 | Term | Definition |
| |
paragon |
model of excellence or perfection |
| |
inamorata |
a female lover |
| |
animus |
hostile feeling or attitude |
| |
capitulate |
to surrender unconditionally or on stipulated terms |
| |
inculpate |
to charge with fault |
| |
incursion |
a hostile entrance into a place |
| |
deign |
to think fit or in accordance with one's dignity |
| |
promulgate |
to make known by open declaration |
| |
doctrinate |
a particular principle advocate, as of a government or religion |
| |
dystrophy |
faulty or inadequate nutrition or development |
| |
epigram |
a witty or pointed saying tersely expressed |
| |
invective |
of, relating to, or characterized by insult or abuse |
| |
effigy |
sculpture or model of a person |
| |
fiduciary |
of a trust; held or given in trust |
| |
conflagration |
a large destructive fire |
| |
effluence |
flowing out of |
| |
confluence |
merging into one |
| |
fusillade |
continuous discharge of firearms or outburst of criticism |
| |
congenital |
existing or as such from birth |
| |
miscegenation |
interbreeding of races |
| |
heterogeneous |
of other origin; not originating in the body |
| |
indigent |
deficient in what is requisite |
| |
adjure |
to beg or command |
| |
elocution |
art of clear and expressive speaking |
| |
ablution |
act of cleansing |
| |
magnate |
a powerful or influential person, a ronna |
| |
malfeasance |
misconduct or wrongdoing often committed by a public official |
| |
oblique |
having a slanting or sloping direction |
| |
panoply |
a wide-ranging and impressive array or display |
| |
apartheid |
any system or caste that separates people according to race |
| |
pertinacious |
resolute |
| |
petulant |
showing sudden irritation, esp. over some annoyance |
| |
philology |
the study of literary texts to establish their authenticity and determine their meaning |
| |
complacent |
self-satisfied, unconcerned |
| |
expound |
to set forth in detail |
| |
disport |
to divert or amuse oneself |
| |
precept |
a commandment given as a rule of action or conduct |
| |
reprobate |
a depraved or wicked person |
| |
compunction |
a feeling of uneasiness for doing wrong |
| |
perquisite |
a gratuity, tip |
| |
arrogate |
to claim unwarrantably or presumptuously |
| |
exult |
to show or feel triumphant joy |
| |
execrable |
adbominable |
| |
sedition |
incitement of discontent or rebellion aginst a government |
| |
insidious |
intended to trap or beguile |
| |
circumspect |
watchful and discreet |
| |
contravene |
to come into conflict with |
| |
adventitious |
associated by chance and not an integral part |
| |
avocation |
something one does in addition to a principle occupation |
| |
convoke |
to call together |
| |
invective |
abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will |
| |
coddle |
treat with excessive indulgence; cook in nearling boiling water |
| |
bilious |
characterized by an excess secretion of bile; irritable, cranky |
| |
derriere |
butt |
| |
rhinestone |
an imitation diamond made from rock crystal or glass or paste |
| |
miscreant |
a person without moral scruples |
| |
restive |
being in a tense state; impatient especially under restriction or delay |
| |
grandstand |
perform ostentatiously in order to impress the audience and with an eye to the applause |
| |
sybarite |
a person addicted to luxury and pleasures of the senses |
| |
racketeer |
someone who commits crimes for profit (especially one who obtains money by fraud or extortion) |
| |
whet |
make keen or more acute; sharpen by rubbing, as on a whetstone |
| |
churl |
a crude person; a selfish person who is unwilling to give or spend; a bad-tempered person |
| |
gadfly |
a persistently annoying person |
| |
aphorism |
a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation |
| |
spate |
a large number or amount or extent; a sudden forceful flow |
| |
rueful |
feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses |
| |
bumptious |
offensively self-assertive |
| |
incisive |
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; suitable for cutting or piercing |
| |
incendiary |
involving deliberate burning of property; arousing to action or rebellion; flammable |
| |
equable |
not varying; not easily irritated |
| |
sere |
having lost all moisture |
| |
propitious |
presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success |
| |
festoon |
decorate with a string of flowers |
| |
ruddy |
inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life |
| |
refractory |
unresponsive; stubbornly resistant |
| |
wanton |
occurring without motivation or provocation; casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior |
| |
panacea |
hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists |
| |
roiled |
aroused to impatience or anger |
| |
prurient |
characterized by lust |
| |
greenhorn |
an awkward and inexperienced youth |
| |
sumptuous |
luxurious, superior in quality |
| |
sunder |
break apart |
| |
yen |
yearn |
| |
abeyance |
temporary cessation or suspension |
| |
moon |
have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake |
| |
waspish |
very irritable |
| |
abstemious |
sparing in consumption of especially food and drink |
| |
knell |
ring as in announcing death |
| |
trammel |
catch in or as if in a trap; place limits on |
| |
rebuff |
reject outright and bluntly; force or drive back |
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