vocabulary workshop level f unit 1-12

transmute

To change from one nature, substance, or form to another

contrive

To plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan

salutary

(adj) beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome

scathing

(adj) bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm

nebulous

(adj) cloudlike, resembling a cloud, cloudy in color, not transparent, vague, confuesd, indistinct synonym: hazy, fuzy, cloudy, murky, opaque, indeterminate antonym: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused

egregious

(adj) conspicuous, standing out from the mass unfavorably synonym: glaring, flagrant, blatant synonym: glaring, flagrant, blatant

culpable

(adj) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation synonym: guilty, delinquent, peccant, blameworthy antonym: blameless, innocent, laudable, meritorious

pretentious

(adj) done for show, striving to make a big impression, claiming merit or position unjustifiably, making demands on one's skill or abilities, ambitious synonym: inflated, ostentatious, affected antonym: unassuming, unaffected, modest

vapid

(adj) dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force

straitlaced

(adj) extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical

equitable

(adj) fair, just, embodying principles of justice

sepulchral

(adj) funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal

torpid

(adj) inactive, sluggish, dull synonym: lethargic, otiose, languid antonym: energetic, dynamic, vigorous

transient

(adj) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n) one who stays only a short time

unwieldy

(adj) not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity

axiomatic

(adj) self evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule

astute

(adj) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom synonym: acute, sagacious, judicious, wily antonym: obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb

dilatory

(adj) tending to be delay or procrastinate, not prompt, intended to delay or postpone synonym: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard antonym: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious

fractious

(adj) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable

soporific

(adj) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy; (n) something that induces sleep

irresolute

(adj) unable to make one's mind, hesitating synonym: indecisive, vacillating, wavering antonym: determined, decisive, unwavering

slovenly

(adj) untidy, dirty, careless synonym: unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax antonym: neat, tidy, careful, meticulous

evanescent

(adj) vanishing, soon passing away, light and airy synonym: ephemeral, transient, transitory antonym: everlasting, immortal, imperishable

Lurid

(adj.) Causing shock, horror, or revulsion; sensational; pale or sallow in color; terrible or passionate in intensity or lack of restraint

Unctuous

(adj.) Excessively smooth or smug; trying too hard to give an impression of earnestness, sincerity, or piety; fatty, oily; pliable

Petulatant

(adj.) Peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset

Provincial

(adj.) Pertaining to an outlying area; local; narrow in mind or outlook, countrified in the sense of being limited and backward; of a simple plain design that originated in the countryside; (n.) a person with a narrow point of view; a person from an outlying area; a soldier from a province or colony

Hackneyed

(adj.) Used so often as to lack freshness or originality

Jaded

(adj.) Wearied, worn-out, dulled (in the sense of being satiated by excessive indulgence)

Meritiorious

(adj.) Worthy, deserving recognition and praise

resilient

(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

fortuitous

(adj.) accidental, by chance

gauche

(adj.) awkward, lacking in social graces, tactless, clumsy S-inept, uncouth, maladroit A-adroit, tactful, diplomatic, politic

hypothetical

(adj.) based on an assumption or guess; used as a provisional or tentative idea to guide or direct investigation

intrinsic

(adj.) belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part

palpable

(adj.) capable of being touched or felt; easily seen, heard, or recognized S-tangible, plain, obvious, manifest A-intangible, insubstantial, incorporeal

sedentary

(adj.) characterized by or calling for continued sitting; remaining in one place

Winsome

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

scurrilous

(adj.) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul mouthed

affable

(adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to

specious

(adj.) deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit S-deceptively plausible, sophistic, casuistic A-valid, sound, solid, genuine

censurable

(adj.) deserving blame or correction S-blameworthy, discreditable, reprehensible A-commendable, laudable, meritorious

Prosaic

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

efficacious

(adj.) effective, producing results

recondite

(adj.) exceeding ordinary knowledge and understanding

Redundant

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

munificent

(adj.) extremely generous, lavish

pernicious

(adj.) extremely harmful; deadly, fatal S-injurious, deleterious, baleful, noxious A-harmless, innocuous, salutary, salubrious

corpulent

(adj.) fat; having a large, bulky body

gratuitous

(adj.) freely given, not called for by circumstances, unwarranted

Deleterious

(adj.) harfmul, injurious

perceptive

(adj.) having sympathetic insight or understanding, capable of keen appreciation S-insightful, discerning, observant A-dense, thick, obtuse, dim-witted

covert

(adj.) hidden, disguised, a purposefully kept secret; sheltered, secluded; (n.) a sheltered place, a hiding place

florid

(adj.) highly colored, reddish; excessively ornate, showy S-flushed, ruddy, flowery, frilly, flamboyant A-pale, ashen, pallid, sallow, austere, stark

intemperate

(adj.) immoderate, lacking in self-control; inclement

dispassionate

(adj.) impartial; calm, free of emotion

Implicit

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

inscrutable

(adj.) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically

irrevocable

(adj.) incapable or being changed or called back

squeamish

(adj.) inclined to nausea; easily shocked or upset; excessively fastidious or refined

salient

(adj.) leaping, jumping, or springing forth; standing out (n.) a projection or bulge S-striking, notable, protrusive, obvious A-inconspicuous, recessive

contingent

(adj.) likely but not certain to happen, possible (n.) a representative group forming part of a larger body S-conditional, dependent, a detachment A-independent of, unconnected with, certain

Ostentatious

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

ignoble

(adj.) mean, low, base

abstemious

(adj.) moderate, sparing (as in eating and drinking); characterized by abstinence and self-discipline S-temperate, sobre, moderate A-indulgent, immoderate, intemperate

occult

(adj.) mysterious, magical, supernatural; secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; (v.) to hide, conceal; eclipse; (n.) matters involving the supernatural

susceptible

(adj.) open to; easily influenced; lacking resistance

imperious

(adj.) overbearing, arrogant; seeking to dominate; pressing, compelling

discursive

(adj.) passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling, roving, nomadic S-disgressive, diffuse, wandering, episodic A-short and to the point, succinct

querulous

(adj.) peevish, complaining, fretful

sedulous

(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination

debonair

(adj.) pleasant, courteous, lighthearted; smooth and polished in manner and appearance

bombastic

(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

dowdy

(adj.) poorly dressed, shabby; lacking smartness and good taste S-frumpy, tacky, frowsy, drab A-chic, stylish, elegant, fashionable

insular

(adj.) relating to, characteristis of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

bovine

(adj.) resembling a cow or ox; sluggish, unresponsive

erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

amorphous

(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion

Incisive

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

motley

(adj.) showing great variety; composed of different elements or many colors; (n.) a jester's costume; a jester

Contiguous

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

acrimonious

(adj.) stinging, bitter in temper or tone

stringent

(adj.) strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste

stalwart

(adj.) strong and sturdy; brave; resolute (n.) brave person, mainstay

subservient

(adj.) subordinate in capacity or role; submissively obedient; serving to promote some end

provocative

(adj.) tending to produce a strong feeling or response; arousing desire or appetite; irritating, annoying

sleazy

(adj.) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean or disreputable

gossamer

(adj.) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; (n.) a very thin, light cloth

callow

(adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers

Scantimonious

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

Politic

(adj.)prudent, shrewedly concieved and developed; artful, expedient

ex officio

(adj., adv.) by virtue of holding a certain office

Scintillating

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

amnesty

(n) a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution

avarice

(n) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth synonym: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness

precept

(n) a rule of conduct or action

caveat

(n) a warning to caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior

anathema

(n) an aobject of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation synonym: malediction, imprecation, abomination antonym: benediction, blessing

penury

(n) extreme poverty, barrenness, insufficiency synonym: destitution, want, indigence antonym: affluence, abundance, luxury, opulence

novice

(n) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience synonym: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice antonym: veteran, past master, pro, expert

adulation

(n) praise or flattery that is excessive synonym: adoration, idolizatoin, hero-worship antonym: ridicule, derision, scorn, odium

autonomy

(n) self government, political control

supposition

(n) something that is assumed or taken for granted, without conclusive evidence synonym: assumption, presumption, hypothesis

Coalition

(n.) A combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose

Hiatus

(n.) A gap, opening, break (in the sense of having an element missing)

Innuendo

(n.) A hint, indirect suggestion, or reference (often in a derogatory sense)

Prerogative

(n.) A special right or privilege; a special quality showing excellence

Decadence

(n.) Decline, decay, or deterioration; a condition or period of decline or decay; excessive self indulgence

Umbrage

(n.) Shade cast by trees; foliage giving shade; an overshadowing influence or power; offense, resentment; a vague suspicion

Approbation

(n.) The expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval

fetter

(n.) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural anything that confines or restrains; (v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent

annotation

(n.) a critical or explanatory note or comment, especially for a literary work

reprobate

(n.) a depraved, vicious, or unprincipled person, scoundrel; (adj.) wicked, corrupt, or unprincipled; (v.) to disapprove of, condemn

Clangor

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

Paragon

(n.) a model of excellence or perfection

millennium

(n.) a period of one thousand years; a period of great joy

Caricature

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

bedlam

(n.) a state or scene of uproar and confusion, commotion, pandemonium, chaos, anarchy

invective

(n.) a strong denunciation or condemnation; abusive language; (adj.) abusive, vituperative

epitome

(n.) a summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality

gauntlet

(n.) an armored or protective glove; a challenge; two lines of men armed with weapons with which to beat a person forced to run between them; an ordeal

Cupidity

(n.) an eager desire for something; greed

denizen

(n.) an inhabitant, resident; one who frequents a place S-resident, dweller, habitué A-alien, outsider, stranger, foreigner

heresy

(n.) an opinion different from accepted belief; the denial of an idea that is generally held sacred S-unorthodox belief, heterodoxy A-orthodoxy

equanimity

(n.) calmness, composure, refusal to panic

dissention

(n.) disagreement, sharp difference of opinion

consternation

(n.) dismay, confusion

perfidy

(n.) faithlessness, treachery

odium

(n.) hatred, contempt; disgrace or infamy resulting from hateful conduct

contraband

(n.) illegal traffic, smuggled goods; (adj.) illegal, prohibited

propensity

(n.) natural inclination or predilection toward

interloper

(n.) one who moves in where he or she in not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder

aplomb

(n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity

drivel

(n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; (v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly

aura

(n.) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality

gist

(n.) the essential part, main point, or essence

lassitude

(n.) weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

blazon

(v) to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely

extricate

(v) to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort

abate

(v) to make less in amount, degree, etc. to subside, become less; to nullify, deduct, omit synonym:diminish, decrease, subside, let up antonym: intensify, increase, magnify, wax

flout

(v) to mock, treat with contempt

recapitulate

(v) to review a series of facts, to sum up synonym: review, summarize, sum up, go over

resuscitate

(v) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existance synonym: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate

equivocate

(v) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation, to be deliberately vague or ambiguous synonym: to talk out of both sides of one's mouth, palter, hedge antonym: to speak one's mind plainly

filch

(v) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts

scourge

(v) to whip, punish severely; (n) a cause of affliction or suffering; a source of severe punishment or criticism

Expostulate

(v.) To attempt to dissuade someone from some course or decision by earnest reasoning

Elicit

(v.) To draw forth, bring out from some source

Simulate

(v.) To make a pretense of, imitate; to show the outer signs of

Assuage

(v.) To make easier or milder, relieve; to quiet, calm; to put an end to, appease, satisfy, quench

Intercede

(v.) To plead on behalf of someone else; to serve as a third party or go-between in a disagreement

Transcend

(v.) To rise above or beyond, exceed

remonstrate

(v.) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to

impugn

(v.) to call into question; to attack as false

Enthrall

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

dissipate

(v.) to cause to disappear; to scatter, dispel; to spend foolishly, squander; to be extravagant in pursuit of pleasure

Absolve

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

corroborate

(v.) to confirm, make more cetain, bolster, stubstantiate, verify S-refute, contradict, undermine, discredit

dun

(v.) to demand insistently, especially in payment of a debt; (n.) a creditor; (adj.) dark, dull, drab, dingy

disavow

(v.) to deny responsibility for or connection with

repudiate

(v.) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

precipitate

(v.) to fall as moisture; to cause or bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height, to give distinct form to; (adj.) characterized by excessive haste; (n.) moisture; the product of an action or process

infer

(v.) to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply

accrue

(v.) to grow or accumulate over time; to happen as a natural result

foist

(v.) to impose by fraud; to pass off as worthy or geniune; to bring about by stealth, dishonestly, or coercion S-pass off, palm off, fob off

ameliorate

(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

aggrandize

(v.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth, to build up or intensify; to make appear greater

Extenuate

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

inveigh

(v.) to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval

ingratiate

(v.) to make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense)

sear

(v.) to make or become dry and withered; to parch, dessicate, singe

relegate

(v.) to place in a lower position; to assign, refer, turn over; to banish

Enhance

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

reverberate

(v.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

expurgate

(v.) to remove objectionable passages or words froma written text; to cleanse, purify

Paraphrase

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

pillage

(v.) to rob of goods by open force (as in war), plunder; (n.) the act of looting; booty

satiate

(v.) to satisfy completely; to fill to excess (adj.) full, satisfied S-gratify, cloy, surfeit, gorge A-starve, deprive entirely of

disseminate

(v.) to scatter or spread widely S-disperse, publicize, broadcast, circulate A-bring together, concentrate, muster, conceal, hide

permeate

(v.) to spread through, penetrate, soak through

surmise

(v.) to think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess; (n.) likely idea that lacks definite proof

procrastinate

(v.) to unnecessarily delay, postpone, put off

exhort

(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly

infringe

(v.) to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

inculcate

(v.)to impress on the mind by repetition, teach persistently and earnestly S-instill, implant, infuse, ingrain, imbue A-efface, extirpate, root out

demagogue

A leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

anomalous

Abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual

bizarre

Extremely strange, unusual, atypical

immutable

Not subject to change, constant

infraction

a breaking of a law or obligation, violation

aspersion

a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming

megalomania

a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality

proclivity

a natural or habitual inclination or tendency (especially of human character or behavior)

sinecure

a position requiring little or no work; an easy job

ferment

a state of great excitement, agitation, or turbulence; to be in or work into such a state; to produce alcohol by chemical action

brusque

abrupt, blunt, with no formalities

vitriolic

bitter, sarcastic; highly caustic or biting (like a strong acid)

crass

coarse, unfeeling; stupid, crude, vulgar

sangfroid

composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances

nominal

existing in name only, not real; too small to be considered or taken seriously

grandiose

grand in an impressive or stately way; marked by pompous affectation or grandeur, absurdly exaggerated

redoubtable

inspiring fear or awe; illustrious, eminent; formidable, fearsome

noncommittal

not decisive or definite; unwilling to take a clear position or to say yes or no

insurgent

one who rebels or rises against authority

vulnerable

open to attack; capable of being wounded

cadaverous

pale, gaunt, resembling a corpse; wasted; haggard

vicarious

performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another

beneficent

performing acts of kindness or charity; doing good; humanitarian

seditious

resistant to lawful authority; having the purpose of overthrowing an established government

adventitious

resulting from chance rather than from an inherent cause or character; accidental, not essential; (medicine) acquired, not congenital

inadvertent

resulting from or marked by lack of attention; unintentional, accidental

circuitous

roundabout, not direct

austere

severe or stern in manner; w.o adornment or luxury, simple, plain; forbidding

surreptitous

stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud

restitution

the act of restoring someone/thing to the rightful owner/former state; making good on a loss; compensation

acculturation

the modification of the social patterns, traits, or structures of one group or society by contact with those of another; the resultant blend

tenuous

thin, slender, not dense; lacking clarity or sharpness; of slight importance or significance; lacking a sound basis, poorly suported

ascribe

to assign or refer to (as a cause or source), attribute

cajole

to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises

desecrate

to commit sacrilege upon, treat irreverently; to contaminate, pollute, profane

disconcert

to confuse; to disturb the composure of, upset

enjoin

to direct or order; to prescribe a course of action in an authoritative way; to prohibit

reprove

to find fault with, scold, rebuke, chide

disabuse

to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking

transgress

to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law

abominate

to have an intense dislike or hatred for

debase

to lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade, cheapen

expiate

to make amends, make up for; to avert

expedite

to make easy, cause to progress faster

mitigate

to make milder or softer, to moderate in force or intensity, lessen

concoct

to prepare by combining ingredients, to devise, fabricate, invent

castigate

to punish severely; to criticize severely

peculate

to steal something that has been given into one's trust; to take improperly for one's own use

commiserate

to sympathize with, have pity or sorrow for, share a feeling of distress

prate

to talk a great deal in a foolish or aimless fashion, prattle

wheedle

to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end

inconsequential

trifling, unimportant, trivial, negligible

punctilous

very careful and exact, attentive to fine points of etiquette or propriety

heinous

very wicked, offensive, hateful

ennui

weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom