Sadlier-Oxford Vocab Level H - Unit 2
bibulous
(adjective) fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent syn: inebrious ant: abstemious, temperate
lachrymose
(adjective) given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious syn: tearful, doleful, dolorous ant: dry-eyed, merry, hilarious
sanguine
(adjective) having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook syn: flushed, rosy ant: bloodless, ashen, pessimistic, gloomy
indigenous
(adjective) originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn, inherent syn: endemic, domestic, homegrown ant: foreign, alien, exoteric, imported
minuscule
(adjective) very small, tiny (noun) a lowercase letter syn: (adjective) infinitesimal, insignificant ant: (adjective) huge, massive, monumental
obfuscate
(noun) to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder syn: muddy the waters ant: elucidate, explicate, clarify
melee
(noun) a confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling syn: fracas, brawl, scuffle, donnybrook ant: friendly chat, peace and quiet
lexicon
(noun) a dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject,; a compendium syn: wordbook, glossary
claque
(noun) a group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat syn: fan club, flatterers ant: critics, detractors, slanderers
microcosm
(noun) a miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system syn: epitome, world in little ant: macrocosm, cosmos, totality
vassal
(noun) a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant (adjective) subservient syn: (noun) minion; (adjective) servile ant: (noun) overlord
solecism
(noun) a substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake syn: misusage, blunder
exegesis
(noun) an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of a text) syn: analysis, explication ant: mystification
aegis
(noun) protection; patronage; sponsorship syn: auspices
paternalism
(noun) the policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children syn: benevolence, solicitude, fatherliness
verisimilitude
(noun) the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable syn: realism, lifelikeness, authenticity
purview
(noun) the range, extent, or scope of something, in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute syn: orbit
polarize
(verb) to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern syn: split, alienate, estrange ant: unite, unify, reconcile
apprise
(verb) to inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice syn: acquaint ant: keep secret, withhold information
deracinate
(verb) to pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of syn: extirpate, eradicate, expunge ant: implant, nurture, foster, instill