Vocab. Level H Unit 5 .

foray

(n.) a quick raid, especially for plunder; a venture into some field of endeavor; (v.) to make such a raid

philippic

a bitter verbal attack

matrix

a mold; the surrounding situation or environment

homily

a sermon stressing moral principles; a tedious moralizing lecture or discourse

genre

a type, class, or variety, especially a distinctive category of literary composition; a style of painting in which everyday scenes are realistically depicted

insouciant

blithely indifferent or unconcerned; carefree; happy-go-lucky

obsequies

funeral rites or ceremonies

prurient

having lustful desires or interests; tending to arouse sexual desires

tendentious

intended to promote a particular point of view, doctrine, or cause; biased or partisan

systemic

of or pertaining to the entire body; relating to a system or systems

emolument

profit derived from an office or position or from employment; a fee or salary

immure

to enclose or confine within walls; to imprison; to seclude or isolate

browbeat

to intimidate by a stern or overbearing manner; to bully

vicissitude

(n.) a change, variation, or alteration (pl.) successive or changing phases or conditions

persona

a character in a novel or play; the outward character or role that a person assumes

panache

a confident and stylish manner, dash; a strikingly elaborate or colorful display

aficionado

an enthusiastic and usually expert follower or fan

commensurate

equal in size, extent, duration, or importance; proportionate; measurable by the same standards

sacrosanct

very sacred or holy; inviolable; set apart or immune from questioning or attack

diaphanous

very sheer and light; almost completely transparent