English Midterm Vocabulary
Terms
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- tenuous
- adj. thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importanceor significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly suppported
- intercede
- v. to plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third-party or go-between in a disagreement
- axiomatic
- adj. self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principal or rule
- petulant
- adj. peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset
- interloper
- n. one who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder
- fractious
- adj. tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable
- transcend
- v. to rise above or beyond
- millenium
- n. a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy
- caveat
- n. a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior
- remonstrate
- v. to argue or plead with someone or against something, protest against, object to
- hiatus
- n. a gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing)
- lurid
- adj. causing shock, horror or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint
- prerogative
- n. special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence
- permeate
- v. to spread throughout, penetrate, soak through
- infringe
- v. to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds
- ameliorate
- v. to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming
- proclivity
- n. a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior)
- sangfroid
- n. composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances
- circuitous
- adj. roundabout, not direct
- ascribe
- v. to assign to or refer to (as a cause or cource), attribute
- adventitious
- adj. resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congential
- seditious
- adj. resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government
- enjoin
- v. to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit
- approbation
- n. the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval
- meritorious
- adj. worthy, deserving recognition and praise
- vitriolic
- adj. bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like strong acid)
- commiserate
- v. to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress
- resilient
- adj. able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly
- irrevocable
- adj. incapable of being changed or called back
- affable
- adj. courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to
- erudite
- adj. scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic
- propensity
- n. a natural inclination or predilection toward
- salutary
- adj. beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome
- extricate
- v. free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort
- amnesty
- n. a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution
- straitlaced
- adj. extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical
- equitable
- adj. fair, just, embodying principles of justice
- immutable
- adj. not subject to change, constant
- brusque
- adj. abrupt, blunt, with no formalities
- heinous
- adj. very wicked, offensive, hateful
- contrive
- v. to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan
- bizarre
- adj. extremely strange, unusual, atypical
- ennui
- n. weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom
- castigate
- v. to punish severely; to criticize severely
- disabuse
- v. to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking
- amorphous
- adj. shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion
- aura
- n. that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality
- crass
- adj. coarse, unfeeling; stupid
- infraction
- n. a breaking of a law or obligation
- stalwart
- adj. strong and sturdy; brave, resolute / n. a brave, strong person; a strong supporter; one who takes an uncompromising position