Vocabulary Workshop Level F Unit 12 Definitions

winsome

(adj.) charming, attractive, pleasing (often suggesting a childlike charm and innocence)

prosaic

(adj.) dull, lacking in distinction and originality; matter-of-fact, straightforward; characteristic of prose, not poetic

redundant

(adj.) extra, excess, more than is needed; wordy, repetitive; profuse, lush

deleterious

(adj.) harmful, injurious

implicit

(adj.) implied or understood though unexpressed; without doubts or reservations, unquestioning; potentially contained in

sanctimonious

(adj.) making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious, self-righteous, canting, holier-than-thou

ostentatious

(adj.) marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy

politic

(adj.) prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedient

incisive

(adj.) sharp, keen, penetrating (with a suggestion of decisiveness and effectiveness)

contiguous

(adj.) side by side, touching; near; adjacent in time

scintillating

(adj., part.) sparkling, twinkling, exceptionally brilliant (applied to mental or personal qualities)

clangor

(n.) a loud ringing sound; (v.) to make a loud ringing noise

paragon

(n.) a model of excellence or perfection

caricature

(n.) a representation (especially a drawing) in which the subject's characteristic features are deliberately exaggerated; (v.) to present someone or something in a deliberately distorted way

cupidity

(n.) an eager desire for something; greed

enthrall

(v.) to captivate, charm, hold spellbound; to enslave; to imprison

absolve

(v.) to clear from blame, responsibility, or guilt

extenuate

(v.) to lessen the seriousness or magnitude of an offense by making partial excuses

enhance

(v.) to raise to a higher degree; to increase the value or desirability of

paraphrase

(v.) to restate in other words; (n.) a statement that presents a given idea in new language