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Junior Vocab Quiz
Lists 1-14 from last year
277
English
12th Grade
08/20/2009

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Term
Abdicate
Definition
to step down from a position of power
Term
Abridge
Definition
to shorten, condense, or lessen in length
Term
Abysmal
Definition
extremely wretched or bottomless
Term
Acquiesce
Definition
to comply passively; to give in
Term
Aesthetic
Definition
concerned with or appreciative of beauty
Term
Affinity
Definition
sympathy, attraction, kinship
Term
Aggrandize
Definition
to make great
Term
Altruistic
Definition
unselfishly concerned with the welfare of others
Term
Amnesty
Definition
an official pardon for a group of people who violate a law
Term
Animosity
Definition
ill will or hatred
Term
Anomalous
Definition
irregular, abnormal, unusual
Term
Arduous
Definition
difficult to do
Term
Augment
Definition
to increase or enlarge
Term
Austere
Definition
stern in manner or appearance
Term
Banal
Definition
boring, unoriginal
Term
Baroque
Definition
extravagant; characterized by bold ornamentation
Term
Blanch
Definition
to turn pale
Term
Blithe
Definition
happy, lighthearted
Term
Bracing
Definition
invigorating, refreshing
Term
Broach
Definition
to open up a subject for discussion
Term
Bulwark
Definition
a strong defense or protection
Term
Cache
Definition
hiding place or something hidden in a secret place
Term
Candor
Definition
truthfulness, honesty
Term
Capitulate
Definition
to surrender
Term
Catharsis
Definition
emotional release or cleansing
Term
Caustic
Definition
biting in humor
Term
Censure
Definition
act of blaming or condemning
Term
Circumspect
Definition
carefully thought out
Term
Clemency
Definition
mildness or mercy
Term
Coalesce
Definition
to unite or join together
Term
Colloquial
Definition
used in informal speech
Term
Copious
Definition
abundant
Term
Corroborate
Definition
give evidence to support
Term
Craven
Definition
cowardly
Term
Cursory
Definition
without much attention
Term
Dearth
Definition
a shortage
Term
Deference
Definition
respect, courtesy
Term
Deft
Definition
skillful
Term
Delineate
Definition
to describe, give detail
Term
Depravity
Definition
moral corruption
Term
Destitute
Definition
very poor
Term
Diatribe
Definition
harsh, angry speech or lecture
Term
Didactic
Definition
instructive; intended to educate
Term
Diffuse
Definition
adjective: wordy – verb: to spread widely
Term
Digress
Definition
to stray from the main subject
Term
Discerning
Definition
perceptive
Term
Docile
Definition
easily taught; submissive
Term
Dogmatic
Definition
arrogantly positive about unproven ideas
Term
Dupe
Definition
to deceive or trick
Term
Ebb
Definition
to decline or recede
Term
Eccentric
Definition
nonconventional; “kooky”
Term
Eclectic
Definition
drawn from many sources; including many styles
Term
Efface
Definition
to erase or obscure
Term
Egocentric
Definition
self-involved; selfish
Term
Egregious
Definition
extremely bad
Term
Elucidate
Definition
to make clear or evident
Term
Emissary
Definition
messenger or representative
Term
Emulate
Definition
to imitate or strive to equal
Term
Enigma
Definition
a puzzle or baffling situation
Term
Esoteric
Definition
understood by only a few
Term
Exacerbate
Definition
to make worse or more severe
Term
Exacting
Definition
greatly demanding; requiring close attention
Term
Exorbitant
Definition
extravagant; exceeding what is usual
Term
Expedite
Definition
to make faster or easier; to carry out promptly
Term
Explicit
Definition
clearly stated; precisely shown
Term
Expunge
Definition
to erase
Term
Extol
Definition
to praise highly
Term
Fallacy
Definition
false idea or mistaken belief
Term
Fawn
Definition
to show excessive affection
Term
Feign
Definition
to pretend or give a false impression
Term
Fledgling
Definition
a beginner or novice; a young bird
Term
Fluke
Definition
chance event or coincidence
Term
Fodder
Definition
raw material for a given end
Term
Foray
Definition
an initial venture; a raid in search of plunder
Term
Fortuitous
Definition
happening by chance; lucky or fortunate
Term
Furtive
Definition
secret
Term
Futile
Definition
useless, hopeless, without effect
Term
Gamut
Definition
the full range of something
Term
Garner
Definition
to gather and store away; to acquire by effort
Term
Gratuitous
Definition
freely given, unnecessary, uncalled for
Term
Grovel
Definition
to beg persistently, to degrade oneself
Term
Guile
Definition
purposeful deceit
Term
Guise
Definition
an external appearance
Term
Harbinger
Definition
a precursor, an indication, one that foreshadows what is coming
Term
Heresy
Definition
any belief that is strongly opposed to established beliefs or practices
Term
Hiatus
Definition
a break or interruption from work or any other established routine
Term
Hubris
Definition
excessive pride, arrogance, exaggerated self-confidence
Term
Imminent
Definition
about to occur, hanging threateningly over one’s head
Term
Immutable
Definition
unchangeable, permanent
Term
Imperious
Definition
commanding, lordly, arrogant
Term
Incipient
Definition
beginning to be, in an early stage
Term
Incontrovertible
Definition
not disputable, not open to question
Term
Indigenous
Definition
native, produced or living in a particular area
Term
Indigent
Definition
poverty stricken, needy
Term
Inept
Definition
clumsy, awkward, incompetent
Term
Infamy
Definition
an evil reputation born of a criminal act, a reputation for evil deeds
Term
Insidious
Definition
treacherous, having a gradual effect
Term
Insipid
Definition
lacking taste, dull, bland
Term
Intrepid
Definition
fearless, having fortitude and endurance
Term
Irreverent
Definition
disrespectful, gently or humorously mocking
Term
Jargon
Definition
specialized vocabulary of a group
Term
Jeopardy
Definition
exposure to danger
Term
Judicious
Definition
wise, cautious, showing good judgment
Term
Juxtapose
Definition
to place side by side for comparison
Term
Laconic
Definition
brief in speech, using very few words
Term
Latent
Definition
present but not visible or apparent
Term
Laud
Definition
to praise or applaud
Term
Lax
Definition
careless, too relaxed
Term
Levity
Definition
lack of seriousness
Term
Levity
Definition
lack of seriousness
Term
Liaison
Definition
connection between different groups; a close bond
Term
Listless
Definition
indifferent; lacking energy; spiritless
Term
Lucid
Definition
clear; easily understood
Term
Magnanimous
Definition
generous, giving; forgiving
Term
Malaise
Definition
a feeling of depression or uneasiness
Term
Maverick
Definition
nonconformist; person who breaks away from the crowd
Term
Meander
Definition
to wander aimlessly
Term
Mercenary
Definition
a person who serves only for money; motivated by greed
Term
Moot
Definition
of no matter; not important
Term
Morose
Definition
gloomy; bad tempered
Term
Myriad
Definition
an immense indefinite number
Term
Nemesis
Definition
powerful rival, enemy
Term
Nominal
Definition
insignificant
Term
Nuance
Definition
subtle distinction; slight difference in definition
Term
Obviate
Definition
to make unnecessary
Term
Odious
Definition
hateful, evil, vile
Term
Odyssey
Definition
long, difficult journey marked by changes in fortune
Term
Ogle
Definition
to stare at in a disrespectful way
Term
Opaque
Definition
difficult to see through; unclear; dark
Term
Osmosis
Definition
gradual absorption; unconscious process of absorption
Term
Oust
Definition
to banish or expel
Term
Oust
Definition
to banish or expel
Term
Palatable
Definition
pleasant to the taste
Term
Paltry
Definition
tiny or insignificant amount
Term
Pariah
Definition
an outcast
Term
Paucity
Definition
smallness in number or amount
Term
Pedantic
Definition
boringly scholarly or academic
Term
Penchant
Definition
strong like for something
Term
Peruse
Definition
to study or read over leisurely
Term
Philanthropy
Definition
good will towards others; acts of generosity
Term
Pious
Definition
reverent; devout; dutiful
Term
Pique
Definition
to hurt someone’s feelings or to irritate
Term
Pivotal
Definition
crucial; something around which things turn
Term
Placate
Definition
to soothe or appease with concessions
Term
Plausible
Definition
believable
Term
Poignant
Definition
emotionally moving
Term
Polemic
Definition
a powerful argument to defend an idea
Term
Precept
Definition
a rule or principle to guide conduct
Term
Preclude
Definition
to make impossible; to shut out
Term
Pretentious
Definition
showy; self-important
Term
Prolific
Definition
marked by abundant production
Term
Prosaic
Definition
dull; unimaginative; lacking excitement
Term
Provincial
Definition
narrow in ideas
Term
Prudent
Definition
careful; cautious
Term
Quaint
Definition
pleasantly old-fashioned
Term
Quell
Definition
to put an end to; to calm
Term
Quintessential
Definition
the most perfect example of
Term
Quixotic
Definition
foolishly impractical and idealistic
Term
Raucous
Definition
harsh sounding; noisy and disorderly
Term
Rebuff
Definition
to snub; to refuse in a blunt or rude way
Term
Reciprocal
Definition
mutual; interchangeable; shared
Term
Relegate
Definition
to dismiss to a less prominent position; to banish
Term
Relic
Definition
an object associated with a saint; something that remains from the past
Term
Reprehensible
Definition
deserving of blame
Term
Reprove
Definition
to gently criticize
Term
Rescind
Definition
to cancel; to repeal
Term
Resilient
Definition
having an ability to recover from or adjust easily
Term
Respite
Definition
an interval of rest; a temporary delay
Term
Resplendent
Definition
brilliant; gloriously bright
Term
Robust
Definition
strong and healthy; vigorous
Term
Saccharine
Definition
excessively sweet
Term
Sardonic
Definition
scornfully mocking
Term
Scanty
Definition
minimal; hardly sufficient
Term
Scintillate
Definition
to sparkle; to gleam; to be animated
Term
Servile
Definition
submissive; behaving like a slave
Term
Spurious
Definition
false; fake; not genuine
Term
Stagnate
Definition
to lie inactive; to stay in one place
Term
Static
Definition
not changing or moving
Term
Steadfast
Definition
loyal; faithful
Term
Stratagem
Definition
a trick or deceptive scheme
Term
Strident
Definition
loud; harsh
Term
Stymie
Definition
to get in the way of; to prevent; to block
Term
Succinct
Definition
concise; clearly expressed with few words (positive connotation)
Term
Surfeit
Definition
abundance; excessive amount
Term
Surmise
Definition
to infer on minimal grounds; to suppose
Term
Table
Definition
to remove from consideration
Term
Teem
Definition
to become full to overflowing
Term
Tenet
Definition
belief held by a specific group
Term
Tenuous
Definition
flimsy; lacking stability
Term
Terse
Definition
brief; free of extra words (negative connotation)
Term
Thwart
Definition
to prevent from being accomplished
Term
Tirade
Definition
a long and angry speech
Term
Tortuous
Definition
winding; twisting; full of curves
Term
Tout
Definition
to brag publicly; to praise highly
Term
Transfix
Definition
to cause to stand motionless with awe or other intense emotion
Term
Travesty
Definition
a parody or imitation that makes crude fun of something serious
Term
Trite
Definition
unoriginal; overused; cliché
Term
Tryst
Definition
a secret meeting of lovers
Term
Turpitude
Definition
shameful wickedness; evil
Term
Urbane
Definition
suave; sophisticated
Term
Usurp
Definition
to seize wrongfully
Term
Vapid
Definition
tasteless; dull
Term
Vehement
Definition
intense, forceful, marked by strong feeling
Term
Verbose
Definition
wordy
Term
Vestige
Definition
the remains of something that no longer exists
Term
Viable
Definition
workable, capable of living and growing, able to succeed
Term
Vie
Definition
to compete
Term
Vilify
Definition
to slander or blacken the character of
Term
Virulent
Definition
extremely poisonous; full of hatred
Term
Vivacious
Definition
lively, spirited
Term
Volatile
Definition
explosive; tends to burn quickly
Term
Wanton
Definition
immoral, lewd
Term
Waver
Definition
to be indecisive or inconstant; to fluctuate in opinion
Term
Winsome
Definition
charming, sweetly engaging
Term
Wistful
Definition
shows a sad longing or gentle desire for something
Term
Zealot
Definition
person with great enthusiasm for and commitment to a cause
Term
Zenith
Definition
the highest point
Term
Abeyance
Definition
temporary suspension of activity
Term
Abrogate
Definition
to repeal, to set aside, to nullify
Term
Abscond
Definition
to leave quickly and secretively
Term
Abstinence
Definition
voluntarily refrain from eating certain foods or drink or from doing something pleasant but not good for you
Term
Abstruse
Definition
hard to understand or grasp
Term
Accolade
Definition
award or honor; high praise
Term
Accouterments
Definition
personal clothing; accessories; equipment
Term
Acquit
Definition
to find not guilty; to conduct oneself
Term
Adjure
Definition
to command or urge solemnly and earnestly
Term
Adumbrate
Definition
to suggest partly; to give a hint of things to come; to foreshadow vaguely
Term
Aegis
Definition
protection; patronage
Term
Aggrieve
Definition
to distress; to mistreat
Term
Akimbo
Definition
having one’s hands in a bent position on the hips; figuratively speaking, something slightly out of balance
Term
Alacrity
Definition
cheerful readiness; liveliness or eagerness
Term
Alchemy
Definition
a process of transformation that is seemingly magical
Term
Ambulatory
Definition
able to walk or move about
Term
Ameliorate
Definition
to make better; to ease or improve
Term
Anathema
Definition
something or someone intensely disliked
Term
Ancillary
Definition
subsidiary; subordinate; secondary
Term
Anomie
Definition
instability caused by an erosion of values or lack of purpose
Term
Antipodal
Definition
exact opposite or on opposite side of the earth
Term
Apocryphal
Definition
false or of doubtful origin
Term
Apogee
Definition
point at which something is farthest away from another point
Term
Apoplexy
Definition
stroke resulting from loss of blood to the brain; becoming angry to the point of exploding
Term
Apostasy
Definition
abandonment of a loyalty or religion
Term
Arbiter
Definition
a judge; one who decides
Term
Ascetic
Definition
self-denial
Term
Assiduous
Definition
hard working; diligent
Term
Assignation
Definition
a secret meeting or assignment
Term
Bacchanal
Definition
a drunken party
Term
Bandy
Definition
toss back and forth; to discuss casually
Term
Bathos
Definition
abrupt transition from illustrious to common (in style)
Term
Behemoth
Definition
something enormous in size or power
Term
Belie
Definition
run counter to; to show to be false
Term
Besmirch
Definition
to stain
Term
Bilious
Definition
ill-tempered
Term
Bivouac
Definition
temporary shelter
Term
Bon vivant
Definition
a lover of luxury
Term
Bowdlerize
Definition
to censor prudishly
Term
Brook
Definition
to tolerate
Term
Bumptious
Definition
loudly assertive
Term
Byzantine
Definition
tremendously complex; intricate
Term
Cabal
Definition
group of conspirators
Term
Cachet
Definition
mark or quality of distinction or authenticity
Term
Calumny
Definition
false, slanderous statement
Term
Capricious
Definition
impulsive
Term
Castigate
Definition
to punish or criticize severely
Term
Cataclysm
Definition
violent upheaval; earthquake or flood
Term
Cavil
Definition
to raise trivial objections
Term
Chary
Definition
careful, cautious
Term
Chicanery
Definition
deception or trickery
Term
Chimerical
Definition
absurd
Term
Circumlocution
Definition
indirect, roundabout expression
Term
Clout
Definition
influence or a forceful blow
Term
Cogitate
Definition
to meditate or think
Term
Comport
Definition
to behave
Term
Compunction
Definition
a feeling of uneasiness after having done something
Term
Concomitant
Definition
accompanying or going along with
Term
Conflagration
Definition
a large, disastrous fire
Term
Contentious
Definition
argumentative or quarrelsome
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