Collection 1

wholesome

(adj.) healthy; morally and socially sound and good; helping to bring about or preserve good health

overt

(adj.) open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

astute

(adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

levity

(n.) a lack of seriousness or earnestness, especially about things that should be treated with respect; buoyancy, lightness in weight humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect. "as an attempt to introduce a note of levity, the words were a disastrous flop"

overture

(n.) an opening move toward negotiation or action; a proposal or offer; an introductory section or part

jeer

(v.) to make fun of rudely or unkindly; (n.) a rude remark of derision

snare

(v.) to trap, catch; (n.) a trap or entanglement

scourge

1. HISTORICAL a whip used as an instrument of punishment. 2. a person or thing that causes great trouble or suffering. "the scourge of mass unemployment"

forlorn

1. pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely. "forlorn figures at bus stops" 2. (of an aim or endeavor) unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled; hopeless. "a forlorn attempt to escape"

cultivar

A "cultivar" is a cultivated variety of a species. It is reproduced from a single individual in such a way (usually asexual propagation) that traits can be kept.

Pig Latin

A language game where a speaker rearranged the sounds in words: The initial consonant sound of each word is moved to the end and ay is added after it; but when the word begins with a vowel, the initial sound isn't moved, but ay is added at the end (e.g. cat = at-cay)

rollicking

Adj. Exuberantly lively and amusing; carefree; joyous

deep end

Deep side of a pool Enter directly into a difficult job If you are thrown in at the deep end , you are put in a completely new situation without any help or preparation . If you jump in at the deep end , you go into a completely new situation without any help or preparation.

foregone

Having gone before; past; previous

seamy side

The sordid, unattractive aspect of something

boon

a gift or blessing

Cohort

a group of people banded together or treated as a group. "a cohort of civil servants patiently drafting legislation"

decolletage

a low neckline on a garment or a garment with a low neckline

bedlam

a noisy uproar; a scene of wild confusion

blight

a plant disease, typically one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts. "the vines suffered blight and disease" a thing that spoils or damages something. "the vacant properties are a blight on the neighborhood"

Melodrama

a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions.

chute

a sloping channel or slide for conveying things to a lower level.

snarl

a vicious angry growl

finagle

achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods

unbeknownst

adjective without the knowledge of (someone). "unbeknown to me, she made some inquiries"

Vivacious

adjective (especially of a woman) attractively lively and animated. synonyms: lively, spirited, bubbly, ebullient, buoyant, sparkling, lighthearted, jaunty, merry, happy, jolly, full of fun, cheery, cheerful, perky, sunny, breezy, enthusiastic, irrepressible, vibrant, vital, zestful, energetic, effervescent, dynamic;

Draconian

adjective (of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe. synonyms: harsh, severe, strict, extreme, drastic, stringent, tough;

Honorific

adjective 1. (of an office or position) given as a mark of respect, but having few or no duties. noun 1. a title or word implying or expressing high status, politeness, or respect. "he will be able to put the honorific after his name: licenciado, "college graduate.""

Precarious

adjective 1. not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse. "a precarious ladder" 2. dependent on chance; uncertain. "she made a precarious living by writing" synonyms: uncertain, insecure, unpredictable, risky, parlous, hazardous, dangerous, unsafe;

Audacious

adjective 1. showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks. "a series of audacious takeovers" synonyms: bold, daring, fearless, intrepid, brave, courageous, valiant, heroic, plucky; More 2. showing an impudent lack of respect. "an audacious remark" synonyms: impudent, impertinent, insolent, presumptuous, cheeky, irreverent, discourteous, disrespectful, insubordinate, ill-mannered, unmannerly, rude, brazen, shameless, pert, defiant, cocky, bold (as brass);

Torrid

adjective 1. very hot and dry. "the torrid heat of the afternoon" synonyms: hot, dry, scorching, searing, blazing, blistering, sweltering, burning, sultry; 2. full of difficulty or tribulation. "Wall Street is in for a torrid time in the next few weeks"

Pretentious

adjective attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed. "a pretentious literary device" synonyms: affected, ostentatious, showy;

Fickle

adjective changing frequently, especially as regards one's loyalties, interests, or affection. "Web patrons are a notoriously fickle lot, bouncing from one site to another on a whim" synonyms: capricious, changeable, variable, volatile, mercurial;

Orwellian

adjective characteristic of the writings of George Orwell, especially with reference to his dystopian account of a future totalitarian state in Nineteen Eighty-Four. "a frightening view of an Orwellian future"

cathartic

adjective providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis. "crying is a cathartic release" MEDICINE noun: cathartic; plural noun: cathartics a purgative drug.

visceral

adjective relating to the viscera. "the visceral nervous system" relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect. "the voters' visceral fear of change"

Formative

adjective serving to form something, especially having a profound and lasting influence on a person's development. "his formative years" synonyms: developmental, developing, growing, malleable, impressionable, susceptible

enigmatic

adjective difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious. "he took the money with an enigmatic smile"

Stupendous

adjective extremely impressive. "a stupendous display of technique" synonyms: amazing, astounding, astonishing, extraordinary, remarkable, phenomenal, staggering, breathtaking;

vestigial

adjective forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable. "he felt a vestigial flicker of anger from last night"

Mystique

adjective have an aura of mystery "Pastor Philip had a mystique"

pernicious

adjective having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way. "the pernicious influences of the mass media"

Clairvoyant

adjective having or exhibiting an ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact. "he didn't tell me about it and I'm not clairvoyant" "Matiamma was clairvoyant"

Formidable

adjective inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable. "a formidable opponent" synonyms: intimidating, forbidding, daunting, disturbing, alarming, frightening, disquieting, brooding, awesome, fearsome, ominous, foreboding, sinister, menacing, threatening, dangerous

conducive

adjective making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible. "the harsh lights and cameras were hardly conducive to a relaxed atmosphere"

Existential

adjective relating to existence. PHILOSOPHY concerned with existence, especially human existence as viewed in the theories of existentialism. LOGIC (of a proposition) affirming or implying the existence of a thing.

Obstinate

adjective stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so. synonyms: stubborn, unyielding, inflexible, unbending, intransigent, intractable, obdurate, mulish, bullheaded, stubborn as a mule, pigheaded, self-willed, strong-willed, headstrong, willful, contrary, perverse, recalcitrant, refractory, uncooperative, unmanageable, stiff-necked, rigid, uncompromising, implacable, unrelenting, immovable, unshakable

Tenuous

adjective very weak or slight. "the tenuous link between interest rates and investment" synonyms: slight, insubstantial, meager, flimsy, weak, doubtful, dubious, questionable, suspect;

De facto

adverb 1. in fact, or in effect, whether by right or not. "the island has been de facto divided into two countries" synonyms: in practice, in effect, in fact, in reality, really, actually "the republic is de facto two states" adjective 1. denoting someone or something that is such in fact. "a de facto one-party system" synonyms: actual, real, effective "de facto control"

wake

after something; as a result of some event. (Alludes to a ship's wake.) We had no place to live in the wake of the fire. In the wake of the storm, there were many broken tree limbs.

Knickerbocker

any New Yorker

implore

beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something

alacrity

brisk and cheerful readiness. "she accepted the invitation with alacrity"

conflate

combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one. "the urban crisis conflates a number of different economic and social issues"

Albeit

conjunction although. "he was making progress, albeit rather slowly"

hunker down

crouch down, to stay in a place for a period of time

arduous

hard to do, requiring much effort

sleaze

have a low characteristic quality

morose

having a gloomy or sullen manner; not friendly or sociable, ill-tempered. "she was morose and silent when she got home"

canny

having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, especially in money or business matters. "canny shoppers came early for a bargain"

Slog (släɡ)

informal verb 1. work hard over a period of time. "they were slogging away to meet a deadline" synonyms: work hard, toil, labor, work one's fingers to the bone, work like a Trojan/dog, exert oneself, grind, slave, grub, plow, plod, peg; 2. hit forcefully and typically wildly, especially in boxing. "the fighters were slogging away" noun 1. a spell of difficult, tiring work or traveling. "it would be a hard slog back to the camp" synonyms: hard work, toil, toiling, labor, effort, exertion, grind, drudgery; More

crass

lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence

jaggedly

marked by indentations on an edge or surface

undaunted

not discouraged by danger or difficulty

Travesty

noun 1. a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something. "the absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice" synonyms: perversion of, distortion of, corruption of, misrepresentation of, poor imitation of, poor substitute for, mockery of, parody of, caricature of; verb 1. represent in a false or distorted way. "Michael has betrayed the family by travestying them in his plays" synonyms: perversion of, distortion of, corruption of, misrepresentation of, poor imitation of, poor substitute for, mockery of, parody of, caricature of;

Renegrade

noun 1. a person who deserts and betrays an organization, country, or set of principles. synonyms: traitor, defector, deserter, turncoat, rebel, mutineer "he was denounced as a renegade" adjective 1. having treacherously changed allegiance. "a renegade bodyguard" synonyms: treacherous, traitorous, disloyal, treasonous, rebel, mutinous "renegade troops"

Libertine

noun 1. a person, especially a man, who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility, especially in sexual matters. synonyms: philanderer, playboy, rake, roué, Don Juan, Lothario, Casanova, Romeo; 2. a person who rejects accepted opinions in matters of religion; a freethinker. adjective 1. characterized by a disregard of morality, especially in sexual matters. "his more libertine impulses" 2. freethinking in matters of religion.

Scion

noun 1. a young shoot or twig of a plant, especially one cut for grafting or rooting. synonyms: cutting, graft, slip; 2. a descendant of a notable family. "he was the scion of a wealthy family" synonyms: descendant;

Hankering

noun a strong desire to have or do something. "a hankering for family life"

Connotation

noun an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning. "the word "discipline" has unhappy connotations of punishment and repression" synonyms: overtone, undertone, undercurrent, implication, hidden meaning, nuance, hint, echo, vibrations, association, intimation, suggestion, suspicion, insinuation "there was a connotation of distrust in his voice" PHILOSOPHY the abstract meaning or intension of a term, which forms a principle determining which objects or concepts it applies to.

Inception

noun the establishment or starting point of an institution or activity. "she has been on the board since its inception two years ago" synonyms: beginning, commencement, start, birth, dawn, genesis, origin, outset;

Decorum

noun behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety. "you exhibit remarkable modesty and decorum"

Fortitude

noun courage in pain or adversity. "she endured her illness with great fortitude" synonyms: courage, bravery, endurance, resilience, mettle, moral fiber, strength of mind, strength of character, strong-mindedness, backbone, spirit, grit, true grit, steadfastness; informal guts

profundity

noun deep insight; great depth of knowledge or thought. "the simplicity and profundity of the message"

Paddy

noun plural noun: paddies a field where rice is grown. rice before threshing or in the husk.

reciprocity

noun the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, especially privileges granted by one country or organization to another. "the Community intends to start discussions on reciprocity with third countries"

Premise

noun LOGIC 1. a previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion. "if the premise is true, then the conclusion must be true" verb 1. base an argument, theory, or undertaking on. "the reforms were premised on our findings"

donnybrook

nounNORTH AMERICAN•AUSTRALIAN a scene of uproar and disorder; a heated argument. "raucous ideological donnybrooks"

telltale

revealing

scrounge

seek to obtain (something, typically food or money) at the expense or through the generosity of others or by stealth. "he had managed to scrounge a free meal"

bender

several days of binge drinking

lance

spear; spike; javelin

mutter

talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice

Tenacity

te·nac·i·ty (təˈnasədē) noun the quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly; grip. "the sheer tenacity of the limpet" synonyms: persistence, determination, perseverance, doggedness, strength of purpose, tirelessness, indefatigability, resolution, resoluteness, resolve, firmness, patience, purposefulness, staunchness, steadfastness, staying power, endurance, stamina, stubbornness, intransigence, obstinacy, obduracy, pertinacity "she practices her gymnastics routine with the tenacity of a bulldog" the quality or fact of being very determined; determination. "you have to admire the tenacity of these two guys" the quality or fact of continuing to exist; persistence. "the tenacity of certain myths within the historical record"

debunk

to expose the falseness of something

extol

to praise extravagantly

exult

to rejoice greatly

Fester

verb (of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate. "I developed a tropical sore that festered badly" synonyms: suppurate, become septic, become infected, form pus, weep; (of food or garbage) become rotten and offensive to the senses. "a gully full of garbage that festered in the shade" synonyms: rot, molder, decay, decompose, putrefy, go bad, spoil, deteriorate "the garbage festered" (of a negative feeling or a problem) become worse or more intense, especially through long-term neglect or indifference. "anger which festers and grows in his heart" synonyms: rankle, eat away, gnaw away, brew, smolder "their resentment festered"

Rusticate

verb 1. go to, live in, or spend time in the country. 2. fashion (masonry) in large blocks with sunk joints and a roughened surface. "the stable block was built of rusticated stone"

Loathe

verb feel intense dislike or disgust for. "she loathed him on sight" synonyms: hate, detest, abhor, execrate, have a strong aversion to, feel repugnance toward, not be able to bear/stand, be repelled by

abate

verb (of something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative) become less intense or widespread. "the storm suddenly abated"

condone

verb accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue. "the college cannot condone any behavior that involves illicit drugs"

Sprawl

verb gerund or present participle: sprawling sit, lie, or fall with one's arms and legs spread out in an ungainly or awkward way. "the door shot open, sending him sprawling across the pavement" synonyms: stretch out, lounge, loll, lie, recline, drape oneself, slump, flop, slouch "he sprawled on a sofa" spread out over a large area in an untidy or irregular way. "the town sprawled along several miles of cliff top" synonyms: spread, stretch, extend, be strung out, be scattered, straggle, spill "the town sprawled ahead of them"

Abscond

verb leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for an unlawful action such as theft. "she absconded with the remaining thousand dollars" synonyms: run away, escape, bolt, flee, make off, take flight, take off, decamp; (of someone on bail) fail to surrender oneself for custody at the appointed time. (of a person kept in detention or under supervision) escape.

Disenfranchise

verb past tense: disenfranchised; past participle: disenfranchised deprive (someone) of the right to vote. "the law disenfranchised some 3,000 voters on the basis of a residence qualification" deprived of power; marginalized. "a hard core of kids who are disenfranchised and don't feel connected to the school" deprive (someone) of a right or privilege. "a measure that would disenfranchise people from access to legal advice"

Slight

verb past tense: slighted; past participle: slighted 1. insult (someone) by treating or speaking of them without proper respect or attention. "he was careful not to slight a guest" synonyms: insult, snub, rebuff, repulse, spurn, treat disrespectfully, give someone the cold shoulder, scorn;

Indict

verb NORTH AMERICAN formally accuse of or charge with a serious crime. "his former manager was indicted for fraud" synonyms: charge with, accuse of, arraign for, take to court for, put on trial for, bring to trial for, prosecute for;

stagger

walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall.

squiggly

wavy and twisting

Stave off

— phrasal verb to stop something bad from happening, or to keep an unwanted situation or person away, usually temporarily: We were hoping to stave off these difficult decisions until September.