Lesson 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 Vocab

altercation

a heated argument

Cynical

inclined to distrust or deny the goodness or sincerity of human motive

Bawdy

indecent

disparity

inequality; difference

duplicity

intentional deceit in speech or conduct

charlatan

one who pretends to have more knowledge or skill than he or she really has, especially in the field of medicine

dilettante

one who studies an art or science for mere amusement

audacity

rude boldness; nerve

Banter

teasing; good-natured joking

adamant

unyielding; firm in opinion

Bigot

one who is intolerant of another's beliefs, opinions, or values

Circumvent

to get around; to beat or defeat by trickery; to prevent

Clement

1) merciful; lenient 2) mild, as weather

Candid

1) outspoken, blunt 2) informal, unposed

collaborate

1) to work with another toward a goal 2) to cooperate with an enemy invader

Exodus

A departure, especially in a large group

Demagogue

A leader who appeals to the emotions and prejudices of people, especially to advance his own power

Ambivalent

Being uncertain

Avarice

Excessive greed

expedient

The best means to do something under a given set of circumstances, especially if it will bring about personal gain

Enamored

To be in love with

Evoke

To call forth; to draw forth

deprecate

To express disapproval of; to depreciate ones effort

Enhance

To increase the value or beauty of something

Enunciate

To pronounce words clearly and distinctly

dilemma

a difficult choice; especially a choice between two equally undesirable alternatives

Cult

a fad-like devotion to a person, thing, or idea; a group of people with such a devotion

Anathema

a greatly disliked, hated person or thing

Enigma

a puzzling or seemingly inexplicable situation, person, etc

Bastion

a strong defense; a fort

Cliché

a worn-out idea or overused expression

Copious

abundant; large in number or quantity

Droll

amusing in an odd way

connoisseur

an expert; a critical judge in matters of culture, food, or wine

Effigy

an image of a person or thing; usually a crude image of a hated person

culmination

attainment by anything of its highest point or degree

Comely

attractive or handsome; pleasing to the sight

Credence

belief or trust

Caustic

biting, burning, severe; sharp or sarcastic

acrimony

bitterness

Appease

calm, to give in

Circumspect

careful, watchful; attentive to all points

explicit

clearly stated

Crass

coarse, stupid, tasteless

Chaos

complete disorder

Decorum

conformity to accepted standards of conduct; proper behavior

Arduous

difficult; requiring much effort

Avid

eager; extremely interested

Docile

easy to teach or manage

destitute

extremely poor; lacking necessities like food and shelter

emaciated

extremely thin, wasted away

Affable

friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to

Amicable

friendly; peaceable

Dour

gloomy, sullen

capricious

guided by whim rather than reason; changing one's mind suddenly

Canine

having to do with dogs

Agrarian

having to do with farming and agriculture

Culinary

having to do with the kitchen or cooking

Agnostic

one who believes that the existence of a god can be neither proven nor disproven

Apathy

lack of interest

diffident

lacking in self-confidence; shy

Barrister

lawyer

Expatriate

one who chooses to leave his or her native country

dolorous

mournful, sad

Extraneous

not belonging; foreign; nonessential

Ethnic

of or having to do with races or classes of people and their language, culture, history, etc

complacent

pleased with oneself or ones deeds

Adulation

praise or flattery that is excessive

Demure

quiet and modest

Erudite

scholarly; having or showing a wide knowledge gained from reading

Clandestine

secret

Contrite

showing a deep regret and sorrow, usually for having committed some wrongdoing

dogmatic

stating an opinion in an authoritative or arrogant manner

Austere

stern; severe; plain

Condone

to forgive or overlook an offense by treating the wrongdoer as if he had done nothing wrong

Abet

to assist or encourage, especially in wrongdoing

Enraptured

to be delighted beyond measure

Concur

to be of the same opinion; to agree with

Coerce

to compel by force; to force a person to do something against his or her will

Befuddle

to confuse

Connive

to cooperate secretly in wrongdoing

Castigate

to criticize or punish for the purpose of correction

Dole

to distribute; to give out sparingly

Augment

to enlarge, increase

Expunge

to erase

Expound

to explain; to set forth point by point; to interpret

Acquit

to find not guilty of a fault or crime

Abhor

to hate, despise

Abate

to lessen in violence or intensity

Bask

to lie in or be exposed to warmth

Cajole

to persuade with false promises and flattery

Extol

to praise highly

Chastise

to punish severely

Evince

to show clearly

Balk

to stop short and refuse to continue

divulge

to tell, to reveal (as a secret)

Emulate

to try to be equal to or better than; to imitate

Extradite

to turn a prisoner over to the jurisdiction of another country or state where the crime was allegedly committed

Exhort

to use words or arguments to incite one to good deeds

bacchanalian

wild with drunkenness