GregMat Vocab Set 3

desultory

Adj. lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm.

compelling

attractive, or irresistible, or really, really convincing

equivocate

be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information

deference

courteous regard for people's feelings

anomalous

deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.

arduous

difficult; requiring much effort

polarize

divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.

cosmopolitan

including people from many different countries; of worldwide scope; n. Someone who has traveled to many countries

prodigal

lavish; wasteful

assuage

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense ; ameliorate

ascetic

practicing self-denial; someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline

bucolic

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life. ; rural

diffident

shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved

abjure

solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).

coalesce

to blend; to merge

burgeon (v.)

to grow and flourish

arcane

understood by few; requiring secret or mysterious knowledge

cacophonous (adj.)

unpleasant sound

verbose

using or expressed in more words than are needed.

censure

v. to criticize sharply; n. A strong criticism

artless

without effort or deceit; natural and simple.

cogent

(of an argument or case) clear, logical, powerfully persuasive

abate

(of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread.

contend

1. compete with others in a struggle to achieve (something). 2. Claim something as a position in an argument.

dilatory

1. slow to act. 2. intended to cause delay.

canonize

1. to treat someone as a sacred person 2. (in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint.

betray

1. unintentionally reveal; be evidence of. 2. expose (one's country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy.

chicanery

The use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them)

antipathy

a deep-seated dislike of something

copious

abundant in supply or quantity.