Vocabulary Workshop Level H Unit 1

laissez-faire

(adj) a philosophy or practice characterized by a usually deliberate abstention from direction of interference, especially with individual freedom of choice and action Syn: noninterventional, nonrestrivtice, hands-off

chimerical

(adj) absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible Syn: visionary, quixotic, pie-in-the-sky Ant: realistic, down-to-earth, practicable

oblivious

(adj) forgetful; unaware Syn: insensible Ant: aware cognizant, mindful, alert

ribald

(adj) irreverently mocking; coarse, vulgar, or indecent in language Syn: risqúe Ant: seemly, proper, decorous

effete

(adj) lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out or exhausted; sterile or unable to produce; out-of-date Syn: decadent, enfeebled Ant: thriving, burgeoning, vigorous, dynamis

supine

(adj) lying flat on one's back; listless or lethargic; apathetic or passive Syn: prone, prostrate; inert Ant: upright, erect, perpendicular, vertical

hidebound

(adj) narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative Syn: intolerant, inflexible Ant: open-minded, tolerant, progressive, liberal

noisome

(adj) offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious Syn: fetid, noxious, vile, loathsome Ant: wholesome, sweet-smelling

quasi

(adj) resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely Syn: kind of, as if Ant: totally, completely, actually, in fact

poltroon

(n) a base coward Syn: craven, dastard. "chicken" Ant: stalwart, gallant

proselyte

(n) a convert; a disciple Syn: novice, neophyte Ant: master, teacher, guide, guru

morass

(n) a patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand Syn: bog Ant: solid ground, bedrock, terra firm

liturgy

(n) a religious service or rite; the form of a ritual or other act of public worship Syn: observance

vignette

(n) a short description or sketch; a picture or illustration with edges that gradually shade off; a decorative design on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter Syn: thumbnail sketch, anecdote Ant: epic, full-length treatment

fait accompli

(n) an accomplished and presumable irreversible deed, fact, or action Syn: accomplished fact

hierarchy

(n) any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc. Syn: chain of command

raillery

(n) good-humored ridicule; teasing Syn: persiflage

adjunct

(n) something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic; (adj) added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity Syn: associate, addition, accessory

bellwether

(n) the male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in a desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends Syn: ringleader, initiator, barometer Ant: follower, imitator, emulator

caterwaul

(v) to howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel; (n) a harsh or noisy cry; a racket Syn: (v) whine; (n) screech