definition
inactive; lacking power to move.
Tony lay in bed inert.
Term
ingenuous
Definition
naive and trusting; young; unsophisticated
Term
innocuous
Definition
harmless

sent. =

An occasion glass of wine for dinner is relatively innocuous.
Term
insensible
Definition
unconscious; unresponsive
Term
insinuate
Definition
hint; imply; creep in.
Term
insipid
Definition
lacking in flavor; dull.

sent. =

Flat ginger ale is insipid.
Term
insularity
Definition
narrow-mindedness; isolation
Term
intractable
Definition
unruly; stubborn; unyielding
Term
intransigence
Definition
refusal of any compromise; stubbornness
Term
inundate
Definition
overwhelm; flood; submerge.

sent. =

This semester I am inundated with work.
Term
inured
Definition
accustomed; hardened.

sent. =

She became inured to the Alaskan cold.
Term
invective
Definition
abuse
Term
irascible
Definition
irritable; easily angered.
Term
irresolute
Definition
uncertain how to act; weak.
Term
itinerary
Definition
plan of a trip
Term
laconic
Definition
brief and to the point
Term
lassitude
Definition
languor; weariness.

sent. =

After a massage and a long soak in the bath tub, I surrendered to my growing lassitude and lay down for a nap.
Term
latent
Definition
potential but undeveloped; dormant; hidden
Term
laud
Definition
praise
Term
lethargy
Definition
drowsy; dull.
Term
levity
Definition
lack of seriousness or steadiness; frivolity.
Term
loquacious
Definition
talkative
Term
lucid
Definition
easily understood; clear; intelligible
Term
luminous
Definition
shining; issuing light
Term
magnanimity
Definition
generosity
Term
malingerer
Definition
one who feigns illness to escape duty.
Term
malleable
Definition
capable of being shaped by pounding; impressionable
Term
maverick
Definition
rebel; nonconformist
Term
mendacious
Definition
lying; habitually dishonest
Term
metamorphosis
Definition
change of form
Term
meticulous
Definition
excessively careful; painstaking; scrupulous
Term
misanthrope
Definition
one who hates mankind
Term
mitigate
Definition
lessen in intensity; moderate; appease.

sent. =

Conversion to the use of solar energy may help mitigate global warming.
Term
mollify
Definition
soothe
Term
morose
Definition
ill-humored; sullen; melancholy
Term
mundane
Definition
worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday
Term
negate
Definition
cancel out; nullify; deny
Term
neophyte
Definition
recent convert; beginner
Term
obdurate
Definition
stubborn
Term
obsequious
Definition
slavishly attentive; servile; sycophantic
Term
obviate
Definition
make unnecessary; get rid of
Term
occlude
Definition
shut; close
Term
officious
Definition
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one's services
Term
onerous
Definition
burdensome
Term
opprobrium
Definition
infamy; vilification

sent. =

He refused to defend himself against the slander and opprobrium hurled against him by the newspapers; he preferred to rely on his record.
Term
oscillate
Definition
vibrate pendulumlike; waver
Term
ostentatious
Definition
showy; pretentious; trying to attract attention.
Term
paragon
Definition
model of perfection
Term
partisan
Definition
one-sided; prejudiced; committed to a party
Term
pathological
Definition
pertaining to disease
Term
paucity
Definition
scarcity
Term
pedantic
Definition
showing off learning; bookish

sent. =

Leavening her decisions with humor, Judge Judy was not at all the pedantic legal scholar.
Term
penchant
Definition
strong inclination; liking
Term
penury
Definition
severe poverty; stinginess
Term
perennial
Definition
something long-lasting
Term
perfidious
Definition
treacherous; disloyal
Term
permeable
Definition
penetrable; porous
Term
perfunctory
Definition
superficial; not thorough; lacking interest; care, or enthusiasm
Term
pervasive
Definition
spread throughout
Term
phlegmatic
Definition
calm; not easily disturbed
Term
piety
Definition
reverence for God; devoutness
Term
placate
Definition
pacify; conciliate

sent. =

The store manager tried to placate the angry customer, offering to replace the damaged merchandise or to give back her money.
Term
plasticity
Definition
ability to be molded
Term
platitude
Definition
trite remark; commonplace statement.
Term
plethora
Definition
excess; overabundance
Term
plummet
Definition
fall sharply
Term
pragmatic
Definition
practical; concerned with the practical worth or impact of something
Term
preamble
Definition
introductory statement
Term
precarious
Definition
uncertain; risky
Term
precipitate
Definition
rash; premature; hasty; sudden
Term
precursor
Definition
forerunner
Term
presumptuous
Definition
arrogant; taking liberties
Term
prevaricate
Definition
lie
Term
pristine
Definition
characteristic of earlier times; primitive; unspoiled.
Term
probity
Definition
uprightness; incorruptibility

sent. = his probity was taken for granted until he stole something

Term
problematic
Definition
doubtful; unsettled; questionable; perplexing
Term
prodigal
Definition
wasteful; reckless with money
Term
profound
Definition
deep; not superficial; complete

sent. = a profound thinker

Term
prohibitive
Definition
tending to prevent the purchase or use of something; inclined to prevent or forbid
Term
proliferate
Definition
to grow rapidly; spread; multiply
Term
propensity
Definition
natural inclination
Term
propitiate
Definition
to appease
Term
propriety
Definition
fitness; correct conduct

sent. = behave with propriety

Term
proscribe
Definition
to ostracize; banish; outlaw
Term
pungent
Definition
stinging; sharp in taste or smell; caustic
Term
qualified
Definition
limited; restricted

sent. = gave him a qualified endorsement

Term
quibble
Definition
minor objection or complaint
Term
quiescent
Definition
at rest; dormant; temporarily inactive
Term
rarefied
Definition
made less dense (of a gas)
Term
recalcitrant
Definition
obstinately stubborn; determined to resist authority; unruly
Term
recant
Definition
to disclaim or disavow; retract a previous statement; openly confess error
Term
recluse
Definition
hermit; loner

sent. = he became a recluse and shut himself away

Term
recondite
Definition
abstruse; profound; secret
Term
refractory
Definition
stubborn; unmanageable
Term
refute
Definition
to disprove
Term
relegate
Definition
to banish to an inferior position; delegate; assign
Term
reproach
Definition
to express disapproval or disappointment
Term
reprobate
Definition
person hardened in sin; devoid of a sense of decency
Term
repudiate
Definition
to disown; disavow

sent. = repudiate all debts

Term
rescind
Definition
to cancel
Term
resolution
Definition
determination
Term
resolve
Definition
determination; firmness of purpose
Term
reticent
Definition
reserved; uncommunicative; inclined to silence
Term
reverent
Definition
respectful; worshipful
Term
sage
Definition
person celebrated for wisdom
Term
salubrious
Definition
healthful
Term
sanction
Definition
to approve; ratify
Term
satiate
Definition
to satisfy fully

sent. = satiated my appetite

Term
saturate
Definition
to soak thoroughly
Term
savor
Definition
to enjoy, have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality
Term
secrete
Definition
to hide away or cache; produce and release a substance into an organism
Term
shard
Definition
fragment; generally of pottery
Term
skeptic
Definition
doubter
Term
solicitous
Definition
worried, concerned
Term
soporific
Definition
sleep-causing
Term
specious
Definition
seemingly reasonable but incorrect; misleading (often intentionally)
Term
sporadic
Definition
occurring irregularly
Term
stint
Definition
to be thrifty; set limits
Term
stigma
Definition
token of disgrace; brand
Term
stipulate
Definition
to make express conditions, specify
Term
stolid
Definition
dull; impassive
Term
striated
Definition
marked with parallel bands; grooved
Term
strut
Definition
pompous walk; supporting bar
Term
subpoena
Definition
writ summoning a witness to appear
Term
subside
Definition
to settle down; descend; grow quiet
Term
substantiate
Definition
to establish by evidence; verify; support
Term
supersede
Definition
to cause to be set aside; replace; make obsolete
Term
supposition
Definition
hypothesis; surmise
Term
tacit
Definition
understood; not put into words
Term
talisman
Definition
a charm
Term
tangential
Definition
peripheral; only slightly connected; digressing

sent. = distracted her with tangential remarks

Term
tenuous
Definition
thin; rare; slim
Term
tirade
Definition
extended scolding; denunciation; harangue
Term
torpor
Definition
lethargy; sluggishness; dormancy
Term
tortuous
Definition
winding; full of curves
Term
tractable
Definition
docile; easily managed
Term
transgression
Definition
violation of a law; sin
Term
truculence
Definition
aggressiveness; ferocity
Term
vacillate
Definition
to waver; fluctuate
Term
venerate
Definition
to revere

sent. = she still venerates the leader

Term
veracious
Definition
truthful
Term
verbose
Definition
wordy
Term
viable
Definition
practical or workable; capable of maintaining life
Term
viscous
Definition
sticky; gluey
Term
vituperative
Definition
abusive; scolding
Term
volatile
Definition
changeable; explosive, evaporating rapidly
Term
warranted
Definition
justified; authorized
Term
welter
Definition
turmoil; bewildering jumble
Term
wary
Definition
very cautious
Term
whimsical
Definition
capricious (given to unaccountable or sudden changes); fanciful
Term
zealot
Definition
fanatic; person who shows excessive zeal (eager enthusiasm)
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