Vocabulary Workshop Level G Unit 5 and 6

esoteric

(adj.) intented for or understood by only a select few, private, secret

depraved

(adj.) marked by evil and corruption, devoid of moral principles

moot

(adj.) open to discussion and debate, unresolved; (v.) to bring up for discussion; (n.) a hypothetical law case argued by students

sylvan

(adj.) pertaining to or characteristic of forest; living or located in a forest; wooded, woody

ubiquitous

(adj.) present or existing everywhere

inane

(adj.) silly, empty of meaning or value

intermittent

(adj.) stopping and beginning again, sporadic

neophyte

(n) a new convert, beginner, novice

motif

(n) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design

perspicacity

(n) keenness in observing and understanding

sophistry

(n) reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound; a fallacy

diatribe

(n.) a bitter and prolonged verbal attack

effigy

(n.) a crude image of a despised person

figment

(n.) a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion

travesty

(n.) a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation; a disguise, especially the clothing of the opposite sex; (v.) to ridicule by imitating in a broad or burlesque fashion

idiosyncrasy

(n.) a peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify

penchant

(n.) a strong attraction or inclination

nuance

(n.) a subtle or slight variation (as in color, meaning, quality), delicate gradation or shade of difference

surveillance

(n.) a watch kept over a person; careful, close, and disciplined observation

fiat

(n.) an arbitrary order or decree; a command or act of will or consciousness

complicity

(n.) involvement in wrongdoing; the state of being an accomplice

agnostic

(n.) one who believes that nothing can be known about God; a skeptic; (adj.) without faith, skeptical

ignominy

(n.) shame and disgrace

acuity

(n.) sharpness (particularly of the mind or senses)

derelict

(n.) someone or something that is abandoned or neglected; (adj.) left abandoned; neglectful of duty

indictment

(n.) the act of accusing; a formal accusation

equity

(n.) the state of being just, fair, or impartial; fair and equal treatment; something that is fair; the money value of a property above and beyond any mortgage or other claim

garner

(v.) to acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away, as for future use

delineate

(v.) to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail; to represent pictorially

hallow

(v.) to set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify, consecrate; to honor greatly, revere

enervate

(v.) to weaken or lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor of; enfeeble, hamstring

indubitable

(adj.) certain, not to be doubted or denied

plenary

(adj.) complete in all aspects or essentials; absolute; attended by all qualified members

overweening

(adj.) conceited, presumptuous; excessive, immoderate

sumptuous

(adj.) costly, rich, magnificent

abject

(adj.) degraded; base, contemptible; cringing, servile; complete and unrelieved

mundane

(adj.) earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs; concerned with what is ordinary

testy

(adj.) easily irritated; characterized by impatience and exasperation

fecund

(adj.) fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive

reputed

(adj.) according to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance and good reputation; (part.) alleged