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Vocab
Random words from summer readings
220
English
Undergraduate 4
06/06/2014

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Term
pejoratively
Definition
contempt/disapproval
Term
precocious
Definition
wise beyond years
Term
viable
Definition
feasible
Term
rife
Definition
widespread, especially something undesirable
Term
erroneous
Definition
wrong, fallacious
Term
cathartic
Definition
leading to renewal and restoration of emotion
Term
inadvertently
Definition
accidentally
Term
meander
Definition
move aimlessly
Term
pacifist
Definition
war and violence is unjustifiable
Term
idealist
Definition
guided by ideals rather than practical considerations
Term
hedonist
Definition
a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification
Term
ambivalent
Definition
having mixed fellings
Term
inexorable
Definition
impossible to stop
Term
serendipitous
Definition
occurring by chance in a pleasant manner
Term
glib
Definition
persuasive, smooth, slick
Term
ostracize
Definition
exclude, shun, snub
Term
caustic
Definition
severely critical or sarcastic
Term
vagabond
Definition
having no home; wanderer
Term
rhetoric
Definition
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing
Term
pedagogy
Definition
application of teaching
Term
linguistics
Definition
study of language
Term
overt
Definition
done or shown openly
Term
levity
Definition
humor
Term
itinerant
Definition
moves from place to place
Term
taciturn
Definition
reserved, uncommunicative
Term
stoical
Definition
enduring pain or hardship w/o showing emotion
Term
unrequited
Definition
not returned or awarded
Term
ruse
Definition
trick or act to fool someone
Term
amicable/amicably
Definition
polite or friendly to avoid disagreement
Term
condescending
Definition
patronizing superiority
Term
tenuous
Definition
not certain/definite/strong; flimsy and weak
Term
embodiment
Definition
the representation of a quality, feeling, or idea
Term
poignant
Definition
evoking sharp sadness or regret
Term
stifling
Definition
suffocating, constrained, compressed
Term
quietude
Definition
state of being quiet or calm
Term
cadence
Definition
rhythmic flow of sounds
Term
rote
Definition
using routine or repetition as procedure or to learn
Term
trudge
Definition
walk exhaustedly
Term
tattered
Definition
old and torn
Term
temperamental
Definition
likely to become upset or angry
Term
jubilation
Definition
act of rejoicing
Term
croon
Definition
sing/hum in soft, soothing voice
Term
antiquated
Definition
old-fashioned, outdated
Term
inane
Definition
silly, foolish, stupid
Term
inexplicable
Definition
not able to explain
Term
ineffable
Definition
too great to be expressed in words
Term
dilapidated
Definition
worn from age or lack of care
Term
ineffectual
Definition
not having desired effect
Term
sheepish
Definition
embarrassed
Term
stave
Definition
avert/delay something bad
Term
mundane
Definition
dull; not heavenly
Term
smitten
Definition
very much in love
Term
enigmatic
Definition
difficult to interpret; mysterious
Term
wryly
Definition
sidedly distorted; bent
Term
vernal
Definition
of/relating to spring
Term
petulant
Definition
showing sudden irritation/ impatience
Term
demure
Definition
(of a woman) modest or shy
Term
sullen
Definition
showing silent resentment
Term
feign
Definition
pretend or simulate emotion
Term
kilter
Definition
proper/usual state of condition
Term
amiable
Definition
having a friendly/pleasant manner
Term
indignant
Definition
showing anger/annoyance at something that is unfair or wrong
Term
dubious
Definition
hesitating or doubting
Term
dewy
Definition
wet, moist
Term
entrenched
Definition
established very firmly
Term
disdain
Definition
feeling that something is unworthy of one's consideration
Term
hilt
Definition
limit, completely
Term
affable
Definition
friendly, good-natured, easy to talk to
Term
raucous
Definition
loud, unpleasant to listen to
Term
fallible
Definition
capable of making mistakes
Term
din
Definition
loud confusing mixture of noises
Term
riotous
Definition
wild uncontrolled behavior
Term
ire
Definition
intensely displayed anger
Term
chortle
Definition
breathy, gleeful chuckle
Term
quagmire
Definition
very difficult situation
Term
brood
Definition
to think anxiously or gloomily
Term
quizzical
Definition
showing that you do not understand/ find it strange
Term
gaudy
Definition
extravagantly showy and tasteless
Term
illusory
Definition
based on illusion, not real
Term
facade
Definition
purposeful artificial behavior
Term
bravado
Definition
confident/brave talk to impress
Term
affluence
Definition
state of being very wealthy
Term
wanton
Definition
causing sexual excitement
Term
coy
Definition
(of a woman) modesty meant to be alluring
Term
languid
Definition
slow/relaxed from physical exertion
Term
impish
Definition
inclined to do naughty things
Term
sinuous
Definition
having many curves/ turns
Term
libidinous
Definition
showing excessive sexual drive/desire
Term
commodious
Definition
roomy and comfortable
Term
serene
Definition
tranquil
Term
tool
Definition
drive/ride in a casual/leisurely manner
Term
curtly
Definition
rude or brief in speech
Term
ostentatious
Definition
characterized by vulgar, pretentious display
Term
minutiae
Definition
small, precise, trivial details
Term
tacitly
Definition
understood w/o being openly expressed
Term
camaraderie
Definition
mutual trust and friendship
Term
extrapolation
Definition
estimate based on known facts
Term
advent
Definition
coming/arrival of something important
Term
pomp
Definition
ceremonial ostentatious display
Term
craw
Definition
stomach
Term
complacency
Definition
smug satisfaction with the way things are
Term
portent
Definition
sign that something momentous is likely to occur
Term
gait
Definition
A person's manner of walking
Term
macabre
Definition
state of being horrified because of a death/injury
Term
reverie
Definition
state of being lost in thought; daydream
Term
barren
Definition
bleak and lifeless; incapable of producing life
Term
ken
Definition
perception or understanding
Term
pneumatic
Definition
having large breasts
Term
cursory
Definition
hasty and superficial, and therefore not thorough or detailed
Term
appraisal
Definition
judgment of value
Term
grimace
Definition
facial expression; disapproval, disgust, pain
Term
tantalize
Definition
torment/tease w/ the sight or promise of something
Term
tawny
Definition
brown-orange
Term
anathema
Definition
something one vehemently dislikes
Term
pithy
Definition
brief in a clever/effective way
Term
tinny
Definition
displeasingly thin metallic sound
Term
incredulous
Definition
unwilling/unable to believe something
Term
teem
Definition
be full or swarming with
Term
bucolic
Definition
relating to the pleasant aspects of country life
Term
arcane
Definition
understood by few
Term
petulant
Definition
childishly sulky or bad-tempered
Term
solace
Definition
comfort/consolation in a time of distress/sadness
Term
somber
Definition
dark or dull; gloomy
Term
striated
Definition
striated muscle, sun beams
Term
serenity
Definition
state of being serene, calm, tranquil
Term
solvent
Definition
able to pay debts
Term
insolvent
Definition
bankrupt
Term
invariably
Definition
in every case, on every occasion
Term
wistful
Definition
showing a sad yearning for something
Term
bagatelle
Definition
short literary/musical piece done in light style
Term
coda
Definition
ending of a piece of music or literature separate from the rest
Term
legato
Definition
in a smooth, even style
Term
coltish
Definition
energetic but awkward
Term
ambling
Definition
slow, easy pace
Term
cascade
Definition
a small, steep chain of waterfalls
Term
vista
Definition
large, beautiful view (land or water)
Term
idly
Definition
not working or active
Term
bereft
Definition
deprived of something
Term
gangly
Definition
tall, lanky, and awkward
Term
diminutive
Definition
small, tiny
Term
placid
Definition
not moving much; calm and steady
Term
willowy
Definition
gracefully tall and slender
Term
doted
Definition
showed excessive fondness or love
Term
ford
Definition
a shallow place in a stream
(v): to cross at a shallow place
Term
rivulet
Definition
small stream of water
Term
sodden
Definition
soaked
Term
anguish
Definition
severe pain or suffering
Term
sublime
Definition
of great excellence as to inspire great admiration or awe
Term
dismay
Definition
cause to feel consternation or distress
Term
consternation
Definition
feeling of anxiety, typically at something unexpected
Term
ungainly
Definition
awkward, clumsy
Term
cinch
Definition
secure with a belt (life jacket)
Term
agleam
Definition
gleaming
Term
complacently
Definition
pleased with oneself
Term
gorge
Definition
narrow valley w/ rocky walls
Term
flotilla
Definition
fleet of ships or boats
Term
vehement
Definition
showing strong feeling, forceful, passionate
Term
eclectic
Definition
deriving ideas/styles/taste from a diverse range of sources
Term
impassive
Definition
not feeling or showing emotion
Term
futile
Definition
pointless
Term
masochistic
Definition
deriving sexual pleasure from suffering
Term
smolder
Definition
burn without igniting; to exist in a suppressed state
Term
gregarious
Definition
fond of company; sociable
Term
ostensibly
Definition
apparently but perhaps not actually
Term
wry (smile)
Definition
twisted to express disgust or annoyance
Term
undulate
Definition
move w/ a smooth wavelike motion
Term
loll
Definition
hang loosely; droop
Term
russet
Definition
red-brown
Term
acquiesce
Definition
reluctantly accept
Term
drab
Definition
drearily dull
Term
billow
Definition
fill w/ air and swell outward
Term
sumptuous
Definition
splendid and expensive-looking
Term
coltish
Definition
energetic but awkward
Term
decadent
Definition
no morals; self-indulgent
Term
(mindless) patter
Definition
to speak in a rapid mechanical manner
Term
vapid
Definition
offering nothing stimulating or challenging
Term
garish
Definition
excessively and unpleasantly bright/vivid
Term
pitted
Definition
having indentations (little surface craters)
Term
derision
Definition
contemptuous ridicule or mockery
Term
relish
Definition
great enjoyment
Term
heedless
Definition
showing a reckless lack of care or attention
Term
sybaritic
Definition
self-indulgent
Term
yaw
Definition
turn about its vertical axis
Term
rancor
Definition
bitterness and resentfulness
Term
tinny
Definition
Term
mill
Definition
move around confused (group)
Term
smattering
Definition
small amount
Term
erasure
Definition
removal of all trace of something
Term
volatile
Definition
likely to change (for worse)
Term
benevolent
Definition
well-meaning and kind
Term
rapture
Definition
intense pleasure or joy
Term
recluse
Definition
hermit (loner)
Term
motif
Definition
distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic/literary composition
Term
concentric
Definition
circles, one inside another
Term
incongruous
Definition
out of place
Term
lacquered
Definition
covered w/ a shiny gloss
Term
gall
Definition
to rub the wrong way
Term
tersely
Definition
abruptly concise, in an unfriendly manner
Term
apathy
Definition
lack of interest or concern
Term
ascetic
Definition
practice of severe self-discipline or abstention
Term
brusquely
Definition
abrupt, blunt, rough
Term
apparition
Definition
ghost or ghostlike image of a person
Term
inquisitively
Definition
curiously or inquiring
Term
pensively
Definition
expressing thoughtfulness marked by sadness
Term
transient
transitory
Definition
impermanent

not permanent
Term
parlay
Definition
to gamble and turn a little into a lot
Term
malaise
Definition
general feeling of discomfort or uneasiness whose exact cause is difficult to understand
Term
obstinate
Definition
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action
Term
esoteric
Definition
intended for/likely to be understood by only a small group of people w/ specialized knowledge
Term
conic
Definition
of or like a cone
Term
ephemeral
Definition
lasting for a very short time
Term
precarious
Definition
dangerously likely to fall
Term
deftly
Definition
dexterous, nimble, skillful
Term
aghast
Definition
filled w/ horror or shock
Term
tentatively
Definition
not fixed, provisional; done w/o confidence, hesitantly
Term
grandiose
Definition
impressive/magnificent in appearance, especially pretentiously so
Term
appellation
Definition
name or title given
Term
tenacious
Definition
tending to keep a firm hold; not readily relinquishing position; determined
Term
comradery
Definition
feeling of trust; bond created by a shared goal
Term
candor
Definition
quality of being open and honest; frankness
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