Because of his inherent indolence, Harry steered clear of any job that he suspected could turn out to be a travail.

=df wanting to avoid exertion

LAZY/SLUGGISH

Iconclast

Despite generous helpings of vitriol from a group of influential critics, this iconoclastic poet's three volumes have sold steadily.

=df1 A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions

=df2 a destroyer of images used in worship

Adulation

He found it difficult to cope with the adulation of the fans.

=df obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise

from: ad + ulos (tail) "to wag the tail" like a fawning dog.

candor

a man of refreshing candor

=df the quality of being open/honest; frankness

chandler

=df1 a dealer in supplies and equipment for ships and boats

=df2 a person who makes and sells candles

executrix

=df a female executor of a will

blandishment

the blandishments of the travel brochure 

a flattering statement or action used to persuade someone

fervid

a letter of fervid thanks

intensely, excessively enthusiastic

precipitate

VERB:

=df1 cause a bad thing to happen suddenly/prematurely (the incident precipitated a political cricis)

=df2 cause to move suddenly and with force (suddenly the ladder broke, precipitating them down into a heap.)

ADJECTIVE:

=df3 done or acting without careful consideration (I must apologize for my staff--their actions were precipitate.)

=df4 occurring suddenly (A precipitate decline in cultural literacy) 

prodigal

prodigal habits die hard

=df1 spending money recklessly

The dessert was prodigal with whipped cream

=df2 having or giving something lavishly

corroborate

the witness had corroborated the boy's account of the attack

=df confirm or give support to a statement or theory

desiccate

desiccated coconut

=df to remove the moisture from something (esp. food) to preserve it

homogenous

=df having a common descent 

(do not confuse with "homogeneous": of the same kind.)

pedant

If you're the kind of person who insists on this or that 'correct' use... abandon your pedantry as I did mine.

=df a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning

antipathy

his fundamental antipathy to capitalism/a thinly disguised mutual antipathy

a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion

deride

the critics derided the proposals as clumsy attempts to find a solution

=df express contempt for; ridicule

enervate

the luxury which enervates and destroys nations

weaken

garrulous

Polonius is portrayed as a foolish, garrulous old man.

=df excessively talkative, esp. on trivial matters

ingenuous

an ingenuous expression of the truth

=df straightforward, sincere; innocence of a child w/o negative overtones

obdurate

"And is he as obdurate as ever?"

=df stubborn

ostentation

the office was spacious, but without any trace of ostentation

=df pretentious display of wealth

prevaricate

he seemed to prevaricate when journalists asked pointed questions

LIE

=df speak or act in an evasive way

abrogate

a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike

=df repeal or do away with

VOID

quiescence

a quiescent sea/

strikes were headed by groups of workers who had previously been quiescent

=df in a state of inactivity 

MOTIONLESS

LATENT

sanguinity

=df the state of being cheerfully optimistic

probity

As mayor, she displayed a probity that was rare in politicians.

"financial probity"

=df quality of having strong moral principles, honesty, integrity.

skulduggery

a firm that investigates commercial skulduggery

TRICKERY

indemnity

no indemnity will be given for a loss of cash

=df1 protection against loss or other financial burden

even warranties and indemnities do not provide complete protection

=df exemption from legal responsibility of one's actions

puerile

a puerile piece of writing/

a puerile revolt against his parents

childish, silly, trivial

YOUTHFUL (insulting)

untrammeled

a mind untrammeled by convention

=df not deprived of freedom from action or expression

inter

he was interred with the military honors due to him

=df place a corpse in a grave, with funeral rites

endemic

areas where malaria is endemic/

complacency is endemic in industry today/

marsupials are endemic to northern australia

=df regularly found among certain people or in a certain area

lachrymose

she was pink-eyed and lacrymose/

a lachrymose children's classic

=df given to weeping or inducing tears

striated

marked with striae

striae: linear marks, little ridges, or grooves on a surface

disseminate

health authorities should foster good practice by disseminating information

=df spread something widely

SCATTER

insular

a stubbornly insular farming people/

people living restricted and sometimes insular existences

=df ignorant of or uninterested in other cultures, ideas, peoples/ lacking contact w/ other people

craven

a craven abdication of his moral duty

=df contemptibly lacking in courage

COWARDLY

sedulity

he watched himself with sedulous care/

a sedulous investigation

=df showing dedication and diligence

petulant

he was moody and petulant

childishly sulky or bad-tempered

plucky

=df Having courage in the face of difficulties

COURAGE

perfidy

perfidy that went unpublished

=df deliberate breach of faith

alloy

alloying tin with copper to make bronze

=df1 to mix metals

=df 2 to DEBASE by mixing with something inferior

appropriate (verb)

his images have been appropriated by advertisers

=df to take for one's own use

to CONFISCATE

august

she was in august company 

=df majestic

VENERABLE

brook (verb)

Jenny would BROOK no criticism of Matthew.

=df tolerate or allow

TOLERATE

cardinal

=df major, as in cardinal sin

MAJOR

consequential

the most consequential discovery of the century

=df1 pompous, self-important

IMPORTANT

=df2: LOGICALLY FOLLOWING

damp (verb)

rapidly damping the cymbals after crashing them together.

=df to diminish the intensity or check the vibration of a sound

REDUCE (the sound of)

die (noun)

=df 1 a device for shaping metal

TOOL

essay (verb)

The newly born fawn essayed a few wobbly steps.

=df test, try, attempt, experiment.

ATTEMPT

exact (verb)

Even a victorious war exacts a heavy price.

=df demand and obtain

DEMAND

fell (verb)

The lumberjacks arrived and felled many trees.

=df to cause to fall by striking

PUSH

fell (adj)

Fell beasts surrounded the explorers

=df evil, deadly, cruel

DEADLY

flag (verb)

her flagging spirits

=df to sag or droop, to become spiritless, to decline

WEAKEN

flip (adj.)

a flip remark

=df sarcastic, impertinent (rude), as in

FLIPPANT

ford

=df to cross at a shallow part

CROSS

grouse

she heard him grousing about his assistant

=df to complain or grumble

COMPLAIN

guy

=df a rope, cord, or cable fixed to the ground to secure a tent or other structure.

think "guide"

a rope to secure

The ship's broken mast listed helplessly in the wind.

=df to tilt to one side.

LEAN

lumber (verb)

Lumbering giants on land, walruses are actually graceful swimmers.

= to move heavily/clumsily

MOVE CLUMSILY

meet (adj.)

It is altogether meet that Jackie Robinson is in the baseball hall of fame.

=df fitting, proper

FITTING

mince

Don't mince words.

=df pronounce or speak affectedly, euphemize, speak too carefully

=df2 to tiptoe

nice

He made a nice distinction.

=df extremely precise, subtle

PRECISE

occult

a weird, occult sensation of having experienced the very same thing before.

=df hidden, concealed, beyond comprehension

MYSTERIOUS

pine (verb)

=df to LOSE VIGOR; to YEARN

prize (verb)

The information was prized from him.

Using a screwdriver, he pried open the window.

=df to pry, to press or force with a lever; something taken by force, spoils.

PRY

rail (verb)

Early American progressives railed against the railroad barons.

=df to complain about bitterly 

rent (verb/noun)

1. He rent his garment

TORE

2. A large rent in the fabric

a TEAR caused by such

abjure

his refusal to abjure the catholic faith

SOLEMNLY RENOUNCE

adumbrate

What qualities in Christ are adumbrated by the vine?

Her happy thoughts were adumbrated by consciousness of something else.

report/present in an outline/indicate faintly/foreshadow/overshadow

FORESHADOW VAGUELY

OVERSHADOW

anodyne (adj/noun)

adj: anodyne new age music; I attempted to keep the conversation as anodyne as possible.

noun: an anodyne to the misery she had put him through

adj: =df INOFFENSIVE

noun: =df SOOTHING

apogee

the Whitehouse is considered the apogee of American achievement

Opposite of Perigree

=df the highest point in the development of something

ZENITH

apotheosis

his appearance of Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career

=df glorification, culmination, climax, model of excellence or perfection, DEIfication

CULMINATION

asperity

he pointed this out with some asperity

=df harshness of tone or manner

the asperities of a harsh and divided society

=df harsh qualities or conditions

HARSH

asseveration

I fear that you offer only unsupported asseverations.

=df solemn or emphatic declaration of something

SOLEMN ASSERTION

assiduous

she was assiduous in pointing out every feature

=df diligent, hard-working, sedulous, showing great care and perseverance 

DILIGENT

augury

they heard the sound as an augury of death

=df OMEN

bellicose

a group of bellicose patriots

=df belligerent, pugnacious, willing to fight

WARLIKE

calumniate

Ezra Pound calumniated the Jews over the airwaves.

=df to make false and defamatory statements about.

calumny means slander, aspersion

SLANDER

captious

=df tending to find fault or raise petty objections

cavil

they caviled at the cost

=df to make unnecessary objections

celerity

=df speed, alacrity (swift and cheerful readiness).

think: accelerate

SWIFTNESS

contumacious

=df insubordinate, rebellious

contumely means insult, scorn, aspersion

REBELLIOUS/DISOBEDIENT

denouement

I waited by the 18th green to see the denouement.

=df an outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot

OUTCOME

descry

she descried two figures

=df to discriminate, discern,

CATCH SIGHT OF

desuetude

the docks fell into desuetude.

After years of desuetude, my French skills were finally put to use.

=df DISUSE

desultory

Her desultory performance impressed no one.

=df random; aimless; marked by a lack or plan or purpose

LACKING PURPOSE

diaphanous

a diaphanous dress of pale gold

=df transparent, gauzy

diffident

Surprisingly, the CEO of the corporation had been a diffident youth.

=df modest or shy because of lack of self-confidence

SHY

dirge

We listened to the slow, funereal dirge.

=df a song of grief or lamentation

encomium

=df a speech or piece of writing that praises something highly

excoriate

The papers that had been excoriating him were now lauding him.

=df to censure scathingly, to upbraid

CRITICIZE/SCOLD

execrate

They were execrated as dangerous and corrupt.

=df feel or express great loathing for, denounce

expiate

Pia Zadora has expiated her movie career by good works and charity.

=df to atone or make amends for

ATONE

extirpate

Those who tried to extirpate Christianity...

= to destroy, exterminate, cut out, exscind

DESTROY

fatuous

I would ignore such a fatuous comment

=df silly, pointless, inanely foolish

SILLY

fractious

They fight and squabble like fractious children.

=df easily irritated, bad tempered, quarrelsome, rebellious, unruly, refractory, irritable.

gainsay

the impact of the railroads cannot be gainsaid.

=df to deny, dispute, contradict, oppose

DENY

imbroglio

the Watergate imbroglio

=df difficult/embarrassing situation

ineluctable

the ineluctable facts of history

=df unable to be resisted, certain, inevitable

INESCAPABLE

insouciant

an impression of boyish insouciance

=df unconcerned, carefree, heedless

INDIFFERENT

inveterate

he was an inveterate gambler

=df deep-rooted, ingrained, HABITUAL

jejune

=df1 dry and uninteresting

=df2 naive, childish

lubricious

=df offensively displaying or intended to arouse sexual desire; LEWD, WANTON

=df2 smooth and SLIPPERY with oil or something

mendicant (adj/noun)

the mendicant friar

adj: given to begging

noun: BEGGAR

meretricious

meretricious souvenirs 

=df attractive but having no actual value

CHEAP, SHOWY

minatory

(reminds you of the Minotaur)

threatening

MENACING

nadir

they had reached the nadir of their sufferings 

=df low point

PERIGREE

nonplussed

baffled, bewildered, at a loss for what to do or think

obstreperous

the boy is cocky and obstreperous 

=df noisily and stubbornly defiant, aggressively boisterous

palliate

there is no way to disguise or palliate his dirty deed

=df to make something seem less serious, to gloss over, to make less severe or intense.

panegyric

Vera's panegyric on friendship 

=df formal praise, eulogy, ecomium

parsimonious

A parsimonious person parses out his money with great difficulty. 

CHEAP/MISERLY

pellucid

he writes, as always, in pellucid prose 

=df transparent, easy to understand, limpid (clear, like water)

peroration

=df the concluding part of a speech, intended to inspire enthusiasm in the audience; flowery rhetorical speech

plangent

=df pounding, thundering, resounding (a melancholy sound)

propitiate

the pagans thought it was important to propitiate the gods with sacrifices 

=df to APPEASE, conciliate

puissance

The senator delivered a puissant speech to the convention.

=df strength, POWER

(puissant means powerful, strong) 

pusillanimous

COWARDLY, CRAVEN

salacious

his salacious grin faltered 

=df LUSTFUL, lascivious, bawdy

salutary

a salutary reminder of where we came from 

=df remedial, wholesome, causing improvement

BENEFICIAL

satrunine

gloomy, dark, sullen, morose

sententious

he tried to encourage his men with sententious rhetoric

=df aphoristic*, MORALISTIC, tending to moralize excessively

* aphorism: a pithy observation containing a general truth like "If it ain't broke don't fix it."

stentorian

he introduced me to the staff with a stentorian announcement

=df extremely loud and powerful

stygian

the Stygian crypt

of or relating to the Styx River

DARK/GLOOMY

sychophant

=df a person who acts obsequiously (servile-ly) toward someone in order to gain an advantage, toady, servile, self-seeking flatterer; parasite

tendentious

=df showing marked tendencies

BIASED

tyro

=df beginner, novice, greenhorn

BEGINNER

vitiate

development programs have been vitiated by the rise of population

=df to corrupt, debase, spoil

MAKE INEFFECTIVE

Profligate

profligate consumers of energy

=df recklessly extravagant or wasteful of resources

EXTRAVAGANT/WASTEFUL

spendthrift

=df a person who spends money in an irresponsible or extravagant way

redress

the power to redress the grievances of our citizens

to remedy or set right

chaff

separate the wheat from the chaff

=df the husks of corn or other seed separated by winnowing or threshing

unprepossessing

despite his unprepossessing appearance, he had an animal magnetism

=df not particularly attractive or appealing to the eye

harangue

the kind of guy who harangued total strangers about PCB levels in whitefish 

=df a lengthy and aggressive speech

cord

=df a measure of wood (128 ft^3)

torpid

we sad around in a torpid state

=df mentally or physically inactive

LETHARGIC

(of an animal, esp. during hibernation)

acrimonious

an acrimonious dispute about wages

=df ANGRY/BITTER

pallid

PALE

because of poor health

presentism

uncritical adherence to present day attitudes, esp. the tendency to interpret past events in terms of modern values and concepts

dour

=df relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner of appearance

germane

that is not germane to our theme

=df RELEVANT

seminal

his seminal work on chaos theory

=df strongly influencing later developments

INFLUENTIAL

extol

he extolled the virtues of the Russian people

=df  Praise enthusiastically

PRAISE

silage

=grass or other green fodder compacted and stored in airtight conditions, typically in a silo, without first being dried, and used as animal feed in the winter

dregs

eg. coffee dregs

=df the remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment or grounds

feral

a feral cat, or a feral snarl

=df in a wild state, esp. after escape from captivity

deference

he addressed her with the deference due to age

=df humble submission and respect

credence

psychoanalysis finds little credence among lay people

=df belief in or acceptance of something as true

peremptory

"Just do it!" came the peremptory reply.

=df (esp. of a person's manners or actions): insisting on immediate attention or obedience, esp. in a brusquely imperious way