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Must Know Vocab pt2
Impressive Vocab
62
Literature
Not Applicable
02/24/2009

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Cards

Term
jubilant
Definition
(adj.) extremely joyful, happy (The crowd was jubilant when the firefighter carried the woman from the flaming building.)
Term
knell
Definition
(n.) the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death (Echoing throughout our village, the funeral knell made the grey day even more grim.)
Term
lithe
Definition
(adj.) graceful, flexible, supple (Although the dancers were all outstanding, Joanna’s control of her lithe body was particularly impressive.)
Term
lurid
Definition
(adj.) ghastly, sensational (Barry’s story, in which he described a character torturing his neighbour's tortoise, was judged too lurid to be published on the English Library's website.)
Term
maverick
Definition
(n.) an independent, nonconformist person (John is a real maverick and always does things his own way.)
Term
maxim
Definition
(n.) a common saying expressing a principle of conduct (Ms. Stone’s etiquette maxims are both entertaining and instructional.)
Term
meticulous
Definition
(adj.) extremely careful with details (The ornate needlework in the bride’s gown was a product of meticulous handiwork.)
Term
modicum
Definition
(n.) a small amount of something (Refusing to display even a modicum of sensitivity, Magda announced her boss’s affair to the entire office.)
Term
morose
Definition
(adj.) gloomy or sullen (David’s morose nature made him very unpleasant to talk to.)
Term
myriad
Definition
(adj.) consisting of a very great number (It was difficult to decide what to do on Saturday night because the city presented us with myriad possibilities for fun.)
Term
nadir
Definition
(n.) the lowest point of something (My day was boring, but the nadir came when my new car was stolen.)
Term
nominal
Definition
(adj.) trifling, insignificant (Because he was moving the following week and needed to get rid of his furniture more than he needed money, Kim sold everything for a nominal price.)
Term
novice
Definition
(n.) a beginner, someone without training or experience (Because we were all novices at archery, our instructor decided to begin with the basics
Term
nuance
Definition
(n.) a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression (The nuances of the poem were not obvious to the casual reader, but the teacher was able to point them out.)
Term
oblivious
Definition
(adj.) lacking consciousness or awareness of something (Oblivious to the burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until much too late.)
Term
obsequious
Definition
(adj.) excessively compliant or submissive (Donald acted like Susan’s servant, obeying her every request in an obsequious manner.)
Term
obtuse
Definition
(adj.) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect (Political opponents warned that the prime minister’s obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.)
Term
panacea
Definition
(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties (Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not.)
Term
parody
Definition
(n.) a satirical imitation (A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find Magdalena acting out a parody of his teaching style.)
Term
penchant
Definition
(n.) a tendency, partiality, preference (Fiona’s dinner parties quickly became monotonous on account of her penchant for Indian dishes.)
Term
perusal
Definition
(n.) a careful examination, review (The actor agreed to accept the role after a three-month perusal of the movie script.)
Term
plethora
Definition
(n.) an abundance, excess (The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.)
Term
predilection
Definition
predilection

(n.) a preference or inclination for something (James has a predilection for eating toad in the whole with tomato ketchup.)
Term
quaint
Definition
(adj.) charmingly old-fashioned (Mary was delighted by the quaint bonnets she saw in Romania.)
Term
rash
Definition
(adj.) hasty, incautious (It’s best to think things over calmly and thoroughly, rather than make rash decisions.)
Term
refurbish
Definition
(v.) to restore, clean up (After being refurbished the old Triumph motorcycle commanded the handsome price of $6000.)
Term
repudiate
Definition
(v.) to reject, refuse to accept (Tom made a strong case for an extension of his curfew, but his mother repudiated it with a few biting words.)
Term
rife
Definition
(adj.) abundant (Surprisingly, the teacher’s writing was rife with spelling errors.)
Term
salient
Definition
(adj.) significant, conspicuous (One of the salient differences between Alison and Helen is that Alison is a couple of kilos heavier.)
Term
serendipity
Definition
(n.) luck, finding good things without looking for them (In an amazing bit of serendipity, penniless Mark found a $50 bill on the back seat of the bus.)
Term
staid
Definition
(adj.) sedate, serious, self-restrained (The staid butler never changed his expression no matter what happened.)
Term
superfluous
Definition
(adj.) exceeding what is necessary (Samantha had already won the campaign so her constant flattery of others was superfluous.)
Term
sycophant
Definition
(n.) one who flatters for self-gain (Some see the people in the cabinet as the Prime Minister’s closest advisors, but others see them as sycophants.)
Term
taciturn
Definition
(adj.) not inclined to talk (Though Magda never seems to stop talking, her brother is quite taciturn.)
Term
truculent
Definition
(adj.) ready to fight, cruel (This club doesn’t really attract the dangerous types, so why was that bouncer being so truculent?)
Term
umbrage
Definition
(n.) resentment, offence (He called me a lily-livered coward, and I took umbrage at the insult.)
Term
venerable
Definition
(adj.) deserving of respect because of age or achievement (The venerable High Court judge had made several key rulings in landmark cases throughout the years.)
Term
vex
Definition
(v.) to confuse or annoy (My boyfriend vexes me by pinching my bottom for hours on end.)
Term
vociferous
Definition
(adj.) loud, boisterous (I’m tired of his vociferous whining so I’m breaking up with him.)
Term
wanton
Definition
(adj.) undisciplined, lewd, lustful (Joanna’s wanton demeanor often made the frat guys next door very excited.)
Term
zenith
Definition
(n.) the highest point, culminating point (I was too nice to tell Emily that she had reached the absolute zenith of her career with that one top 10 hit of hers.)
Term
Victuals
Definition
(n.)Food or provisions for human beings.
Term
Choleric
Definition
(adj.) Describes a person who is hot tempered
Term
Lechery
Definition
(n.)unrestrained or excessive indulgence of sexual desire.
Term
Propriety
Definition
(n.) conformity to established standards of good or proper behavior or manners.
Term
conscientious
Definition
(adj.) controlled by or done according to conscience; scrupulous
Term
erudite
Definition
characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly
Term
paucity
Definition
smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness
Term
hobgoblin
Definition
(n.) Something causing superstitious fear; a bogy
Term
purported
Definition
reputed or claimed; alleged:
Term
abjection
Definition
–noun
1.the condition of being servile, wretched, or contemptible.
2.the act of humiliating.
Term
surfeit
Definition
noun
1.excess; an excessive amount: a surfeit of speechmaking.
2.excess or overindulgence in eating or drinking.
Term
desputation
Definition
noun
1.the act of disputing or debating; verbal controversy; discussion or debate.
Term
aphorism
Definition
–noun
a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation,
Term
bequeath
Definition
verb (used with object)
1.to dispose of (personal property, esp. money) by last will:
Term
sic probo
Definition
latin for this I prove
Term
lechery
Definition
noun,plural-er·ies.
1.unrestrained or excessive indulgence of sexual desire.
Term
ignoramuses
Definition
(n.) an ignorant person
Term
vituperate
Definition
(v.)to use or address with harsh or abusive language; revile.
Term
percocious
Definition
(adj.) 1.Manifesting or characterized by unusually early development or maturity, especially in mental aptitude.
Term
dicontenance
Definition
(v.) to disconcert, embarrass, or abash
Term
precuniary
Definition
(adj.) or pertaining to money
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