Vocabulary Workshop Level F Unit 9-15
impromptu
adjective & adverb, without preparation, offhand, suddenly or hastily done; noun, an extemporaneous composition or remark; a minimal piece suggestive of improvisation
scintillating
adjective & participial, sparkling, twinkling, exceptionally brilliant
nonplussed
adjective & participle, puzzled, not knowing what to do, at a loss
prolific
adjective, abundantly productive; abundant, profuse
ostensible
adjective, apparent, appearing to be true or actual; capable of being shown or exhibited
winsome
adjective, charming, attractive, pleasing (often suggesting innocence)
extraneous
adjective, coming from the outside, foreign; present but not essential, irrelevant
definitive
adjective, conclusive, final, representing the limit of what can be done
disconsolate
adjective, deeply unhappy or dejected without hope, beyond consolation
sadistic
adjective, delighting in cruelty, excessively cruel
prosaic
adjective, dull, ordinary, lacking in distinction and originality; characteristic of prose, not poetic
choleric
adjective, easily made angry, bad-tempered
mawkish
adjective, excessively and objectionably sentimental; having a mildly sickening flavor
redundant
adjective, extra, excess, more than is needed ; wordy, repetitive, profuse, lush
adamant
adjective, firm in purpose or opinion, unyielding; noun, an extremely hard substance
grisly
adjective, frightful, horrible, ghastly
profligate
adjective, given over to dissipation and self-indulgence, immoral; recklessly extravagant; noun, a person given to self-indulgent and wild spending
providential
adjective, happening as though through divine intervention; characterized by good fortune
deleterious
adjective, harmful, injurious
implicit
adjective, implied or understood though unexpressed; without doubts or reservations, unquestioning; potentially contained in
jejune
adjective, lacking in nutritive value; lacking in interest or substance; immature, juvenile
sanctimonious
adjective, making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious
ostentatious
adjective, marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy
requisite
adjective, needed, necessary, regarded as essential or indispensable
blatant
adjective, noise in a coarse, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense
sartorial
adjective, of or pertaining to a tailor or his work, having to do with clothes or dress
politic
adjective, prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedient
enigmatic
adjective, puzzling, perplexing, not easily understood, mysterious
herculean
adjective, relating to Hercules; characterized by great strength;
sententious
adjective, self righteous, characterized by moralizing; given to use of maxims or adages; saying much in few words, pithy
incisive
adjective, sharp, keen, penetrating
impassive
adjective, showing no feeling or emotion
precocious
adjective, showing unusually early development
contiguous
adjective, side by side, touching; near; adjacent in time
obdurate
adjective, stubborn, unyielding
opportune
adjective, suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occurring at an appropriate time
preeminent
adjective, superior, outstanding; prominent
turgid
adjective, swollen, bloated, filled to excess; over decorated or excessive in language
credulous
adjective, too ready to believe, easily deceived
inauspicious
adjective, unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future
incontrovertible
adjective, unquestionable, beyond dispute
amenable
adjective, willing to follow advice or authority, tractable, submissive; responsive, amendable to; liable, to be held responsible for
tortuous
adjective, winding, twisted, crooked; highly involved, complex, devious
satiate
verb, to satisfy completely, to fill to excess; adj, full, satisfied
disseminate
verb, to scatter widely
berate
verb, to scold sharply
remit
verb, to send or hand in, to cancel, forgive, pardon; to lessen, diminish; to put off, postpone, defer
mollify
verb, to soften, make gentle, to calm, allay; to reduce in intensity
cloy
verb, to spoil or destroy an appetite by too much indulgence especially in sweet or rich things; to glut, satiate
buttress
verb, to support, prop up, strengthen; noun, a supporting structure
deplete
verb, to use up as a result of spending or consumption; to diminish greatly
encumber
verb, to weigh down or burden; to fill up, block, hinder
palpable
adj, capable of being touched or felt; easily seen, heard, or recognized
specious
adj, deceptive, apparently good or valid but lacking real merit
censurable
adj, deserving of blame or correction
perceptive
adj, having sympathetic insight or understanding, capable of keen appreciation
florid
adj, highly colored, reddish; excessively ornate, overdecorated, showy
contingent
adj, likely but not certain to happen, possible, happening by chance; Noun, a representative group forming part of a larger body
abstemious
adj, moderate, sparing; characterized by abstinence and self-discipline
discursive
adj, passing aimlessly from one place or subject to another, rambling, roving, nomadic
dowdy
adj, poorly dressed, shabby; lacking smartness
potpourri
noun, a collection of diverse or miscellaneous items, a general mixture; petals mixed with spices for scent
brouhaha
noun, a confused hodgepodge of sounds, hubbub; an uproar or commotion that goes far beyond what is justified
clangor
noun, a loud ringing noise; verb, to make a loud ringing noise
paragon
noun, a model of excellence or perfection
rejoinder
noun, a reply to a reply, especially from the defendant in a legal suit
caricature
noun, a representation in which the subject's characteristic features are deliberately exaggerated; verb, to present someone or something in a deliberately distorted way
criterion
noun, a rule, test; a standard for judgment or evaluation
bulwark
noun, a strong defense or protection, a solid wall-like structure for defense; verb, to provide such defense or protection; verb, to provide such a defense or protection
presentiment
noun, a vague sense of approaching misfortune
infirmity
noun, a weakness or ailment
cupidity
noun, an eager desire for something; greed
surfeit
noun, an excess or overindulgence, as in eating or drinking; causing disgust; verb, to feed or supply with anything to excess
connoisseur
noun, an expert; one who is well qualified to pass critical judgments, especially in one of the fine arts
denizen
noun, an inhabitant, resident; one who frequents a place
deference
noun, courteous, yielding to the wishes and ideas of another person; great respect marked by submission, as to a superior
carnage
noun, large scale slaughter or loss of life
carousal
noun, noisy revelry or merry making (often with a suggestion of heavy drinking)
onus
noun, something that is heavy or burdensome; a stigma; blame
inception
noun, the beginning, start, earliest stage of some process, institution, etc.
demeanor
noun, the way a person behaves, overall impression made by comportment, manner, etc.; facial appearance, mien
forbearance
noun, tolerance and self-control, patience; the act of refraining from something, abstinence
aver
verb, to affirm, declare confidently
supplicate
verb, to beg earnestly and humbly
broach
verb, to break the surface of the water, to turn sideways to the wind and waves; to bring up or begin to talk about; to announce; to pierce in order to draw off liquid; noun, a spit for roasting
absolve
verb, to clear from blame, responsibility, or guilt
collate
verb, to compare critically in order to note differences, similarities, etc.; to arrange in order for some specific purpose
corroborate
verb, to confirm, make more certain
curtail
verb, to cut short, bring to a halt or end sooner than expected; to reduce
accentuate
verb, to emphasize, place stress upon
abet
verb, to encourage, assist (especially in something wrong)
enthrall
verb, to enslave; to imprison; to captivate, charm, hold spellbound
expatiate
verb, to expand on, write or talk at length or in detail; to move about freely
foist
verb, to impose by fraud; to pass off as worthy or genuine; to bring in by stealth, dishonesty, or coercion
extenuate
verb, to lessen the seriousness or magnitude of offense by making partial excuses
sear
verb, to make or become dry or withered; to char or scorch the surface of; to harden or make unfeeling
thwart
verb, to oppose successfully; to prevent, frustrate
foment
verb, to promote trouble or rebellion; to apply warm liquids to, warm
enhance
verb, to raise to a higher degree; to increase the value or desirability of
paraphrase
verb, to restate in other words; noun, a statement that presents a given idea in new language