Vocab 5/7/14

nevus (n) -- congenital growth or mark on the skin, such as a mole or birthmark

eschew (v) -- to avoid; shun

circumlocution (n) -- the use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language

locution (n) -- a particular word, phrase, or expression, especially one that is used by a particular person or group

oblique (adj.) -- having a slanting or sloping direction, course, or position; inclined

Vocab 5/6/14

turgid (adj.) -- excessively ornate or complex in style or language; grandiloquent

grandiloquence (n) -- pompous or bombastic speech or expression

bombast (n) -- grandiloquent, pompous speech or writing

pompous (adj.) -- characterized by excessive self-esteem or exaggerated dignity; pretentious

dignity (n) -- the quality or state of being worthy of esteem or respect

esteem (n) -- favorable regard

scintillate (v) -- to throw off sparks; flash

misanthropy (n) -- hatred or mistrust of humankind

bureaucracy (n) -- administration of a government chiefly through bureaus or departments staffed with nonelected officials

bureau (n) -- 1. a chest of drawers, especially a dresser for holding clothes 2. a government department or a subdivision of a department

broach (v) -- to bring up (a subject) for discussion or debate

gimlet (n) -- a small hand tool having a spiraled shank, a screw tip, and a cross handle and used for boring holes

shank (n) -- 1. the part of the human leg between the knee and ankle 2. the long narrow part of a nail or pin

labiodental (adj.) -- articulated with the lower lip and upper teeth, as the sounds f and v

fricative (n) -- a consonant, such as f or s in English, produced by the forcing of breath through a constricted passage

knurl (n) --  1. a knob, knot, or other small protuberance 2. one of a series of small ridges or grooves on the surface or edge of a metal object, such as a thumbscrew, to aid in gripping

thumbscrew (n) -- a screw designed so that it can be turned with the thumb and fingers

Vocab 4/22/14

intrinsic (adj.) - of or relating to the essential nature of a thing; inherent  

antiquity (n) - the quality of being old or ancient; considerable age
 
conflagration (n) - a large destructive fire
 
caprice (n) - an impulsive change of mind

orthography (n) - the art or study of correct spelling according to established usage
 
colloquialism (n) - a colloquial expression

 colloquial (adj.) - characteristic of or appropriate to the spoken language or to writing that seeks the effect of speech; informal  

usurp (v) - to seize and hold (the power or rights of another, for example) by force or without legal authority

pragmatic (adj.) - dealing or concerned with facts or actual occurrences; practical
  polemic (n) - a controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine

alacrity (n) - cheerful willingness; eagerness

Vocab 4/21/14

benighted (adj.) - overtaken by night or darkness

penchant (n) - a definite liking; a strong inclination

desiccate (v) - to dry out thoroughly

deft (adj.) - quick and skillful; adroit

adroit (adj.) - dextrous; deft

arbitrary (adj.) - determined by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by necessity, reason, or principle

apt (n) - exactly suitable; appropriate

subvert (v) - to destroy completely; ruin

alimony (n) - 1. law an allowance for support made under court order to a divorced person by the former spouse, usually the chief provider during the marriage; alimony may also be granted without a divorce, as between legally separated persons 2. a means of livelihood; maintenance

Vocab 4/5/14

belletristic (adj.) -- of or relating to a writer of belles-lettres (belletrists)  

belles-lettres (n) -- literature regarded for its aesthetic value rather than its didactic or informative content

didactic (adj.) -- intended to instruct

Vocab 4/4/14

expurgate (v) - to remove erroneous, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable material from (a book, for example) before publication

innocuous (adj.) - having no adverse effect; harmless

adverse (adj.) - acting or serving to oppose; antagonistic

connote (v) - to suggest or imply in addition to literal meaning

denote (v) - to mark; indicate: the grimace, which--all could see--denoted pain-endurance of the most intrepid kind.

intrepid (v) - resolutely courageous; fearless

astringent (adj.) - medicine tending to draw together or constrict tissues; styptic

stypic (adj.) - contracting the tissues or blood vessels

mnemonic (adj.) - relating to, assisting, or intended to assist the memory

gustatory (adj.) - of or relating to the sense of taste: the gustatory pleasure elicited by not only the malt milkshake's chocolate layers but the licorice-flavored straw Martha drank it with as well

Vocab 4/2/14

ambiversion (n) -- a personality trait including the qualities of both introversion and extroversion

vapid (adj.) -- lacking liveliness, animation, or interest; dull

adjure (v) -- to recant solemnly; renounce or repudiate


repudiate (v) -- to reject the validity or authority of

frivolity (n) -- the quality or condition of being frivolous

frivolous (adj.) -- unworthy of serious attention; trivial

Vocab 3/24/14

ineffable (adj.) -- incapable of being expressed; indescribable or unutterable

intrepid (adj.) -- resolutely courageous; fearless

limpid (adj.) -- characterized by transparent clearness; pellucid

pellucid (adj.) -- admitting the passage of light; transparent or translucent: the pellucid glass pane of her train car's upper wall out of which Martha stared on the day of her arrival to Buxton

luculent (adj.) -- easily understood; clear or lucid

negligible (adj.) -- not significant or important enough to be worth considering; trifling

trifling (adj.) -- of slight worth or importance

Vocab 3/23/14

agminate (adj.) -- gathered in clusters

scullion (n) -- a servant employed to do menial tasks in a kitchen

agnail (n) -- a hangnail

polyconic projection (n) -- a conic map projection having distances between meridians along every parallel equal to those distances on a globe--the central geographic meridian is a straight line, whereas the others are curved and the parallels are arcs of circles

agnate (adj.) -- related on or descended from the father's or male side

aggravate (v) -- to make worse or more troublesome; to make more of a burden
Usage Note: aggravate is incorrectly used to mean irritate or annoy; the incorrect usage has been found to exist since the 1600's. You should avoid this in formal writing. 

megalomania (n) -- a psychopathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence

aver (v) -- to assert formally as fact

fortuitous (adj.) -- happening by accident or chance

proliferate (v) -- to grow or multiply by rapidly producing new tissue, parts, cells, or offspring

preen (v) -- to take pride or satisfaction in (oneself); gloat

Vocab 3/22/14

mutagenesis (n) -- formation or development of a mutation

pecuniary (adj.) -- of or pertaining to money

agglutinate (v) -- to join together by causing adhesion, as with glue

akimbo (adj./adv.) -- with the hands on the hips and the elbows bowed outward

licentious (adj.) -- lacking moral discipline or sexual restraint

atrium (n) -- an open central court, esp. in ancient Roman houses

lenticular (adj.) -- shaped like a biconvex lens: the lenticular black-and-white stones resting on the intersections of Macey's old goban, game frozen in movement and time

atonic (adj.) -- not accented; pertaining to, caused by, or characterized by atony

atony (n) -- insufficient muscular tone

lycanthrope (n) -- a werewolf

Vocab 3/21/14

Gorgonzola (n) -- a pungent, blue-veined, pressed Italian cheese made of cow's milk

gratuitous (adj.) -- unnecessary or unwarranted; unjustified

bemuse (v) -- to cause to be bewildered; confuse

apostrophe (n) -- a digression in discourse, esp. a turning away form an audience to address an absent or imaginary person.

discourse (n) -- verbal expression in speech or writing

anthropomorphism (n) -- the attribution of human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena

cyclothmia (n) -- a form of manic-depressive psychosis characterized by alternating periods of activity and excitement with periods of inactivity and depression

cycloid (adj.) -- resembling a circle

cuspidate (adj.) -- having a cusp

auriculate (adj.) -- having ears or earlike parts or extensions

assuage (v) -- to make less burdensome or painful; ease

Vocab 3/20/14

galvanize (v) -- to stimulate or shock with an electric current

hyperbole (n) -- a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect

evince (v) -- to show or demonstrate clearly; manifest

implacable (adj.) -- impossible to placate or appease

placate (v) -- to allay the anger of, especially by making concessions; appease

pertinent (adj.) -- having logical precise relevance to the matter at hand

incisive (adj.) -- penetrating, clear, and sharp, as in operation or expression

benevolent (adj.) -- characterized by or suggestive of doing good

intrepid (adj.) -- resolutely courageous; fearless

trenchant (adj.) -- forceful, effective and vigorous: the trenchant men and women bustling together in a crowd of yellow porters, rain forming artificial eyeliner tears in their eyes, which look down from their faces as they scream at one another

enfilade (n) -- gunfire directed along the length of a target, such as a column of troops

parquetry (n) -- inlay of wood, often of different colors, that is worked into a geometric pattern or mosaic and is used especially for floors

mosaic (adj.) -- of or relating to Moses or the laws and writings attributed to him
             (n) -- a picture or decorative design made by setting small colored pieces, as of stone or tile, into a surface

Vocab 3/19/14

coruscate (v) -- to give forth flashes of light; sparkle and glitter

vicarious (adj.) -- felt or undergone as if one were taking part in the experience or feelings of another: the vicarious feeling of death's impending presence Rupert felt in reading The Thin Red Line by James Jones

incarnate (adj.) -- invested with bodily nature and form 

usurp (v) -- to seize and hold (the power or rights of another, for example) by force or without legal authority

aphorism (n) -- a tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion; an adage

terse (adj.) -- brief and to the point; effectively concise

verboten (adj.) -- forbidden; prohibited

cathartic (adj.) -- inducing catharsis; purgative
              (n) -- an agent for purging the bowels, especially a laxative

catharsis (n) -- a purifying or figurative cleansing of the emotions, especially pity and fear, described by Aristotle as an effect of tragic drama on its audience

Vocab 3/18/14

vertiginous (adj.) -- turning about an axis; revolving or whirling

immaculate (adj.) -- impeccably clean; spotless: Martha's immaculate yellow-gray counter top

glottal (adj.) -- relating to or articulated in the glottis

glottis (n) -- the opening between the vocal cords at the upper part of the larynx

hegira (n) -- a journey especially when undertaken to escape from a dangerous or undesirable situation; exodus

spangle (n) -- a small sparkling object, drop, or spot: some harsh unfocused spangles of hard light the sun casts as it leaves you through the ebbing orange of the end of everything visible in the spatial world

ebb (v) -- to fall away or back; decline or recede

spatial (adj.) -- of, relating to, involving, or having the nature of space

chastise (v) -- to punish, as by beating

censure (n) -- an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism 
             (v) -- to criticize severely; blame  
             
dint (n) -- force or effort; power: a seismic dint of unabashed movement coming into the ankles of her feet from some innate proclivity to be rough when all around her is very gentle

seismic (adj.) -- of, subject to, or caused by an earthquake or earth vibration

unabashed (adj.) -- not disconcerted or embarrassed; poised

disconcerted (v) -- to upset the self-possession of; ruffle

proclivity (n) -- a natural propensity or inclination; predisposition

propensity (n) --  an innate inclination; a tendency

predispose (v) -- to make (someone) inclined to something in advance

Vocab 3/17/14

mutable (adj.) -- capable of or subject to change or alteration

tactile (adj.) -- perceptible to the sense of touch; tangible: ". . . a close tactile blemish-scan." (David Foster Wallace)

ascetic (adj./n) -- leading a life of self-discipline and self-denial, especially for spiritual improvement; one who does this

beguile (v) -- to deceive by guile; delude: the beguiled entrepreneur, holding fast to his belief that everyone is backing his idea when, in fact, no one can understand it--his own greatest fear

guile (n) -- treacherous cunning; skillful deceit

flush (adv.) -- so as to be even, in one plane, or aligned with a margin

salient (adj.) -- projecting or jutting beyond a line or surface; protruding

putative (adj.) -- generally regarded as such; supposed

austere (adj.) -- severe or stern in disposition or appearance; somber and grave

crass (adj.) -- so crude and unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility

crude (adj.) -- being in an unrefined or natural state; raw

lassitude (n) -- a state or feeling of weariness, diminished energy, or listlessness

muse (v) -- to think on reflectively

lethargy (n) -- a state of sluggishness, inactivity, and apathy 

Vocab 3/16/14

portend (v) -- to serve as an omen or a warning of; presage

laissez faire (adj./n) -- noninterference in the affairs of others

oration (n) -- a formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion 

erudition (adj./n) -- deep, extensive learning; erudite

incursion (n) -- an aggressive entrance into foreign territory; a raid or invasion

appropriate (v) -- to set apart for a specific use

antipodal (adj.) -- diametrically opposed; exactly opposite: the antipodally pleasant sound of the the water crashing down on him with the strength of a Cross River gorilla

diametrically (adv.) -- of, relating to, or along a diameter

presage (n) -- an indication or warning of a future occurrence; an omen

Vocab 3/15/14

aggregate (adj.) -- constituting or amounting to a whole; total: the aggregate members of Jubal Paper Cup Co., Mindora, IN, Branch, whom the up-and-ups regard with subtle cringes in rare conversations pertaining to the small office's constituents.

antipathy (n) -- a strong feeling of aversion or repugnance

aversion (n) -- a fixed, intense dislike; the cause or object for such a feeling: Martha's aversion to cats, which was caused by a deep-seated memory of a picnic gone awry with rabid felinity

repugnance (n) -- extreme dislike or aversion

temperament (adj.) -- the manner of thinking, behaving, or reacting characteristic of a specific person 

refrigerant (adj.) -- cooling or freezing; refrigerating

abrasion (n) -- the process of wearing down or rubbing away by means of friction 

felicity (n) -- great happiness; bliss

contiguous (adj.) -- touching; in contact

corporal (adj.) -- of or relating to the body

Vocab 3/14/14

profundity (n) -- great depth (as of intellect, feeling, or meaning)

abstruse (adj.) -- difficult to understand; recondite

recondite (adj.) -- not easily understood

kowtow (v) -- to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission, as formerly done in China

replete (adj.) -- abundantly supplied; abounding

magnanimous (adj.) -- courageously noble in mind and heart

rhapsody (n) -- exalted or excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing

formicary (n) -- a nest of ants; an anthill

oblong (adj.) -- deviating from a square, circular, or spherical form by being elongated in one direction

lillipution (adj./n) -- very small--diminutive; one who exudes this quality

diminutive (adj.) -- extremely small in size; tiny

isomorphic (adj.) -- having a similar structure or appearance but being of different ancestry

cloy (v) -- to cause distaste or disgust by supplying with too much of something originally pleasant, especially something rich or sweet; surfeit

surfeit (v) -- to feed or supply to excess, satiety, or disgust

satiety (n) -- the condition of being full or gratified beyond the point of satisfaction

Vocab 3/13/14

anamnesis (n) -- a recalling to memory; recollection

parlance (n) --  a particular manner of speaking; idiom

parley (n/v) --  a discussion or conference, especially one between enemies over terms of truce or other matters; to take part in this

auxiliary (adj.) -- giving assistance or support; helping

autochthonous  (adj.) -- originating where found; indigenous: autochthonous flamingos of the lower Saharan river valley

convoluted (adj.) -- having numerous overlapping coils or folds; intricate or complicated

recumbent (adj.) -- lying down, especially in a position of comfort or rest; reclining

congeal (v) --  to solidify by or as if by freezing; coagulate

alible (adj.) -- having nutrients; nourishing

albescent (adj.) -- becoming white or moderately white; whitish

rubicund (adj.) -- inclined to a healthy rosiness; ruddy

desiccate (v) -- to dry out thoroughly; the desiccated coagulation of Martha's scabbing scars

commensurate (adj.) -- of the same size, extent, or duration as another

chakra (n) -- one of the seven centers of spiritual energy in the human body according to yoga philosophy

subaltern (adj.) -- lower in position or rank; secondary

askew (adj.) -- to one side; awry: the askew cuckoo-clock, whose bird leaps out lopsidedly

obsequious (adj.) -- full of or exhibiting servile compliance; fawning