To Shoot An Elephant Vocabulary, Advanced Word Power Chapter 6, Advanced Word Power Chapter 4, Advanced Word Power Chapter 1, Advanced Word Power Chapter 2, Advanced Word Power Chapter 3
Cognizant
(Adj.) Conscious of; aware Connotation: neutral
Lavish
(adj) Overly luxurious; extravagant Connotation: Positive
Negligent
(adj) careless; careless; irresponsible; casual Connotation: Negative
Ludicrous
(adj) ridiculous; laughable Connotation: Negative
brusque
(adj) blunt; rudely; abrupt; curt
querulous
(adj) discontented; complaining; whining
exemplary
(adj) excellent; worthy of imitation; praiseworthy
prodigal
(adj) extravagant, wasteful and reckless with money
voracious
(adj) greedy; consuming or eager to consume large amounts; insatiable; ravenous
sagacious
(adj) intelligent; wise; sensible
frivolous
(adj) lighthearted; not sensible; not properly serious; silly
effervescent
(adj) lively;bubbling with high spirits; exhilarated
indefatigable
(adj) never getting tired; untiring
fledgling
(adj) new; new and untried; inexperienced
incessant
(adj) nonstop; constant; without stopping
incidental
(adj) secondary; occurring as a minor consequence of something more important
surreptitious
(adj) secret; done in secret or sly way; stealthy
stoic
(adj) showing no distress; seemingly unaffected by pain or discomfort
parsimonious
(adj) stingy; too thrifty, stingy,; miserly
dispassionate
(adj) unemotional; not influenced by emtion; impartial
unscathed
(adj) unhurt;not harmed or injured
morose
(adj) very gloomy; ill-tempered
insolvent
(adj) without money; unable to pay debts; penniless
hackneyed
(adj) worn-out;overused; stale; trite
Expedient
(adj.) Self-interested; self-serving; convenient Connotation:negative
Hinderance
(n) a barrier; an obstacle; impediment Connotation: negative
heist
(n) a burglary;an act of stealing; robbery
decadence
(n) a decline; a condition of moral deterioration; decay
affinity
(n) a preference;a natural attraction or liking
misanthrope
(n) an antisocial person; a person who hates or distrusts humankind
reproach
(n) an expression of disapproval; blame; rebuke
brevity
(n) briefness; shortness of duration
torpor
(n) drowsiness; a state of mental or physical inactivity; sluggishness
exuberance
(n) joy; high spirited enthusiasm
nonchalance
(n) lack of concern;casually indifferent; lack of concern
clemency
(n) mercy in judging; leniency
proximity
(n) nearness; closeness
progeny
(n) offspring; children; descendants
opulence
(n) riches; luxury; great wealth
respite
(n) time off, vacation, break; a short period of rest or relief; time out
Commiserate
(v) To express sorrow; to sympathize; express compassion Connotation: negative
Scrutinize
(v) To inspect; to examine carefully Connotation: Negative
Kindle
(v) To inspire; to stir-up; arouse Connotation:Positive
Apall
(v) To shock; to horrify; to dismay Connotation: negative
writhe
(v) squirm; to twist and turn, as in pain or discomfort; to move with a twisting motion
coalesce
(v) to join; to merge together to form one whole; unite; combine
lampoon
(v) to make fun of; to attack or ridicule through humorous imitation; spoof
supplant
(v) to replace; to take the place of
constable
A peace officer with limited policing power
imperialism
A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
sahib
A title of address for European men in India (sir); a polite title or form of address for a man
squalid
Dirty and wretched, as from poverty or lack of care
devour
To eat up hungrily
futile
Useless; hopeless
Analogy
a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification
Conceit
a fanciful expression in writing or speech; an elaborate metaphor.
Synecdoche
a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole
bazaar
a market in a Middle Eastern country
labyrinth
a maze
Euphemism
a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt
Impetuous
acting or done quickly and without thought or care.
Resignation
an act of retiring or giving up a position.
scandal
an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage
Connotation
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
resolute
bold, determined; firm
ravage
cause severe and extensive damage to
polysyndeton
conjunctions (e.g. and, but, or) are used repeatedly in quick succession, often with no commas.
Derisive
expressing or causing contemptuous ridicule or scorn
Disillusion
freeing or a being freed from illusion or conviction; disenchantment.
Indifferent
having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned
Erudite
having or showing great knowledge or learning.
Invective
insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.
Didactic
intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.
voluminous
large; big; bulky
Lugubrious
looking or sounding sad and dismal.
Qualify
make (a statement or assertion) less absolute; add reservations to.
Whimsical
playfully quaint or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way.
absurb
ridiculous; wildly unreasonable
Derogatory
showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
Vehement
showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense.
miry
swampy, muddy
Syntax
the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
Semantics
the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning
mahout
the driver and keeper of an elephant
Juxtaposition
the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
Denotation
the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
Asyndeton
the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence.
Divination
the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means.
Understatement
the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.
Ambiguity
the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.
Incredulity
the state of being unwilling or unable to believe something.
Metonymy
the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant
perplex
to confuse
surrplant
to take place of something or someone (replace)
rubbish
trash
despotic
tyrannical
invariable
unchanging
vague
unclear
unassailable
undeniable; impossible to deny or disprove
Colloquial
used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.
