Vocabulary Workshop Level C Units 1-15

caustic

(adj.) able to burn or eat away by chemical action; biting, sarcastic

capacious

(adj.) able to hold much, roomy

retentive

(adj.) able to hold, keep, or recall; retaining knowledge easily

solvent

(adj.) able to meet one's financial obligations; having the power to dissolve other substances; (n.) a liquid used to dissolve other substances; something that solves, explains, eliminates, or softens

mercenary

(adj.) acting or working for self-gain only; (n.) a hired soldier, a soldier of fortune

veritable

(adj.) actual, true, real

ramshackle

(adj.) appearing ready to collapse, loose and shaky

plausible

(adj.) appearing true, reasonable, or fair

rational

(adj.) based on reasoning; able to make use of reason; sensible, reasonable

audacious

(adj.) bold, adventurous, recklessly daring

resolute

(adj.) bold, determined; firm

perceptible

(adj.) capable of being grasped by the sense or mind

calamitous

(adj.) causing great misfortune

disarming

(adj.) charming, tending to get rid of unfriendliness or suspicion

haughty

(adj.) chillingly proud and scornful

ungainly

(adj.) clumsy, awkward; unwieldy

plebeian

(adj.) common, vulgar; belonging to the lower class; (n.) a common person, member of the lower class

relevant

(adj.) connected with or related to the matter at hand

genial

(adj.) cordial, pleasantly cheerful or warm

legendary

(adj.) described in well-known stories (legends) rather than in real life

discordant

(adj.) disagreeable in sound, jarring; lacking in harmony, conflicting

overbearing

(adj.) domineering, haughty, bullying; overpowering, predominant

dire

(adj.) dreadful, causing fear or suffering; warning of trouble to come; demanding immediate action to avoid disaster

irascible

(adj.) easily made angry, hot-tempered

tractable

(adj.) easily managed, easy to deal with; easily wrought, malleable

frugal

(adj.) economical, avoiding waste and luxury; scanty, poor, meager

ornate

(adj.) elaborately decorated; showily splendid

enterprising

(adj.) energetic, willing and able to start something new; showing boldness and imagination

infinite

(adj.) exceedingly great, inexhaustible, without limit, endless; (n., preceded by the) an incalculable number, the concept of infinity; (cap. I) a name for God

skittish

(adj.) extremely nervous and easily frightened; shy or timid; extremely cautious; unstable, undependable

aghast

(adj.) filled with amazement, disgust, fear, or terror

steadfast

(adj.) firmly fixed; constant, not moving or changing

exotic

(adj.) foreign; charmingly unfamiliar or strikingly unusual

forthright

(adj.) frank, direct, straightforward

porous

(adj.) full of tiny holes; able to be penetrated by air or water

bland

(adj.) gentle, soothing, mild; lacking interest or taste

bountiful

(adj.) giving freely, generous; plentiful, given abundantly

divergent

(adj.) going in different directions; different from each other; departing from conversation, deviant

arrogant

(adj.) haughty, too convinced of one's own importance

voracious

(adj.) having a huge appetite, greedy, ravenous; excessively eager

ethical

(adj.) having to do with morals, values, right and wrong; in accordance with standards of right conduct; requiring a prescription for purchase

penal

(adj.) having to do with punishment

pert

(adj.) high-spirited; lively; bold, saucy; jaunty

volatile

(adj.) highly changeable, fickle; tending to become violent or explosive; changing readily from the liquid to the gaseous state

facetious

(adj.) humorous, not meant seriously

prodigious

(adj.) immense; extraordinary in bulk, size, or degree

conventional

(adj.) in line with accepted ideas or standards; trite

myriad

(adj.) in very great numbers; (n.) a very great number

blasé

(adj.) indifferent, bored as a result of having enjoyed many pleasures; apathetic

naïve

(adj.) innocent, unsophisticated, showing lack of worldly knowledge and experience

churlish

(adj.) lacking politeness or good manners; lacking sensitivity; difficult to work with or deal with; rude

belated

(adj.) late, tardy

shiftless

(adj.) lazy, lacking in ambition and energy; inefficient

inert

(adj.) lifeless, unable to move or act; slow, inactive

jaunty

(adj.) lively, easy, and carefree in manner; smart or trim in appearance

tedious

(adj.) long and tiresome

menial

(adj.) lowly, humble, lacking importance or dignity; (n.) a person who does the humble and unpleasant tasks

prone

(adj.) lying face down; inclined, likely

negligent

(adj.) marked by carelessness or indifference; failing to do what should be done

ample

(adj.) more than enough, large, spacious

vaunted

(adj.) much boasted about in a vain or swaggering way

imperative

(adj.) necessary, urgent; (n.) a form of a verb expressing a command; that which is necessary or required

inaudible

(adj.) not able to be heard

devoid

(adj.) not having or using, lacking

unassuming

(adj.) not putting on airs, unpretentious; modest

frivolous

(adj.) of little importance, not worthy of serious attention; not meant seriously

servile

(adj.) of or relating to a slave; behaving like or suitable for a slave or a servant, menial; lacking spirit or independence, abjectly submissive

crucial

(adj.) of supreme importance, decisive, critical

pallid

(adj.) pale, lacking color; weak and lifeless

personable

(adj.) pleasing in appearance or personality, attractive

predatory

(adj.) preying on, plundering, or piratical

cryptic

(adj.) puzzling, mystifying, or enigmatic

wanton

(adj.) reckless; heartless, unjustifiable; loose in morals; (n.) a spoiled, pampered person; one with low morals

pertinent

(adj.) related to the matter at hand, to the point

stoical

(adj.) self-controlled; not showing feeling in response to pleasure or pain

staid

(adj.) serious and dignified; quiet or subdued in character or conduct

reciprocal

(adj.) shared; involving give-and-take between two persons or things; working in both directions; (n.) (math) a number that, when multiplied by another number, gives 1

pithy

(adj.) short but full of meaning and point

curt

(adj.) short, rudely brief

solicitous

(adj.) showing concern or care; fearful or anxious about someone or something

tawdry

(adj.) showy and flashy but lacking in good taste

dexterous

(adj.) skillful in the use of hands or body; clever

oblique

(adj.) slanting or sloping; not straightforward or direct

outlandish

(adj.) strange, freakish, weird, foreign-looking; out-of-the-way, geographically remote; exceeding reasonable limits

willful

(adj.) stubbornly self-willed; done on purpose, deliberate

durable

(adj.) sturdy, not easily worn out or destroyed; lasting for a long time; (n. pl.) consumer goods used repeatedly over a series of years

whimsical

(adj.) subject to odd ideas, notions, or fancies; playful, unpredictable

apt

(adj.) suitable, fitting, likely; quick to learn

predominant

(adj.) the greatest in strength or power; most common

gaunt

(adj.) thin and bony, starved looking; bare, barren

haggard

(adj.) thin, pale, and careworn as a result of worry or suffering; wild-looking

forlorn

(adj.) totally abandoned and helpless; sad and lonely; wretched or pitiful; almost hopeless

wry

(adj.) twisted, turned to one side; cleverly and often grimly humorous

judicious

(adj.) using or showing good judgment, wise, sensible

fervent

(adj.) very earnest, emotional, passionate; extremely hot

pivotal

(adj.) vitally important, essential

prodigal

(adj.) wastefully extravagant; lavishly or generously abundant; (n.) one who is wasteful and self-indulgent

aloof

(adj.) withdrawn, standing apart from others (usually as a matter of choice)

indiscriminate

(adj.) without restraint or control; unselective

incognito

(adj., adv.) in a disguised state, under an assumed name or identity; (n.) the state of being disguised; a person in disguise

awry

(adj., adv.) in a turned or twisted position or direction; wrong, out of the right or hoped-for course

gingerly

(adj., adv.) with extreme care or caution

impending

(adj., part.) about to happen, hanging over in a menacing way

avowed

(adj., part.) declared openly and without shame, acknowledged

abashed

(adj., part.) embarrassed, ashamed, or nonplussed

disgruntled

(adj., part.) in bad humor, discontented, annoyed

congested

(adj., part.) overcrowded, filled or occupied to excess

plaudits

(n. pl.) applause; enthusiastic praise or approval

antics

(n. pl.) ridiculous and unpredictable behavior or actions

dregs

(n. pl.) the last remaining part; the part of least worth

doctrine

(n.) a belief, principle, or teaching; a system of such beliefs or principles; a formulation of such beliefs or principles

epitaph

(n.) a brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone

transition

(n.) a change from one state or condition to another

niche

(n.) a decorative recess in a wall; a suitable place or position for a person or thing

abyss

(n.) a deep or bottomless pit

epoch

(n.) a distinct period of time, era, age

fallacy

(n.) a false notion or belief; an error in thinking

citadel

(n.) a fortress that overlooks and protects a city; any strong or commanding place

apparition

(n.) a ghost or ghostly figure; an unexplained or unusual appearance

promontory

(n.) a high point of land extending into water

juncture

(n.) a joining together; the point at which two things are joined; any important point in time

ferret

(n.) a kind of weasel; (v.) to search or hunt out; to torment, badger

levity

(n.) a lack of seriousness or earnestness, especially about things that should be treated with respect; buoyancy, lightness in weight

stricture

(n.) a limitation or restriction; a criticism; (medicine) a narrowing of a passage in the body

qualm

(n.) a pang of conscience, uneasiness, misgiving, or doubt; a feeling of faintness or nausea

excerpt

(n.) a passage taken from a book, article, etc.; (v.) to take such a passage; to quote

quirk

(n.) a peculiar way of acting; a sudden twist or turn

pseudonym

(n.) a pen name, name assumed by a writer

waif

(n.) a person (usually a child) without a home or friend; a stray person or animal; something that comes along by chance, a stray bit

scapegoat

(n.) a person or thing carrying the blame for others

nonentity

(n.) a person or thing of no importance

recourse

(n.) a person or thing turned to for help or advice; the act of seeking help or protection

scavenger

(n.) a person who collects or removes usable items from waste materials; an animal that feeds on refuse or dead bodies

recluse

(n.) a person who leads a life shut up or withdrawn from the world

laggard

(n.) a person who moves slowly or falls behind; (adj.) falling behind, slow to move, act, or respond

vendor

(n.) a person who sells something

turncoat

(n.) a person who switches to an opposing side or party

kindred

(n.) a person's relatives; a family relationship; (adj.) related by blood; like, similar

impediment

(n.) a physical defect; a hindrance, obstacle

perspective

(n.) a point of view or general standpoint from which different things are viewed, physically or mentally; the appearance to the eye of various objects at a given time, place, or distance

adage

(n.) a proverb, wise saying

attribute

(n.) a quality or characteristic belonging to or associated with someone or something; (v.) to assign to, credit with; to regard as caused by or resulting from

residue

(n.) a remainder, that which remains when a part has been used up or removed

bonanza

(n.) a rich mass of ore in a mine; something very valuable, profitable, or rewarding; a source of wealth or prosperity; a very large amount; sudden profit or gain

tether

(n.) a rope or chain used to fasten something to a fixed object; the outer limit of strength or resources; (v.) to fasten with a rope or chain

bludgeon

(n.) a short club used as a weapon; (v.) to strike with a heavy club; to use force or strong arguments to gain some point

parable

(n.) a short narrative designed to teach a moral lesson

taint

(n.) a stain or spot; a mark of corruption or dishonor; (v.) to stain or contaminate

crusade

(n.) a strong movement to advance a cause or idea; (v.) to campaign, work vigorously

armistice

(n.) a temporary peace, halt in fighting

veneer

(n.) a thin outer layer; a surface appearance or decoration; (v.) to cover with a thin layer

crony

(n.) a very close friend, pal, chum, buddy

foreboding

(n.) a warning or feeling that something bad will happen; (adj.) marked by fear, ominous

vigil

(n.) a watch, especially at night; any period of watchful attention

stance

(n.) a way of holding the body; an attitude or position on an issue

accord

(n.) agreement, harmony; (v.) to agree, be in harmony or bring into harmony; to grant, bestow on

mien

(n.) air, manner; appearance; expression

ruse

(n.) an action designed to confuse or mislead, a trick

proxy

(n.) an agent, substitute; a written permission allowing one person to act in another's place

jurisdiction

(n.) an area of authority or control; the right to administer justice

repercussion

(n.) an effect or consequence of some action or event, result; an echo or reverberation

barter

(n.) an exchange in trade; (v.) to exchange goods

defect

(n.) an imperfection, flaw, or blemish of some kind; (v.) to desert a cause or organization

opus

(n.) an impressive piece of work, especially a musical composition or other work of art

heritage

(n.) an inheritance; a birthright

grapple

(n.) an iron hook used to grab and hold; (v.) to come to grips with, wrestle or fight with

tenet

(n.) an opinion, belief, or principle held to be true

embargo

(n.) an order forbidding the trade in or movement of commercial goods; any restraint or hindrance; (v.) to forbid to enter and leave port; to forbid trade with

decree

(n.) an order having the force of law; (v.) to issue such an order; to command firmly or forcefully

mendicant

(n.) beggar; (adj.) depending on begging for a living

rubble

(n.) broken stone or bricks; ruins

attire

(n.) clothes, apparel, garb; (v.) to dress, adorn, or bedeck

intrigue

(n.) crafty dealings, underhanded plotting; (v.) to form and carry out plots; to puzzle or excite the curiosity

finesse

(n.) delicate skill; tact and cleverness; (v.) to accomplish something by cleverness, good judgment, or skillful evasion

renown

(n.) fame, glory

trepidation

(n.) fear, fright, trembling

premonition

(n.) forewarning or foreboding of a future event

oblivion

(n.) forgetfulness, disregard; a state of being forgotten; an amnesty, general pardon

impunity

(n.) freedom from punishment

anguish

(n.) great mental suffering, distress, or pain; (v.) to be deeply tormented by pain or sorrow

detriment

(n.) harm or loss; injury, damage; a disadvantage; a cause of harm, injury, loss, or damage

enmity

(n.) hatred, ill-will

gallantry

(n.) heroic courage; respect and courtesy; an act or statement marked by a high level of courtesy

longevity

(n.) long life, long duration, length of life

proximity

(n.) nearness, closeness

recipient

(n.) one who receives; (adj.) receiving; able or willing to receive

prodigy

(n.) something wonderful or marvelous; something monstrous or abnormal; an unusual feat; a child or young person with extraordinary ability or talent

vitality

(n.) strength, energy, liveliness; the capacity to live and develop; the power to endure or survive

sequel

(n.) that which follows, a result; a literary work or film continuing the story of one written or made earlier

elite

(n.) the choice part of a group of people or things; (adj.) superior

fiasco

(n.) the complete collapse or failure of a project

acme

(n.) the highest point

enormity

(n.) the quality of exceeding all moral bounds; an exceedingly evil act; huge size, immensity

milieu

(n.) the setting, surroundings, environment

rote

(n.) unthinking routine or repetition, a fixed or mechanical way of doing something; (adj.) based on a mechanical routine

unison

(v.) a sounding together; agreement or accord

unflagging

(v.) tireless, continuing with vigor

vilify

(v.) to abuse or belittle unjustly or maliciously

instill

(v.) to add gradually; to introduce or cause to be taken in

adapt

(v.) to adjust or change to suit conditions

garnish

(v.) to adorn or decorate, especially food; (n.) an ornament or decoration, especially for food

encroach

(v.) to advance beyond the usual or proper limits, trespass

vex

(v.) to annoy, anger, exasperate; to confuse, battle

allot

(v.) to assign or distribute in shares or portions

bask

(v.) to be in, or expose oneself to, pleasant warmth; to take pleasure in or derive enjoyment from

avail

(v.) to be of use or benefit to; to make use of; to take advantage of; to profit or benefit; (n.) use, benefit, or value

attest

(v.) to bear witness, affirm to be true or genuine

teem

(v.) to become filled to overflowing; to be present in large quantities

habituate

(v.) to become used to; to cause to become used to

upbraid

(v.) to blame, scold, find fault with

obliterate

(v.) to blot out completely, destroy utterly

mediate

(v.) to bring about an agreement between persons or groups, act as a go-between; (adj.) occupying a middle position; indirect, acting through an intermediary

muster

(v.) to bring together for service or battle; to gather or summon; to amount to, comprise, include; (n.) a list of men for military service; a gathering, accumulation

amass

(v.) to bring together, collect, gather, especially for oneself; to come together, assemble

rankle

(v.) to cause anger, irritation, or bitterness (with the suggestion that the pain grows worse with time)

veer

(v.) to change direction or course suddenly, turn aside, shift, swerve

vie

(v.) to compete; to strive for victory or superiority

maim

(v.) to cripple, disable, injure, mar, disfigure, mutilate

cower

(v.) to crouch or shrink away from in fear or shame

assert

(v.) to declare or state as truth, maintain or defend, put forward forcefully

proclaim

(v.) to declare publicly or officially

disclaim

(v.) to deny interest in or connection with; to give up all claim to

incapacitate

(v.) to deprive of strength or ability; to make legally ineligible

ravage

(v.) to destroy, lay waste, ruin; (n.) ruinous damage, destruction

evolve

(v.) to develop gradually; to rise to a higher level

delve

(v.) to dig; to search deeply and thoroughly into

estrange

(v.) to drift apart or become unfriendly; to cause such a separation; to remove or keep at a distance

capitulate

(v.) to end resistance, give up, surrender, throw in the towel

banter

(v.) to exchange playful remarks, tease; (n.) talk that is playful and teasing

ostracize

(v.) to exclude from a group, banish, send away

regale

(v.) to feast, entertain agreeably

grope

(v.) to feel about hesitantly with the hands; to search blindly and uncertainly

deplore

(v.) to feel or express regret or disapproval

dovetail

(v.) to fit together exactly; to connect so as to form a whole; (n.) a carpentry figure resembling a dove's tail

hover

(v.) to float or hang suspended over; to move back and forth uncertainly over or around

ensue

(v.) to follow in order, come immediately after and as a result

endow

(v.) to furnish, equip, provide with funds or some other desirable thing or quality

bestow

(v.) to give as a gift; to provide with lodgings

embody

(v.) to give form to; to incorporate, include; to personify

pulverize

(v.) to ground or pound to a powder or dust; to destroy or overcome (as though by smashing into fragments)

befall

(v.) to happen, occur; to happen to

falter

(v.) to hesitate, stumble, lose courage; to speak hesitatingly; to lose drive, weaken, decline

deface

(v.) to injure or destroy the surface or appearance of; to damage the value, influence, or effect of; to face down, outshine

exasperate

(v.) to irritate, annoy, or anger

abut

(v.) to join at one end or be next to; to support, prop up

stint

(v.) to limit, be sparing or frugal; (n.) a limit or restriction; a fixed share of work or duty; a period of activity

loiter

(v.) to linger in an aimless way, hang around, dawdle, tarry

disdain

(v.) to look upon with scorn; to refuse scornfully; (n.) a feeling of contempt

decoy

(v.) to lure into a trap; (n.) a person or thing used to lure into a trap

minimize

(v.) to make as small as possible, make the least of; to make smaller than before

appease

(v.) to make calm, soothe; to relieve, satisfy; to yield to

scoff

(v.) to make fun of; to show contempt for

preclude

(v.) to make impossible, prevent, shut out

impart

(v.) to make known, tell; to give, pass something on

nullify

(v.) to make of no value or consequence, cancel, wipe out

jostle

(v.) to make or force one's way by pushing or elbowing; to bump, shove, brush against; to compete for

rehabilitate

(v.) to make over in good form; to restore to good condition or to a former position

nauseate

(v.) to make sick to the stomach; to fill with disgust

belittle

(v.) to make something appear smaller than it is; to refer to in a way that suggests lack of importance or value

amplify

(v.) to make stronger, larger, greater, louder, or the like

invalidate

(v.) to make valueless, take away all force or effect

waver

(v.) to move to and fro, become unsteady; to show lack of firmness or decision

negate

(v.) to nullify, deny, bring to nothing

engross

(v.) to occupy the complete attention, absorb fully

infiltrate

(v.) to pass through or gain entrance to gradually or stealthily

gratify

(v.) to please, satisfy; to indulge or humor

plummet

(v.) to plunge straight down; (n.) a weight fastened to a line

malinger

(v.) to pretend illness to avoid duty or work, lie down on the job

articulate

(v.) to pronounce distinctly; to express well in words; to fit together into a system; (adj.) able to use language effectively; expressed clearly and forcefully

glut

(v.) to provide more than is needed or wanted; to feed or fill to the point of overstuffing; (n.) an oversupply

entail

(v.) to put a burden on, impose, require, involve; to restrict ownership of property by limiting inheritance; (n.) such a restriction

wrangle

(v.) to quarrel or argue in a noisy, angry way; to obtain by argument; to herd; (n.) a noisy quarrel

cite

(v.) to quote; to mention; to summon to appear in court; to commend, recommend

peruse

(v.) to read thoroughly and carefully

annul

(v.) to reduce to nothing; to make ineffective or inoperative; to declare legally invalid or void

venerate

(v.) to regard with reverence, look up to with great respect

rue

(v.) to regret, be sorry for; (n.) a feeling of regret

excise

(v.) to remove by cutting; (n.) an indirect tax on the manufacture, sale, or distribution of a commodity or service

oust

(v.) to remove, drive out of a position or place

abdicate

(v.) to resign, formally give up an office or a duty; to disown, discard

revert

(v.) to return, go back

plunder

(v.) to rob by force, especially during wartime; to seize wrongfully; (n.) property stolen by force

wallow

(v.) to roll about in a lazy, clumsy, or helpless way; to overindulge in; to have in abundance; (n.) a wet, muddy, or dusty area used by animals as a sort of bath; a state of moral or physical collapse

ransack

(v.) to search or examine thoroughly; to rob, plunder

simper

(v.) to smile or speak in a silly, forced way; (n.) a silly, forced smile

bolster

(v.) to support, give a boost to; (n.) a long pillow or cushion; a supporting post

sustain

(v.) to support, nourish, keep up; to suffer, undergo; to bear up under, withstand; to affirm the validity of

devise

(v.) to think out, plan, figure out, invent, create

convey

(v.) to transport; to transmit; to communicate, make known; to transfer ownership or title to

obsess

(v.) to trouble, haunt, or fill the mind

perturb

(v.) to trouble, make uneasy; to disturb greatly; to throw into confusion

instigate

(v.) to urge on; to stir up, provoke, start, incite

parry

(v.) to ward of, fend off, deflect, evade, avoid; (n.) a defensive movement in fencing and other sports

fend

(v.) to ward off, resist; to get along, manage

chafe

(v.) to warm by rubbing; to wear sore by rubbing; to feel annoyance or dissatisfaction, annoy, irk; to strain or press against; (n.) a sore or injury caused by rubbing

purge

(v.) to wash away impurities, clean up; (n.) the process of getting rid of something or someone decisively

flaunt

(v.) to wave or flutter showily; to display in a conceited, offensive way

collaborate

(v.) to work with, work together

comply

(v.) to yield to a request or command

defile

(v., trans.) to make unclean or dirty, destroy the purity of; (v., intrans.) to march in a single line or in columns; (n.) a narrow passage; gorge, canyon