vocabulary workshop level f unit 1-4

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

acculturation

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

lassitude

n. weariness of body or mind, lack of energy

expedite

v. to make easy, cause to progress faster

surmise

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

exhort

v. to urge strongly, advise earnestly

wheedle

v. to use coaxing or flattery to gain some desired end

infringe

v. to violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds

inscrutable

(Adj.) incapable of being understood, impossible to see through physically

scurrilous

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

irrevocable

(adj) incapable of being changed or called back

querulous

(adj) peevish, complaining, fretful

sedulous

(adj) persistent, showing industry and determination

sleazy

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

affable

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

aggrandize

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

amorphous

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

gossamer

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

propensity

(n) a natural inclination or predilection toward

contraband

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

aura

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

remonstrate

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

repudiate

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

infer

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

reverberate

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

occult

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

noncommittal

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

petulant

adj. peevish, annoyed by trifles, easily irritated and upset

ferment

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

epitome

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

sangfroid

n. composure or coolness, especially in trying circumstances

aplomb

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

umbrage

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

approbation

n. the expression of approval or favorable opinion, praise; official approval

resilient

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

insular

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

intrinsic

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

vitriolic

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

erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pendantic

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)

callow

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

meritorious

adj. worthy, deserving recognition and praise

ex officio

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

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

nominal

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

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

bombastic

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

seditious

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

adventitious

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

inadvertent

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

circuitous

adj. roundabout, not direct

stringent

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

tenuous

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

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)

proclivity

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

millennium

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

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

interloper

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

ascribe

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

expostulate

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

enjoin

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

elicit

v. to draw forth, bring out from some source (such as another person)

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

abominate

v. to have an intense dislike or hatred for

ameliorate

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

simulate

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

inveigh

v. to make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproal

expiate

v. to make amends, make up for; to avert

assuage

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

ingratiate

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

intercede

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

transcend

v. to rise above or beyond, exceed

permeate

v. to spread through, penetrate, soak through

peculate

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

commiserate

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