Vocabulary Level F, Unit 6

brusque

(adj.) Abrupt, blunt, with no formalities

vicarious

(adj.) Performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another

anomalous

(adj.) abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual

bizarre

(adj.) extremely strange, unusual, atypical

immutable

(adj.) not subject to change, constant

surreptitious

(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud

heinous

(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful

fetter

(n.) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains; (v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent

aspersion

(n.) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming

megalomania

(n.) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality

demagogue

(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

sinecure

(n.) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job

insurgent

(n.) one who rebels or rises against authority; (adj.) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on

ennui

(n.) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom

transmute

(v.) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another

cajole

(v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises

disabuse

(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking

transgress

(v.) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law

contrive

(v.) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan

castigate

(v.) to punish severely; to criticize severely