Unit 11 Level H Vocab

consensus

a collective or general agreement of opinion, feeling, or thinking

metamorphosis

a complete transformation, as if by magic

impasse

a dead end; a position from which there is no escape; a problem to which there is no solution

bravado

a display of falso or assumed courage

dichotomy

a division into two contradictory or mutually exclusive parts; a branching or forking in an ancestral line

euphoria

a feeling of great happiness or well-being, often with no objective basis

punctilio

a minute detail of conduct or procedure; an instant of time

raconteur

a person who tells stories and anecdotes with great skill

vendetta

a prolonged feud, often between two families, characterized by retaliatory acts of revenge; any act motivated by vengeance

sine qua non

an essential or indispensable element or condition

gothic

characterized by or emphasizing a gloomy setting and grotesque or violent events; such a literary or artistic style; a type of medieval architecture

parlous

full of danger or risk, perilous

effusive

highly demonstrative; unrestrained

lugubrious

sad, mournful, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree

mystique

an aura or attitude of mystery or veneration surrounding something or someone

non sequitur

an inference or conclusion that does not follow logically from the facts or premises

quixotic

extravagantly or romantically idealistic; visionary without regard to practical considerations

apostate

one who forsakes his or her religion, party, or cause

quagmire

soft, soggy mud or slush; a difficult or entrapping situation

constrict

to make smaller or narrower, draw together, squeeze; to stop or cause to falter