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MIDTERM EXAM

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Terms

undefined, object
copy deck
bane
Poison; torment; cause of harm
solvent
not broke or bankrupt; able to pay ones bills
endemic
A native; restricted to a particular region or era; indigenous n endemicity
superficial
on the surface only; shallow; not thorough
apprehensive
Worried; anxious
immutable
a unchangeable
salient
a sticking out; conspicuous; leaping ;
paltry
a insignificant ; worthless
stymie
to thwart; to get in the way of; to hinder
absolve
To forgive or free from blame; to free from sin; to free from an obligation
surreptitious
sneaky; secret
patrician
n a person of noble birth ; an aristocrat ;
coherent
Holding together; making sense
sycophant
one who sucks up to others
decorous
proper; in good taste; orderly
agnostic
One who believes that the existence of a god can be neither proven nor disproven
hyperbole
n an exaggeration used as a figure of speech ; exaggeration exaggeration
dearth
lack; scarcity
absolute
Total; unlimited; perfect
petulant
a rude ; cranky ; ill-tempered cranky rude
categorical
Unconditional; absolute
slander
to speak badly about someone publicly; to defame; to spread malicious rumor
frenetic
a frantic ; frenzied
deluge
a flood; an inundation
desiccate
to dry out
pejorative
a negative ; disparaging negative disparaging
fetter
V to restrain; to hamper
denizen
inhabitant
stipulate
to require something as part of an agreement
discrete
unconnected; separate; distinct
hypothetical
a uncertain ; unproven
indifferent
a not caring one way or the other ; apathetic ; mediocre
exonerate
V to free completely from blame; to exculpate
implement
v to carry out
enfranchise
V to grant the privileges of citizenship especially the right to vote
forbear
v to refrain from ; to abstain
disparate
different; incompatible; unequal
strife
bitter conflict; discord; a struggle or clash
enormity
N extreme evil; a hideous offense; immensity
genteel
a refined ; polite ; aristocratic ; affecting refinement
acrid
Harsh; like acid
dilettante
someone with superficial knowledge of the arts; an amateur; a dabbler
philanthropy
n love of mankind especially by doing good deeds
succinct
brief and to the point; concise
eclectic
A choosing the best from many sources; drawn from many sources n cf eclecticism
figurative
Adj based on figures of speech; expressing something in terms usually for something else; metaphorical
alloy
A combination of two or more things usually metals
arbitrary
Random; capricious random
hedonism
n the pursuit of pleasure as a way of life
equanimity
N composure; calm
emigrate
V to move to a new country; to move a new place to live; to expatriate
clique
An exclusive group bound together by some shared quality or interest
blithe
Carefree; cheerful
pious
a reverent or devout ; outwardly and sometimes falsely reverent or devout ; hypocritical
accolade
An award; an honor
philistine
n a smugly ignorant person with no appreciation of intellectual or artistic matters
amnesty
An official pardon for a group of people who have violated a law or policy
perjury
n lying under oath
amoral
Lacking a sense of right and wrong; neither good nor bad neither moral nor immoral; without moral feelings
placate
v to pacify ; to appease ; to soothe
parochial
a narrow or confined in point of view ; provincial
injunction
n a command or order especially a court order
ingenuous
a frank ; without deception ; simple ; artless ; charmingly na ve
scrupulous
a strict; careful; hesitant for ethical reasons
espouse
V to support; to advocate
ardent
Passionate half-hearted
anomaly
An aberration; an irregularity; a deviation ;
elicit
Vt to bring out; to call forth ~a laugh from ~a reply elicitation n
callow
Immature
dogmatic
arrogantly assertive of unproven ideas; stubbornly claiming that something often a system of beliefs is beyond dispute
credulous
eager to believe; gullible
proscribe
v to outlaw; to prohibit ;
deride
to ridicule; to laugh at contemptuously
circumspect
Cautious
effusion
N a pouring forth Effuse v Effusive a
iconoclast
n one who attacks popular beliefs or institutions
pivotal
a crucial crucial
prolific
a abundantly productive; fruitful or fertile
aptitude
Capacity for learning; natural ability
periphery
n the outside edge of something ;
astute
Shrewd; keen in judgment ;
altruism
Selflessness; generosity; devotion to the interests of others
ignominy
n deep disgrace
parody
n a satirical imitation
agenda
Program; the things to be done
ineffable
a incapable of being expressed or described
apocryphal
Of dubious authenticity; fictitious; spurious
stagnation
motionlessness; inactivity
invective
n insulting or abusive speech
extraneous
Adj unnecessary; irrelevant; extra
subjugate
to subdue and dominate; to enslave
construe
To interpret
contentious
Argumentative; quarrelsome
circumscribe
To draw a line around; to set the limits; to define; to restrict.
destitute
extremely poor; utterly lacking
address
To speak to; to direct ones attention to
patent
a obvious =obvious
exigency
N an emergency; an urgency
subordinate
lower in importance position or rank; secondary
comprise
To consist of; to be composed of cf constitute compose
abortive
Unsuccessful
predilection
n a natural preference for something
complement
To complete or fill up; to be the perfect counterpart
ambiguous
Unclear in meaning; confusing; capable of being interpreted in different ways
introspective
a tending to think about oneself ; examining ones feelings
conducive
Promoting
caricature
A portrait or description that is purposely distorted or exaggerated often to prove some point about its subject
flout
V to disregard something out of disrespect
foible
N a minor character flaw
chimera
An illusion; a foolish fancy
scintillate
v to sparkle either literally or figuratively
exalt
V to raise high; to glorify
acute
Sharp; shrewd
Capitalism
Free enterprise
deduce
to conclude from evidence; to infer
candor
Truthfulness; sincere honesty
charlatan
Fraud; quack; con man
sanguine
a cheerful; optimistic; hopeful
frugal
a economical ; penny-pinching
debacle
violent breakdown; sudden overthrow; overwhelming defeat
eccentric
A not conventional; a little kooky; irregular
ambiance
Atmosphere; mood; feeling mood
propensity
n a natural inclination or tendency; a predilection
precursor
n forerunner ; something that goes before and anticipates or paves the way for whatever it is that follows
enigma
N a mystery riddle
belabor
To go over repeatedly or to an absurd extent
infatuated
a foolish ; foolishly passionate or attracted ; made foolish ; foolishly in love
expedient
Adj providing an immediate advantage; serving ones immediate self-interest; practical
grandiose
a absurdly exaggerated
bereaved
Deprived or left desolate especially through death
civil
Polite; civilized; courteous
insatiable
a hard or impossible to satisfy ; greedy ; avaricious
spurious
false; fake false fake
doctrinaire
inflexibly committed to a doctrine or theory without regard to its practicality; dogmatic
austere
Unadorned; stern; forbidding; without excess
axiom
Self-evident rule or truth; a widely accepted saying
bureaucracy
A system of government administration consisting of numerous bureaus or offices especially one run according to inflexible and inefficient rules; any large administrative system characterized by inefficiency lots of rules and red tape
debauchery
wild living; excessive intemperance
pertinent
a relevant ; dealing with the matter at hand ... relevant
amenable
Obedient; willing to give in to the wishes of another; agreeable
bovine
Cow related; cow like cf canine equine feline pis cine porcine ursine
complicity
Participation in wrongdoing; the act of being an accomplice
plaintive
a expressing sadness or sorrow
depravity
extreme wickedness or corruption
surfeit
excess; an excessive amount; excess or overindulgence in eating or drinking
circumlocution
An indirect expression; use of wordy or evasive language
synthesis
the combing of parts to form a whole
peripatetic
a wandering ; traveling continually ; itinerant
corroborate
to confirm; to back up with evidence
duplicity
N the act of being two-faced; double-dealing; deception cf duplication duplicate a n v
ameliorate
To make better or more tolerable ;
illicit
a illegal ; not permitted
incense
a make very angry
egalitarian
A believing in the social and economic equality of all people
impotent
a powerless ; helpless ; unable to perform sexual intercourse
contrived
Artificial; labored
congenial
Agreeably suitable; pleasant
cogent
Powerfully convincing
amorous
Feeling loving especially in a sexual sense; in love relating to love
putative
a commonly accepted; supposed; reputed
convivial
Fond of partying; festive
sensory
a having to do with the senses or sensation
enervate
V to reduce the strength or energy of especially to do so gradually
penitent
a sorry ; repentant ; contrite sorry repentant contrite
bourgeois
Middle class usually in a pejorative sense; boringly conventional
perturb
v to disturb greatly
indignant
a angry especially as a result of something unjust or unworthy ; insulted
debilitate
to weaken; to cripple
ascetic
Hermit like; practicing self-denial
pervade
v to spread throughout
scrutinize
v to examine very carefully
agrarian
Relating to land; relating to the management or farming of land
cajole
To persuade someone to do something he or she doesn't want to do
assuage
To soothe; to pacify; to ease the pain of; to relieve
elusive
Adj hard to pin down; evasive elude V elusion
anarchy
Absence of government or control; lawlessness; disorder
hapless
a unlucky unlucky
paucity
n scarcity =scarcity
incorrigible
a incapable of being reformed
subversive
corrupting; overthrowing; undermining; insurgent
decadent
decaying or decayed especially in terms of morals
beget
To give birth to; to create; to lead to; to cause
insular
a like an island ; isolated
compendium
A summary; an abridgment
coalesce
To come together as one; to fuse; to unite ;
arbiter
One who decides; a judge
consummate
Perfect; complete; supremely skillful
egregious
A extremely bad; flagrant
pernicious
a deadly ; extremely evil ; deadly
decimate
to kill or destroy a large part of 10:1
admonish
To scold gently; to warn
panacea
n something that cures everything
aphorism
A brief often witty saying; a proverb
succumb
to yield or submit; to die ;
gregarious
a sociable ; enjoying the company of others
precipitous
a steep steep;
prepossess
v to preoccupy ; to influence beforehand or prejudice ; to make a good impression on beforehand
exult
V to rejoice; to celebrate
fatuous
Adj foolish; silly; idiotic ;
cliche
An overused saying or idea
artifice
A clever trick; cunning ;
clemency
Mercy; forgiveness; mildness
adverse
Unfavorable; antagonistic
hierarchy
n an organization based on rank or degree ; pecking order
extricate
V to free from difficulty
founder
v to fail ; to collapse ; to sink
perfidy
n treachery treachery
idyllic
a charming in a rustic way ; naturally peaceful
homogeneous
a uniform ; made entirely of one thing uniform
covenant
a solemn agreement; a contract; a pledge
alacrity
Cheerful eagerness or readiness to respond
benefactor
One who provides help especially in the form of a gift or donation
chronic
Constant; lasting a long time; inveterate
hiatus
n a break or interruption often from work ;
serendipity
accidental good fortune; discovering good things without looking for them
allocate
To distribute; to assign; to allot
allusion
An indirect reference often to a literary work; a hint hint
catholic
Universal; embracing everything
fidelity
N faithfulness; loyalty
compelling
Forceful; causing to yield
cryptic
mysterious; mystifying; clandestine mysterious;
sordid
vile; filthy; squalid filthy squalid vile
polemic
n a powerful argument often make to attack or refute a controversial issue
incisive
a cutting right to the heart of the matter
stricture
a restriction; a limitation; a negative criticism ;
parsimonious
a stingy =stingy
squander
to waste
protagonist
n the leading character in a novel play or other work; a leader or champion
antecedent
Someone or something that went before; something that provides a model for something that came after it
stratum
a layer; a level layer level
cosmopolitan
at home in many places or situations; internationally sophisticated
precipitate
v to cause to happen abruptly
patronize
v to treat as an inferior ; to condescend to
portent
n an omen ; a sign of something coming in the future
appease
To soothe; to pacify by giving in to
increment
n an increase ; one in a series of increases
sanctimonious
a pretending to be devout; affecting religious feeling
itinerant
a moving from place to place
conjure
To summon or bring into being as if by magic
prevail
v to triumph ; to overcome rivals ; with on upon or with to persuade ;
curtail
to shorten; to cut short ...
inert
a inactive ; sluggish ; not reacting chemically
digress
to stray from the main subject
intransigent
a uncompromising ; stubborn
elliptical
Adj oval; missing a word or words; obscure
abash
To make ashamed; to embarrass
sobriety
the state of being sober; seriousness
benign
Gentle; not harmful; kind; mild
bastion
Stronghold; fortress; fortified place
colloquial
Conversational; informal in language
adulterate
To contaminate; to make impure
sublime
awesome; extremely exalted; lofty; majestic
sequester
v to set or keep apart ;
exhaustive
Adj thorough; rigorous; complete; painstaking
ephemeral
A lasting a very short time
amorphous
Shapeless; without a regular or stable shape
allege
To assert without proof
intractable
a uncontrollable ; stubborn ; disobedient
inveterate
a habitual ; firm in habit ; deeply rooted
degenerate
to break down; to deteriorate
hegemony
n leadership especially of one nation over another
explicit
Adj clearly and directly expressed
bucolic
Charmingly rural; rustic; country like
dormant
A inactive; as though asleep; asleep ~volcano ~window
commensurate
Equal; proportionate
protract
v to prolong prolong
propriety
n properness; good manners ;
coerce
To force someone to do or not to do something
felicity
N happiness; skillfulness especially at expressing things; adeptness
innocuous
a harmless ; banal
chasm
A deep gaping hole; a gorge
qualify
v to modify or restrict
contingent
Dependent; possible
postulate
n something accepted as true without proof ; and axiom
fraternal
a like brothers
empirical
Adj relying on experience or observation; not merely theoretical ; ~philosophy Empiricism
equitable
Adj fair
aloof
Uninvolved; standing off; keeping ones distance
ethereal
Adj heavenly as light and insubstantial as a gas or ether heavenly
distinguish
to tell apart; to cause to stand out
connoisseur
An expert particularly in matter of art or taste
acumen
Keenness of judgment; mental sharpness
indulgent
lenient ; yielding to desire
idiosyncrasy
n a peculiarity ; an eccentricity
corollary
something that follows; a natural consequence
acquiesce
To comply passively; to accept; to assent; to agree
perquisite
n a privilege that goes along with a job ; a perk =perk
ironic
a meaning the opposite of what you seem to say ; using words to mean something other than what they seem to mean
condone
To overlook; to permit to happen
confluence
A flowing together especially of rivers; place where they begin to flow together
peccadillo
n a minor offense
inaugurate
v to begin officially ; to induct formally into office
promulgate
v to proclaim; to publicly or formally declare something
exemplify
V to illustrate by example; to serve as a good example
concord
Harmony; agreement
chronicle
A record of events in order of time; a history
culpable
deserving blame; guilty
caustic
Like acid; corrosive
autocratic
Ruling with absolute authority; extremely bossy
homily
n a sermon
fastidious
Adj meticulous; demanding; finicky
archaic
Extremely old; ancient; outdated
forsake
v to abandon ; to renounce ; to relinquish
augment
To make bigger; to add to; to increase ;
alleviate
To relieve usually temporarily or incompletely; to make bearable; to lessen
apartheid
The abhorrent policy of racial segregation and oppression in the Repubic of South Africa
epigram
N a brief and usually witty or satirical saying
assimilate
To take in; to absorb; to learn thoroughly
antithesis
The direct opposite
dialectical
relating to discussions; relating to the rules and methods of reasoning; approaching truth in the middle of opposing extremes
soporific
sleeping inducing; extremely boring; very sleepy
catharsis
Purification that brings emotional relief or renewal
facile
Adj fluent; skillful in a superficial way; easy
efface
Vt to erase; to rub away the features of eclipse Cf effaceable effacement
incandescent
a brilliant ; giving off heat or light
abject
Hopeless; extremely sad and servile; defeated; utterly bummed out
inept
a clumsy ; incompetent ; gauche
pragmatic
a practical ; down to earth ; based on experience rather than theory
exacerbate
V to make worse ;
congenital
A trait or condition acquired between conception and birth; innate
proselytize
v to convert someone from one religion or doctrine to another; to recruit converts to a religion or doctrine
profound
a deep several senses; ~sleep ~knowledge ~meaning ~thanks ~anxiety ~bow n profundity profoundness ; n
chagrin
Humiliation; embarrassed disappointment
definitive
conclusive; providing the last word
avarice
Greed; excessive love of riches
aberration
Something not typical; a deviation from the standard
fortuitous
a accidental ; occurring by chance
indigent
a poor
emigrant
a n immigrate
conciliatory
Making peace; attempting to resolve a dispute through goodwill
assiduous
Hardworking; busy; quite diligent
garrulous
a talkative; chatty
sporadic
stopping and starting; scattered; occurring in bursts every once in a while
awry
Off course; twisted to one side ;
chastise
To inflict punishment on; to discipline
adulation
Wild or excessive admiration; flattery
cognizant
Aware; conscious
catalyst
In chemistry~; anyone or anything that makes something happen without being directly involved in it
instigate
v to provoke ; to stir up
pedantic
a boringly scholarly or academic
charisma
A magical-seeming ability to attract followers or inspire loyalty
desultory
without a plan or purpose; disconnected; random
prodigal
a wastefully extravagant ;
deprecate
to express disapproval of
belie
To give a false impression of; to contradict
acerbic
Bitter; sour; severe
audacity
Boldness; reckless daring; impertinence ;
cursory
hasty; superficial
cadence
Rhythm the rise and fall of sounds
autonomous
Acting independently
disparage
to belittle; to say uncomplimentary things about usually in a somewhat indirect way
polarize
v to break up into opposing factions or groupings
censure
To condemn severely for doing something bad
exacting
Adj extremely demanding; difficult; requiring great skill or care
abstract
Theoretical; impersonal
blatant
Unpleasantly or offensively noisy; glaring
preeminent
a better than anyone else ; outstanding ; supreme
innate
a existing since birth ; inborn ; inherent
provisional
a conditional; temporary; tentative
inexorable
a relentless ; inevitable ; unavoidable
comprehensive
Covering or including everything
dictum
an authoritative saying; an adage; a maxim; a proverb
proliferate
v to spread or grow rapidly
consonant
Harmonious; in agreement
contiguous
Side by side; adjoining
countenance
face; facial expression especially an encouraging one
cerebral
Brainy; intellectually refined
inordinate
a excessive ; unreasonable
avuncular
Like an uncle especially a nice uncle ;
criterion
standard; basis for judgment
arduous
Hard; difficult
burgeon
To expand; to flourish
solicitous
eager and attentive often to the point of hovering; anxiously caring or attentive
fatalist
N someone who believes that future events are already determined and that humans are powerless to change them
superfluous
extra; unnecessary; redundant
servile
submissive and subservient; like a servant
expatriate
V to throw someone out of his or her native land; to move away from ones native land; to emigrate
cynic
one who deeply distrusts human nature; one who believes humans are motivated only by selfishness
aristocratic
Of noble birth; snobbish
sardonic
a mocking; scornful
amenity
Pleasantness; attractive or comfortable feature
evanescent
Adj fleeting; vanishing; happening for only the briefest period
sedition
n treason; the incitement of public disorder or rebellion
brevity
Briefness
celibacy
Abstinence from sex
facetious
Adj humorous; not serious; clumsily humorous
preclude
v to prevent something from ever happening
exasperate
V to annoy thoroughly; to make very angry; to try the patience of
staunch
firmly committed; firmly in favor of; steadfast
static
stationary; not changing or moving
covert
secret; hidden
docile
easily taught; obedient; easy to handle
anguish
Agonizing physical or mental pain
covet
to wish for enviously
belligerent
Combative; quarrelsome; waging war
incantation
n a chant ; the repetition of statements or phrases in a way reminiscent of a chant
profane
a not having to do with religion; irreverent; blasphemous
existential
Adj having to do with existence; having to do with the body of thought called existentialism which basically holds that human beings are responsible for their own actions but is otherwise too complicated to summarize in a single sentence
platitude
n a dull or trite remark ; a cliché
derogatory
disapproving; degrading
abridge
To shorten; to condense
glut
n surplus ; an overabundance
belittle
To make to seem little; to put someone down
demagogue
a leader of the people but more a rabble rouser
paternal
a fatherly ; fatherlike
farcical
Adj absurd; ludicrous
arcane
Mysterious; known only to a select few mysterious
propitious
a marked by favorable signs or conditions
palpable
a capable of being touched ; obvious ; tangible
concurrent
Happening at the same time; parallel
deleterious
harmful
apocalypse
A prophetic revelation especially one concerning the end of the world
animosity
Resentment; hostility; ill will
imminent
a just about to happen
capitulate
To surrender; to give up or give in
squalor
filth; wretched degraded or repulsive living conditions
grandiloquent
a pompous ; using a lot of big fancy words in an attempt to sound impressive
peruse
v to read carefully
disseminate
to spread the seeds of something; to scatter; to make widely known
epitome
N a brief summary that captures the meaning of the whole; the perfect example of something; a paradigm ;
affinity
Sympathy; attraction; kinship; similarity
incipient
a beginning ; emerging
genre
n a type or category especially of art or writing
insidious
a treacherous ; sneaky ;
discreet
prudent; judiciously reserved
steadfast
loyal; faithful loyal faithful
consecrate
To make or declare sacred
affectation
Unnatural or artificial behavior usually intended to impress
irrevocable
a irreversible
discern
to have insight; to see things clearly to discriminate; to differentiate
benevolent
Generous; kind; doing good deeds
conventional
common; customary; unexceptional
apathy
Lack of interest; lack of feeling
indolent
a lazy ;
saccharine
a sweet; excessively or disgustingly sweet
consensus
Unanimity or general agreement
erudite
Adj scholarly; deeply learned ;
pacify
v to calm someone down ; to placate
abysmal
Extremely hopeless or wretched; bottomless
collusion
Conspiracy; secret cooperation
analogy
A comparison of one thing to another; similarity similarity
impeccable
a flawless ; entirely without sin
sloth
laziness; sluggishness
pristine
a original ; unspoiled ; pure
condescend
To stoop to someone else level usually in an offensive way; to patronize
diffident
timid; lacking in self-confidence
salutary
a healthful; remedial; curative
appropriate
To take without permission; to set aside for a particular use
qualitative
a having to do with the quality or qualities of something as opposed to the quantity
copious
Abundant; plentiful
aggregate
Sum total; a collection of separate things mixed together
impetuous
a impulsive ; extremely impatient ;
proficient
a thoroughly competent; skillful; very good at something at in n expert
pensive
a thoughtful and sad
anachronism
Something out of place in time or history; an incongruity
poignant
a painfully emotional ; extremely moving ; sharp or astute
insinuate
v to hint ; to creep in hind
preempt
v to seize something by prior right
foment
V to stir up; to instigate
inane
a silly ; senseless
disdain
arrogant scorn; contempt
guile
n cunning ; duplicity ; artfulness
beset
Harass; to surround
abstinent
Abstaining; voluntarily not doing something especially something pleasant that is bad for you or has a bad reputation
cognitive
Dealing with how we know the world around us through our senses; mental
prosaic
a dull; unimaginative; like prose as opposed to poetry
proprietary
a characteristic of an owner of property; constituting property
accost
To approach and speak to someone
aesthetic
Having to do with artistic beauty; artistic
acrimonious
Full of spite; bitter; nasty
archetype
An original model or pattern
plebeian
n common ; vulgar ; low class ; bourgeois ; vulgar
insurgent
n a rebel ; someone who revolts against a government
gravity
n seriousness
avow
To claim; to declare boldly; to admit
dissipate
to thin out drift away or dissolve; to cause to thin out drift away or dissolve; to waste or squander
stigmatize
to brand with disgrace; to set a mark of disgrace upon
sacrosanct
a sacred; held to be inviolable
encroach
Vi to make gradual or stealthy inroads into; to trespass on upon
extrovert
N an open outgoing person; a person whose attention is focused on others rather than on himself or herself
approbation
Approval; praise
profuse
a flowing; extravagant
ambivalent
Undecided; neutral; wishy-washy
singular
unique; superior; exceptional; strange
abnegate
To deny oneself things; to reject; to renounce
permeate
v to spread or seep through ; to penetrate
deference
submission to another's will; respect; courtesy
edify
Vt to enlighten; to instruct especially in moral or religious matters; cfedifying
didactic
intended to teach; morally instructive; pedantic
integral
a essential
indigenous
a native ; originating in that area
prerogative
n a right or privilege connected exclusively with a position a person a class a nation or some other group or classification
infer
v to conclude ; to deduce
incessant
a unceasing
esoteric
Adj hard to understand; understood by only a select few; peculiar
surrogate
substitute
stoic
indifferent at least outwardly to pleasure or pain to joy or grief to fortune or misfortune
plethora
n an excess
patriarch
n the male head of a family or tribe
insipid
a dull ; bland ; banal
precept
n a rule to live by ; a principle establishing a certain kind of action or behavior ; a maxim maxim;
forgo
v to do without ; to forbear
provident
a preparing for the future; providing for the future; frugal
blasphemy
Irreverence; an insult to something held sacred; profanity
heyday
n golden age ; prime prime
attrition
Gradual wearing away weakening or loss; a natural or expected decrease in numbers of size
infinitesimal
a very very very small ; infinitely small ;
hermetic
a impervious to external influence ; airtight
ascendancy
Supremacy; domination
paradigm
n a model or example ;
coup
a brilliant victory or accomplishment; the violent overthrow of a government by a small internal group ;
impervious
a not allowing anything to pass through ; impenetrable
banal
Unoriginal; ordinary
partisan
n one who supports a particular person cause or idea
choleric
Hot-tempered; quick to anger
concise
Brief and to the point; succinct
gesticulate
v to make gestures especially when speaking or in place of speaking
secular
a having nothing to do with religion or spiritual concerns
impugn
v to attack especially to attack the truth or integrity of something
abhor
To hate very very much; to detest
fervor
N great warmth or earnestness; ardor; zeal ardor
sentient
a able to perceive by the senses; conscious ...
abdicate
To step down from a position of power or responsibility
sacrilege
n a violation of something sacred; blasphemy
anecdote
A short account of a humorous or revealing incident
bemused
Confused; bewildered
conjecture
To guess; to deduce or infer on slight evidence
dubious
A full of doubt; uncertain a ~ friend be ~ about cf dubitable
palliate
v to relieve or alleviate something without getting rid of the problem ; to assuage ; to mitigate
quixotic
a romantic or idealistic to a foolish or impractical degree
egocentric
A selfish; believing that one is the center of everything n egoism egoistic -tical
proponent
n an advocate; a supporter of a position ;
faction
N a group usually a small part of a larger group united around some cause; disagreement within an organization
paradox
n a true statement or phenomenon that nonetheless seems to contradict itself ; an untrue statement or phenomenon that nonetheless seems logical
affable
Easy to talk to; friendly
subtle
not obvious; able to make fine distinctions; ingenious; crafty
fauna
N animals cf flora animal
spawn
to bring forth; to produce a large number
circumvent
To frustrate as though by surrounding
perennial
a continual ; happening again and again or year after year continual
circuitous
Round about; not following a direct path
precedent
n an earlier example or model of something
husbandry
n thrifty management of resources ; livestock farming
perfunctory
a unenthusiastic ; careless careless; unenthusiastic
Imperial`
a like an emperor or an empire
amiable
Friendly; agreeable
engender
V to bring into existence; to create; to cause produce ment
dissolution
the breaking up or dissolving of something into parts; disintegration
artful
Wily; sly ; =crafty
fecund
Adj fertile; productive
provincial
a limited in outlook to ones own small corner of the world; narrow
penchant
n a strong taste or liking for something ; a predilection
delude
to deceive
incongruous
a not harmonious ; not consistent ; not appropriate not fitting in
culinary
relating to cooking or the kitchen
euphemism
N a pleasant or inoffensive expression used in place of an unpleasant or offensive one
heresy
n any belief that is strongly opposed to established beliefs
stringent
strict; restrictive
histrionic
a overly dramatic ; theatrical ;
querulous
a complaining; grumbling; whining ;
bequest
Something left to someone in a will
infamous
a shamefully wicked ; having an extremely bad reputation ; disgraceful
auspicious
Favorable; promising; pointing to a good result
adroit
Skillful; dexterous; clever; shrewd; socially at ease
domestic
having to do with the household or family; not foreign
profess
v to declare; to declare falsely or pretend cf professed professional a n
impartial
a fair ; not favoring one side or the other ; unbiased
capricious
Unpredictable; like to change at any moment
inherent
a part of the essential nature of something ; intrinsic
apotheosis
Elevation to divine status; the perfect example of something
pedestrian
a unimaginative ; banal unimaginative banal
supercilious
haughty; patronizing
painstaking
a extremely careful ; taking pains =pains-taking = taking pains
equivocal
Adj ambiguous; intentionally confusing; capable of being interpreted in more than one way
adamant
Stubborn; unyielding; completely inflexible
culminate
to climax; to reach full effect
expedite
V to speed up or ease the progress of
peremptory
a final ; categorical ; dictatorial categorical
abate
To subside; to reduce
proletariat
n the industrial working class
despot
an absolute ruler; an autocrat
irascible
a easily angered or provoked ; irritable
profligate
a extravagantly wasteful and usually wildly immoral
burlesque
A ludicrous mocking or exaggerated imitation
antipathy
Firm dislike; a dislike ↔sympathy ;
purported
a rumored; claimed
extol
V to praise highly; to laud
distend
to swell; to extend a great deal
beleaguer
To surround; to besiege; to harass
chicanery
Trickery; deceitfulness; artifice; especially legal or political
gratuitous
a given freely said of something bad ; unjustified ; unprovoked ; uncalled for
sagacious
a discerning; shrewd; keen in judgment; wise
exhort
V to urge strongly; to give a serious warning to
harbinger
n a forerunner ; a signal of ;
ponderous
a so large as to be clumsy ; massive ; dull massive dull
appreciate
To increase in value
ideology
n a system of social or political ideas
disinterested
not taking sides; unbiased
prodigious
a extraordinary; enormous; vast ;
futile
a useless ; hopeless ;
ebullient
A boiling; bubbling with excitement; exuberant; n ebullience-cy n ebullition
discriminate
to notice or point out the difference between two or more things; to discern; to differentiate ;
blight
Disease in plants; anything that injures or destroys
defame
to libel or slander; to ruin the good name of
flagrant
Adj glaringly bad; notorious; scandalous
emulate
Vt to strive to equal or excel usually through imitation emulator emulation emulous be emulous of
complacent
Self-satisfied; overly pleased with oneself; contented to a fault
prudent
a careful; having foresight
inundate
v to flood ; to cover completely with water ; to overwhelm
pathology
n the science of diseases
abstruse
Hard to understand
finesse
N skillful maneuvering; subtlety; craftiness
broach
To open up a subject for discussion often a delicate subject
Ellipsis
ellipsoid
affluent
Rich; prosperous
specious
deceptively plausible or attractive
prodigy
n an extremely talented child; an extraordinary accomplishment or occurrence; wonder /
flaunt
V show off; to display ostentatiously
castigate
To criticize severely; to chastise
intrinsic
a part of the essential nature of something ; inherent
adherent
Follower; supporter; believer
contrite
Admitting guilt; especially feeling remorseful
daunt
to make fearful; to intimidate
substantive
having substance; real; essential; solid; substantial
premise
n an assumption ; the basis for a conclusion
despondent
extremely depressed; full of despair
delineate
to describe accurately; to draw in outline
extrapolate
V to protect or deduce from something known; to infer
fabrication
N a lie; something made up
insolent
a arrogant ; insulting
furtive
a secretive ; sly
proximity
n nearness
hackneyed
a overused ; trite ; stale
cacophony
Harsh-sounding mixture of words voices or sounds
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