Vocabulary Workshop Level H Unit 1

poltroon

a base coward

proselyte

a covert; a disciple

liturgy

a religious service or rite

vignette

a short description or sketch

morass

a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand

chimerical

absurd, wildly fantastic, impossible

fait accompli

an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action

hierarchy

any system of things or people arranged one above another in order of rank, wealth, class.. etc.

oblivious

forgetful; unaware

raillery

good-humored ridicule; persiflage

mirage

illusion

ribald

irreverently mocking; vulgar

effete

lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out

supine

lying flat on one's back; lethargic, apathetic, passive

hidebound

narrow-minded and rigid

noisome

offensive or disgusting

quasi

resembling but not actually being; semi

adjunct

something added to something else as helpful or useful, but not essential

bellwether

the male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; an indicator of trends

caterwaul

to howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel