Sadlier Oxford Vocabulary Level G Units 1-9

coterie

n. a circle of aquaitances; a close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest s: clique, set A: none

counterpart

n. a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement S: match A: none

misanthrope

n. a person who hates or despises people S: people-hater A: none

raiment

n. clothing, garments S: apparel, attire A: none

effrontery

n. shameless boldness, impudence S: gall, chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek A: shyness, diffidence, timidity

myopic

nearsighted

overt

open, not hidden, expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

histrionic

pertaining to actors and their techniques; theatrical, artificial; melodramatic

devious

straying or wandering from a straight or direct course; done or acting in a shifty or underhanded way

celerity

swiftness, rapidity of motion or action

pejorative

tending to make worse; expressing disapproval or disparagement, derogatory, deprecatory, belittling

propriety

the state of being proper, appropriateness; standards of what is proper or socially acceptable

accost

to approach and speak to first; to confront in a challenging or aggressive way

undulate

to move in waves or with a wavelike motion; to have a wavelike appearance or form

allay

v. to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve S: reduce, alleviate, moderate A: aggravate, exacerbate, intensify

jettison

v. to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome S: cast off, discard, dump, junk, abandon A: conserve, retain, hold on to, keep

embellish

v. to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details S: ornament, garnish A: strip, mar, disfigure

demur

v. to object or take exception to; n. an objection S: protest, object to A: assent to, consent to, accept, agree to

malestrom

whirlpool; turbulence; agitated atate of mind

summarily

without delay or formality; briefly, concisely

jocular

(adj.) humorous, jesting, jolly, joking

recumbent

(adj.) in a reclining position, lying down, in the posture of one sleeping or resting

imperturbable

(adj.) not easily excited; emotionally steady (syn.) unflappable, unexcitable, serene, unruffled (ant.) excitable

unremitting

(adj.) not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless (syn.) constant, incessant, unrelenting (ant.) desultory, intermittent

incumbent

(adj.) obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of

moot

(adj.) open to discussion and debate, unresolved; (v.) to bring up for discussion; (n.) a hypothetical law case argued by students Synonyms: (adj.) debatable, questionable (v.) broach Antonyms: (adj.) undebatable, indisputable, self-evident

sylvan

(adj.) pertaining to or characteristic or forest; living or located in a forest; wooded, woody Synonyms: forested, arcadian

ludicrous

(adj.) ridiculous, laughable, absurd

refulgent

(adj.) shining, radiant, resplendent (syn.) luminous, splendid (ant.) dim, dark, obscure, dingy, dull, murky

inane

(adj.) silly, empty of meaning or value Synonyms: vapid, idiotic, moronic, fatuous Antonyms: sensible, meaningful, profound

intermittent

(adj.) stopping and beginning again, sporadic Synonyms: fitful, spasmodic, random Antonyms: continuous, uninterrupted

paltry

(adj.) trifling, insignificant; mean, despicable; inferior, trashy (syn.) measly, meager, piddling, trivial (ant.) gigantic, immense, colossal

indictment

(n.) a act of accusing; a formal accusation Synonyms: charge, accusation

tyro

(n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill (syn.) neophyte (ant.) veteran, past master, expert

diatribe

(n.) a bitter and prolonged verbal attack Synonyms: harangue, tirade Antonyms: panegyric,encomium, eulogy

effigy

(n.) a crude image of a despised person Synonyms: figure, figurine, likeness

dilettante

(n.) a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish, trifling way; (adj.) superficial (syn.) amateur, trifler (ant.) professional

bastion

(n.) a fortified place, stronghold

travesty

(n.) a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation; a disguise, especially the clothing of the opposite sex; (v.) to ridicule by imitating in a broad or burlesque fashion Synonyms: (n.) burlesque, parody, caricature, farce

halcyon

(n.) a legendary bird identified with the kingfisher; (adj.) of or relating to the halcyon; calm, peaceful; happy, golden; prosperous, affluent

neophyte

(n.) a new convert, beginner, novice Synonyms: tenderfoot, tyro, rookie Antonyms: veteran, past master, expert, pro

pedantry

(n.) a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details (syn.) nit-picking, hairsplitting, pettifoggery

nettle

(n.) a prickly or stinging plant; (v.) to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely

motif

(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design

stratagem

(n.) a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain an end

concord

(n.) a state of agreement, harmony, unanimity; a treaty, pact, covenant

paroxysm

(n.) a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion (syn.) fit, seizure

grouse

(n.) a type of game bird; a complaint; (v.) to complain, grumble

surveillance

(n.) a watch kept over a person; careful, close, and disciplined observation Synonyms: observation, scrutiny, monitoring

shibboleth

(n.) a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism (syn.) catchphrase, password, slogan

mandate

(n.) an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; (v.) to issue such an order (syn.) directive (ant.) forbid, ban, outlaw

increment

(n.) an enlargement, increase, addition (syn.) accretion, gain (ant.) loss, reduction, decrease

disarray

(n.) disorder, confusion; (v.) to throw into disorder

flotsam

(n.) floating debris; homeless, impoverished people

complicity

(n.) involvement in wrongdoing; the state of being an accomplice Synonyms: connivance, collusion Antonyms: noninvolvement, innocence

perspicacity

(n.) keenness in observing and understanding Synonyms: acuity, acumen, discernment Antonyms: dullness, obtuseness

agnostic

(n.) one who believes that nothing can be known about God; a skeptic; (adj.) without faith, skeptical; Synonym: (n.) doubter Antonym: (n.) believer

collusion

(n.) secret agreement or cooperation (syn.) conspiracy, plot, connivance, cahoots

acclamation

(n.) shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval (syn.) ovation, cheering, plaudits (ant.) booing, hissing, jeers, catcalls

derelict

(n.) someone or something that is abandoned or neglected; (adj.) left abandoned; neglectful of duty Synonyms: (n.) vagrant; (adj.) remiss, delinquent Antonyms: (adj.) punctilious, conscientious, scrupulous

peregrination

(n.) the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country (syn.) journey, wandering, odyssey

equity

(n.) the state or quality of being just, fair, or impartial; fair and equal treatment; something that is fair; the money value of a property value of a property above and beyond any other mortgage or other claim Synonyms: justice, fairness, impartiality Antonyms: injustice, unfairness, bias, prejudice

atrophy

(n.) the wasting of away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v.) to waste away

exigency

(n., often pl.) pressure; urgent demand, pressing need; an emergency

glean

(v.) to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities or grain left in a field by the reapers

incarcerate

(v.) to imprison, confine, jail

calumniate

(v.) to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously (syn.) defame, libel (ant.) flatter, whitewash, praise

vacillate

(v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will (syn.) seesaw, fluctuate, oscillate (ant.) persevere

animadversion

a comment indicating strong criticism or disapproval

felicitous

adj. appropriate, apt, well chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy S: fortunate, well-put A: inappropriate, inept, graceless, unhappy

bestial

adj. beastlike; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility S: animal, depraved, loathsome A: human, humane, clement, virtuous, upright

furtive

adj. done slyly or stealthily, sneaky, secret, shifty; stolen S: clandestine, covert, surreptitious A: forthright, aboveboard, open

inordinate

adj. far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive S: exorbitant, extravagant A: moderate, reasonable, equitable

convivial

adj. festive, sociable, having fun together, genial S: fun-loving, jovial, merry A: dour, grim, sullen, unsociable

garish

adj. glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way S: gaudy, flashy, tawdry A: subdued, muted, understated, quiet

ephemeral

adj. lasting only a short time, short-lived S: fleeting, transient, evanescent, transitory A: durable, long-lasting, permanent, perpetual

illusory

adj. misleading, deceptive; lacking in or not based on reality S: specious, spurious, fanciful, imaginary A: actual, ready, factual, objective

indigent

adj. needy, impoverished S: penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute A: wealthy, affluent, prosperous

picayune

adj. of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded S: inconsequential, piddling, trifling A: important, significant, huge, gigantic

pertinacious

adj. very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied S: stubborn, dogged, determined A: none

talisman

an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers, an amulet, fetish

suppliant

asking humbly and earnestly; one who makes a request humbly and earnestly, a petitioner, suitor

incendiary

deliberately setting or causing fires; designed to start fires; tending to stir up strife or rebellion; one who deliberately sets fires, arsonist; one who causes strife

avid

desirous of something to the point of greed; intensely eager

mordant

(adj.) biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh

indubitable

(adj.) certain, not to be doubted or denied Synonyms: unquestionable, indisputable Antonyms: questionable, debatable, dubious

bucolic

(adj.) characteristic of the countryside, rural; relating to shepherds and cowherds, pastoral (syn.) rustic (ant.) urban, metropolitan

plenary

(adj.) complete in all aspects or essentials; absolute; attended by all qualified members Synonyms: unlimited, unrestricted Antonyms: limited, restricted, incomplete

consummate

(adj.) complete or perfect in the highest degree; (v.) to bring to a state of completion or perfection

pecuniary

(adj.) consisting of or measured in money; of or related to money

pusillanimous

(adj.) contemptibly cowardly or mean-spirited

abject

(adj.) degraded; base, contemptible; cringing, servile; complete and unrelieved; Synonyms: wretched, miserable, ignoble, sheer, utter Antonyms: lofty, noble, exalted

testy

(adj.) easily irritated; characterized by impatience and exasperation Synonyms: irritable, peevish, waspish, petulant Antonyms: even-tempered, imperturable, unexcitable

chary

(adj.) extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow (to); reserved, diffident (syn.) wary, skittish (ant.) heedless, reckless, incautious

redolent

(adj.) fragrant, smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura (syn.) evocative, reminiscent, aromatic (ant.) unevocative, odorless

frenetic

(adj.) frenzied, highly agitated

vituperative

(adj.) harshly abusive, severely scolding (syn.) abusive, scurrilous, insulting (ant.) complimentary, laudatory, flattering

brackish

having a salty taste and unpleasant to drink

sacrilege

improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred

gambit

in chess, an opening move that involves risk or sacrifice of a minor piece in order to gain a later advantage; any opening move of this type