Vocab Week 6

Jibe (v) = "J" for joke means being nice

To be in harmony, agree --- If two people jibe, they get along quite well. Just try to remember that if you want to jibe with others, don't insult them.

Gibe ('G' as in insulting GAY people)

(v) To jeer, taunt, deride (n) A mocking or sarcastic remark --- "Loser! Bonehead!" the kids shouted, tossing those words and other gibes at the people who offered themselves up to the annual humiliation of the harvest-fest dunk-tank. A gibe is an insulting comment. To gibe is to insult. As it turns out, the old friends have surprisingly similar senses of humor, constantly dishing out sarcastic gibes, only some of which land well. I've found that I can gibe my really good friends because they understand that I don't really mean it. In fact, I think that brings us closer together.

Aggregate

(v): To gather together (n): Formed by the collection of smaller parts --- The mountain of foam in bubble bath is an aggregate of small bubbles. United which secured a 2-0 aggregate victory over the two legs.

Tribute (n)

A gift, service, or other demonstration of gratitude, admiration, or affection Evidence or something indicating a praiseworthy quality or characteristic Payment given or extracted as a sign of submission or in exchange for protection --- A famous director receives a lifetime achievement award as a tribute to his many successful films. Students will give a retiring teacher flowers as a tribute to her years of service in education. Tribute can also mean a kind of payment that's given from one nation to another. The discussion and speculation — not to mention the tributes and ceremonial remembrances — are likely to continue over the coming weeks and months.

Pettifogger (n)

A shifty or unethical lawyer A person who bickers or quibbles over trivial matters ---- Many people accuse Harvey from Suits of being a pettifogger. If your neighbor hires an unscrupulous quack to sue you, you might call his attorney a pettifogger. A bad lawyer, or pettifogger, used dubious means to get clients and to win cases. No one likes to be around pettifoggers because they make the biggest deal out of nothing.

Anarchy (n)

A state of lawlessness, without government oversight or authority A state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government) ---- During times of revolution, countries often experience a state of anarchy, where riots and violence take place. A substitute teacher might worry that an unruly classroom will descend into anarchy.

Tirade (n)

An angry, protracted, harshly censorious speech or rant --- Angry tirade Borrow and lose your roommate's clothes one too many times, and you can bet you'll be treated to a heated tirade. The PAC also released a video featuring young children delivering a profanity-laced tirade against Mr. Trump.

Sophomoric (adj)

Immature, showing lack of judgement Pretentious and immature at the same time --- At Mitty, teachers repeatedly reminded us not to sophomoric. Instead, we should try to always remain humble. Once you became a sophomore, thinking you now knew everything, you pitied the freshmen for their confusion over how to write college papers.

Incursion (n)

An invasion, raid, or hostile entrance of another's territory The act of entering ---- When an army crosses a border into another country for battle, they are making an incursion into enemy territory. An incursion is an invasion as well as an attack. When an airplane heads onto a runway it is not supposed to land on, risking airport safety, it is known as a runway incursion. And an incursion of cold air could make September feel like December. Incursions by Chinese vessels into the waters surrounding the Senkaku islands continue.

Ingrate (n)

An ungrateful person ---- People who don't say thank you or who aren't grateful can be considered ingrates. If your kind act of buying a donut for your friend gets you nothing but a complaint that the chocolate icing looks runny, then it sounds like your pal is an ingrate, someone who is not thankful for others' kindness. You can tell someone is an ingrate by what isn't said: "thank you" and "I appreciate what you've done for me."

Debacle (n)

An utter disaster, collapse, or failure A rout or violent downfall ---- Use debacle to refer to a fiasco, disaster, or great failure. If several dogs run onto the field during the big baseball game, tripping players and chewing up the bases, you can call the whole event a debacle. In the early 1840's, shortly after the debacle of the beaver trade, a strong surge of immigration from the States to Oregon began. The more one lies, the greater the chance one will be entangled in a less than desirable debacle.

Labile (adj)

Apt or likely to change Like malleable --- Labile is an adjective used to describe something that is easily or frequently changed. Radioactive elements, such as uranium or plutonium, are labile. It is this lability that makes them unstable and dangerous. An emotional liable person is one who changes their mood very quickly. It concerns patients of a very labile make-up with increased affective reactions, with marked tendencies to impulsions and antisocial acts. We are rather like the labile chemical compounds: our molecules readily rearrange themselves.

Fallacious (adj)

Built on unsound logic Containing a fallacy...logical mistake Misleading or delusive ---- The LSAT likes to test one's ability to detect fallacious arguments. Predictions that the whole state of California will snap off from the rest of North America and float away have proven to be fallacious — for now, anyway. The Scottish government's lawyer, James Mure, rejected the arguments, describing one point as "entirely fallacious".

Equanimity (n)

Calmness, mental or emotional stability under stress Balance or equilibrium Emotional calmness and balance in times of stress The phrase a level mind also refers to calmness. A near synonym is composure. Namus means "mind" --- If you take the news of your brother's death with equanimity, it means you take it calmly without breaking down. She reacted to the news with great equanimity, only pausing to worry about how her family would react and not wanting to be a burden. Practicing daily yoga will help bring your mind closer to a state of equanimity.

Jocular (adj)

Characterized by or given to playful jesting; joyful --- Do you like to make a lot of jokes? Are you often silly? Are you usually happy? If so, then you are a jocular person. A comedian makes a job of being jocular. Being jocular is usually considered a good thing: it's not just about making a lot of jokes; it's about being happy and pleasant to be around.

Vituperative (adj)

Characterized by tendency to censure, condemn, or verbally abuse --- Use the adjective vituperative to describe criticism that's so sharp it hurts. A vituperative review of a movie would make the director bitter for months. Being vituperative takes criticism to the next level. Vituperative criticism is harsh, scathing, even abusive. If a review or assessment is vituperative, it doesn't say "try harder next time." Instead it gives the sense of "go away and never come back." Fragile people can't handle vituperative comments that are brutally honest. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling. He was vituperative in his language, austere in his manners, undutiful and repelling to his mother.

Confabulate (v)

Chat, talk casually To make things up....In psychology, to fill in gaps in one's memory with "fabulous" stories Also refers to creating a memory that's unreal, like a fable, without being aware of it. ---- Confabulate is a fancy way of saying "talk." If you're feeling formal, you don't chat with your best friend on the phone, you confabulate. Regular people talk, while people wearing tuxedos and beaded evening gowns confabulate. Was he confabulating here, a symptom of frontal lobe damage, or simply indulging a love of tall tales?

Alacrity (n)

Cheerful willingness or promptness --- Someone with alacrity shows cheerful willingness and eager behavior, like a kid whose mother has told him he can buy anything in a candy store. It seems imperative that the I.A.A.F. act with equal alacrity to ban Russia from track and field competitions. The knight scrambled up, edging away with such alacrity that some of the watchers laughed aloud. He returned with a round package wrapped in tissue and lace-trimmed paper and set it before Grandad, who undid it with surprising alacrity.

Incipient (adj)

Coming into existence or beginning to appear At the early stages of existence Only partly in existence; imperfectly formed ---- In its incipient form, basketball was played with a soccer ball and peach baskets for goals. It is important to note that when something is in an incipient stage, there is a chance it will never come to completion. So be on the lookout for incipient trouble or an incipient crisis — you might be able to prevent it from happening. Ms. Knightley makes this remark as she does many: casually and quickly, with the incipient smile — and sense of self-effacement — that marks her conversation. Such a moment may not be far off: the incipient El Niño weather pattern normally provokes chaos in agricultural markets.

Sentient (adj)

Conscious, experiencing feeling or sensation ---- Someone sentient is able to feel things, or sense them. Sentient usually occurs in phrases like "sentient beings" and "sentient creatures," making it clear that things that don't have life don't have feelings. Explain that to a pet rock. Having senses makes something sentient, or able to smell, communicate, touch, see, or hear. Whether or not plants and living things other than animals and people are sentient depends on whom you ask. Its battery life could triple, Siri become sentient and its front and rear cameras deliver more megapixels than the Hubble Space Telescope.

Craven (adj)

Cowardly or contemptibly (despicably) fearful Use craven as you would cowardly. -- A craven man is no Superman or Spiderman, nor is he a firefighter or a soldier. A craven man is the opposite of those guys: he has not an ounce of courage. Craven policies, for example, are probably weak and do not take bold measures. She resorts to craven, apologetic giggling, which annoys them further, and me also.

Crass (adj)

Crude, gross, and unrefined Lacking in discrimination Excessively materialistic or base --- A crass comment is very stupid and shows that the speaker doesn't care about other people's feelings. In today's day and age, you don't have to wear black to a funeral, but to show up in clown pants is simply crass. In today's day and age, you don't have to wear black to a funeral, but to show up in clown pants is simply crass.

Chicanery (n)

Deception through subterfuge (deceit used in order to achieve one's goal) or trickery ---- Have you ever gotten the sense that politicians or corporate leaders will say anything to turn public opinion their way? This tricky kind of deceit and manipulation is called chicanery. If a politician's chicanery is exposed, he will lose public trust and not be returned to office in the next election cycle. Add to that the potential political impact of suppressed voter participation and Alabamians are smothered in a toxic blend that reeks of irresponsibility and chicanery

Didactic (adj)

Designed to teach or instruct Intended for moral education Excessively given to lecturing or moralizing ----- When people are didactic, they're teaching or instructing. This word is often used negatively for when someone is acting too much like a teacher. Stop being so didactic! You are not my teacher. Don't tell me how to think. Just about everything teachers do is didactic: the same is true of coaches and mentors. Didactic is often used in a negative way. If you heard that a movie is overly didactic, that's probably not good. Most people want to see a story and be entertained when going to the movies, and if it feels like the movie is just telling you what to think, that's didactic in a bad way.

Aberrant (adj)

Deviating from the usual or proper course, especially in behavior Deviating from the normal or expected type, atypical Use the adjective aberrant to describe unusual conduct. Markedly different from the expected norm ---- Sitting in a bathtub and singing show tunes all day long might be considered aberrant behavior. All were displaying the aberrant behavior while the drivers were flouting Tesla's steering wheel advice. A child must inherit two aberrant copies - one from each parent - to develop symptoms. Her aberrant behavior in the classroom makes her unpredictable.

Anomaly (n)

Deviation from the norm; irregularity Something irregular, peculiar, abnormal, or deviating from the norm ---- If you got a 4.0 during every quarter except for Fall Freshman year, you could say the grades from that quarter are an anomaly. An anomaly is an abnormality, a blip on the screen of life that doesn't fit with the rest of the pattern. If you are a breeder of black dogs and one puppy comes out pink, that puppy is an anomaly. There is currently not a top-flight division that hands out its championship title through play-offs, making MLS something of a global anomaly.

Decorous (adj)

Dignified, correct, or proper in manner or conduct --- Something that is decorous is dignified, proper, and in good taste, like your decorous great-aunt who always wears a dress — even when she's only headed to the grocery store. Dignitaries and ambassadors have to be in a constant decorous state because they are representing America abroad. Decorous can also mean "dignified or proper," like your decorous habit of saying, "How do you do?" when you meet someone for the first time. Even in a comparatively decorous sport like tennis, that kind of alpha personality pays dividends. In British theaters, once the curtain is raised, we are used to decorous behavior and respectful silence.

Cryptic (adj)

Having or seeming to have hidden meaning; mysterious or mystifying Secret or occult; employing or using code or a cipher --- Cryptic comments or messages are hard to understand because they seem to have a hidden meaning. Several such passages are starred and highlighted in the dog-eared text, the margins filled with cryptic notes printed in McCandless's distinctive hand.

Summarily (adv)

Immediately, in a prompt or direct manner Without prior notice --- The suspected spy for ISIS was summarily executed. It started last year when the administration summarily yanked healthcare from the university's graduate students, and had refused to hear their concerns. But when we received our main course, my confidence was summarily restored. Now much of the evidence of that communication had been summarily tossed out.

Autonomous (adj)

Independent, self-governing Existing or capable of functioning independently, without reliance on others -- Once you move out of your parents' house, and get your own job, you will be an autonomous member of the family. This adjective autonomous is often used of countries, regions, or groups that have the right to govern themselves: Vatican City, where the Catholic pope lives, is an autonomous territory located within the city limits of Rome. The autonomous government in western Syria had in 2014 made the decision to teach the Kurdish language in schools.

Extenuating (adj)

Lessening or mitigating the seriousness or extent of something Making forgivable ---- You'll be furious that your friend didn't bake the cupcakes she promised for your bake sale — until you learn the extenuating circumstances: her dog climbed onto her kitchen counter and ate all the cupcake batter. If there are extenuating circumstances that affected your academic performance, definitely explain what those were.

Base (adj)

Mean-spirited, contemptible, or selfish Showing a lack of values or ethics Of inferiors value or quality ---- Base and unpatriotic motives Base, degrading way of life

Corrugated (adj)

Molded into tight ridges or valleys Drawn or bent into folds or furrows (as in corrugated cardboard) Wrinkled, as in the face or skin ---- I used a lot of corrugated boxes to make the UGG shoebox in our packaging class. Corrugated metal roofs are not fun to walk on. The corrugated skin on the old man's face is representative of all the long, hard years he has worked for.

Indigenous (adj)

Native to or naturally occurring in a region or environment Innate or natural --- These flowers that I bought at Mt. Bromo were indigenous to the region, not to mention endangered. I shouldn't have bought them. Though Switzerland is known for its chocolates, chocolate, which comes from the cocoa plant, is indigenous to South America. And there is a good chance Chinese consumers will prefer foreign electric-car technology over indigenous ones, just as they currently do for gasoline-powered cars.

Unseemly (adj)

Not in accordance with standards of good behavior or taste Inappropriate behavior It's a gentler, somewhat nicer word for "inappropriate" than its synonyms, the "in" words: "indecent, indecorous, indelicate, inelegant, inept" — well, you get the idea. --- In Shanghai I guess it is not unseemly to hold your baby over a trash can in the metro station and let him poop into the trashcan. His agent and his team had engaged in an unseemly shouting match about how the pitcher should best be used.

Fetid (adj)

Offensive-smelling --- If you want to understand the true meaning of fetid, leave your sweaty gym clothes in your locker for a few days. Fetid is a fancy way of saying that something smells really bad. Romero's fetid shoes stunk up our whole apartment. Washington would be a fetid and poisonous place anyway, but Obama has not made it any better.

Pragmatic (adj)

Practical approach Dealing in facts or real-world occurrences rather than theory or ideals --- I prefer to work and deal with pragmatic issues, rather than theoretical. The four-year-old who wants a unicorn for her birthday isn't being very pragmatic. A pragmatic person is sensible, grounded, and practical — and doesn't expect a birthday celebration filled with magical creatures. Serious pursuit of design excellence almost always takes a back seat to coping with pragmatic needs and pressures, some decidedly negative.

Vaunt (v)

To brag about ---- To vaunt is to brag and boast and flaunt and go on and on about how great something is. It's over-the-top showing off, and when you taunt and exaggerate your greatness, you vaunt to the point of no longer seeming so great. Even if it's earned or deserved bragging, vaunting about something gets old and loses it impact.

Insularity (n)

The state or quality of being insular (ignorant), especially the narrow point of view resulting from life in a closed, isolated community ----- The word insularity has a sense of detachment and insulation, but sometimes the meaning is extended to mean being narrow-minded. Parents always try to protect their kids from harm, but sometimes their insularity goes too far. Those are the times when her impulses toward insularity and guardedness overwhelm her more appealing traits of discipline and toughness. Among them: insularity, rigidity and a sense that the operation is tone-deaf to changes happening around it. Traveling can do much to liberate one from the pitfall of insularity.

Inundate (v)

To cover in water, as in a flood or torrential rain To overwhelm ---- Teacher, teacher, please do not inundate me with homework tonight. I won't have time to do it because I'm going to the T-Swift concert. Your bathroom could be inundated with water if the pipes burst, and hopefully your inbox is inundated with nice emails on your birthday. Right before the holidays, toy stores are often inundated with eager parents scrambling to get the latest action figures and video games. Attempt to read the entire dictionary in one sitting and you'll inundate your mind with vocabulary. But you probably won't remember any of it tomorrow. The San Diego Union-Tribune said police were inundated with calls "reporting everything from a flare to a comet to a nuclear bomb". His campaign spokesman Tim Miller said he had been inundated with emails from French journalists following the debate.

Censure (v)

To criticize or express disapproval, often formally --- If you take your dad's car without telling him, you can expect him to censure you severely, and maybe even ground you as well. Days before he was elected, Coe had to deal with allegations that athletes had been escaping censure despite having abnormal blood levels. The Chinese government will censure press that tries to incite riots or anything of the sort.

Damp (v)

To deaden Hold back or retard the energy of Stifle, suffocate, restrain --- He said those people evacuated from nearby properties had since returned home and fire crews were damping down the site. Please dampen your desire to have sex with that woman. Calm down.

Engender (v)

To give rise to, create, or cause To beget or propagate To produce or bring about MAKING IT HAPPEN! ----- Engender is a fancy way of saying "to make happen," like when you engender the spirit of teamwork and cooperation by encouraging others and doing your share of the group's work. When students come to class prepared, meaning they've read their assignment, this engenders better class discussions. Mutual trust and the desire to help each other engenders a meaningful friendship. As such, state institutions engendered a strong sense of loyalty among their employees and beneficiaries and, in doing so, became sturdy pillars of the state.

Coalesce (v)

To grow or unite into one mass or body To fuse ----- Waiting for a plan to come together? You're waiting for it to coalesce. But step by step, those symbolic steps are coalescing into a movement of the people that has caught the attention of their leaders. The Kochs were rumored to be coalescing around the candidacy of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker back in April.

Inveigle (v)

To lure, induce, or win over by using flattery To obtain by flattery or coaxing ---- When you tell your boyfriend he's not just the best boyfriend ever but also the world's best driver, and this makes him offer to drive the whole way on your upcoming road trip, then congratulations. You know how to inveigle, or use charm to coax someone into doing something. If you successfully inveigle your sister to doing something for you, she must be so caught up in your flattering that she is blind to your true intention. Sure enough, Atticus is inveigled by a call girl into what seem like compromising positions for a hidden photographer. And associated with such ideas come the tricks to inveigle me into buying in.

Fetter (v)

To shackle, put in chains, restrict the freedom of --- A fetter is a shackle or chain that is attached to someone's ankles. To fetter someone is to restrict their movement, either literally or metaphorically. You might feel fettered by your parents' rules, even without the chains. To fetter, the verb, could be used literally: the prison wardens would fetter the chain gangs who built many of the railroads in the US., but it usually means something has been done to restrain someone's behavior: "we finally managed to fetter our sons' computer use with bribery." The coach wanted to fetter his point guard's terrible habit of shooting the ball every he touched it.

Tout (v)

To solicit business, votes, etc. in a persistent or annoying way To describe or advertise boastfully Promote or praise excessively ---- If you like to tout your skill as a skier, you tell people you can go down expert-level hills. Sometimes parents will get into bragging wars about their children, each touting the accomplishments of his or her child. The company touted the lotion as a solution to wrinkles. They cheered loudly when he touted his campaign mantra about ending "the greed of the billionaire class."

Jabber (v)

To talk rapidly, incoherently, or nonsensically --- I dislike people who jabber on an on about stupid, meaningless stuff. When someone starts to jabber, they start talking on and on about this or that, or that or this, in an excited, sometimes incoherent way. Jabber is a close cousin to blabber. You know, like when someone has a hobby that you don't really care about or understand but they won't quit talking about it? Yeah, they jabber. I used to jabber on an on about Crossfit...now I can't stand hearing about it. Most of what he jabbers about is trivial.

Ferment (v)

To undergo or cause fermentation (such as yogurt or other foods) To excite or agitate, to foment (n): A state of agitation, unrest, or tumult--"the political ferment may lead to revolt" ---- The word ferment means a commotion or excitement. Oolong tea, a variety that's halfway between green, or unfermented, and black, with fully fermented leaves, is the pride of Taiwan. Her mind ferments. The Middle East is fermenting. Islam is fermenting Africa.

Esoteric (adj)

Understood by or intended for only a select group, often of people with specialized knowledge Confidential --- If you haven't been brought into the inner circle of those with special knowledge, esoteric things will remain a mystery to you. Or it will remain puzzling. All those stupid frat rituals are esoteric. You can't know them unless you pledge the fraternity. Financial accounting might seem esoteric for people who get easily stumped filling out their tax forms. The ability to hop online and connect with some random dude who was eager to discuss my esoteric interests was a beautiful, transformative thing.

Avid (adj)

Urgently, keenly desirous (eager for), the point of greed Marked by enthusiasm or voracious interest -- If you're an avid reader, it means you read as much as you can, whenever you can. But this adjective can also mean wanting something so much that you can be thought of as greedy. For example, a person can be avid for success or power. Avid curiosity.... Avid ambition to succeed

Indigence (n)

Utter poverty Without comfort --- If you experience indigence, you have a critical need for food, money, and other resources. If you are indigent — suffering from extreme poverty — you are living in indigence, the state of extreme poverty. In a brief court appearance Wednesday, Hicks, who lived in the same apartment building as the victims, pleaded indigence and was appointed a public defender. He did this because he could not afford a lawyer. For the millions packed into Manila's sprawling slums, cockfighting offers a fast way up the socioeconomic ladder or a quick tumble into indigence.

Indeterminate (adj)

Vague or uncertain Not capable of being determined...as opposed to undetermined which means "not yet known." Not precisely fixed or established Having an infinite number of solutions Not known or decided ---- When someone contracts a rare stomach parasite but has not been traveling internationally, you might say it had indeterminate origins. When you buy an antique vase and don't know when it dates from, you might describe it as of an indeterminate era. Roughly two dozen known individuals - and an indeterminate number of others - will have exclusive rights to 10 initial growing sites located across the state.

Turbulence (n)

Violent commotion or disorder --- ISIS has caused the whole Middle East to go into a terrible situation of turbulence. If your stocks are fluctuating wildly in price, that could be a result of turbulence in the stock market. If last year was filled with unpredictable change, you could describe it as a year of great turbulence. Political analysts say it might also reflect a tough response to wars and political turbulence in the region.

Estimable (adj)

Worthy of esteem or admiration Capable of being estimated A word used for people who deserve great respect --- Many U.S. presidents might be described as estimable, though it depends on who you ask. A hardworking scholar who has written several books might be estimable.