Vocab Units 1-5

hoard

to accumulate for future use; stockpile

penitent

expressing remorse for one's misdeeds

cacophony

harsh sounds

feign

to pretend

candor

truthfulness; sincere honesty

incite

to arouse to action

debase

to reduce in dignity or quality

ostracize

(v.) to exclude from a group, banish, send away

abhor

to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

embellish

(v.) to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details

lament

to express sorrow; to grieve

fickle

likely to change on a whim or without apparent reason

Secede

To leave or withdraw

intervene

come between

convene

to call together, to assemble

concede

(v.) to admit as true; to yield, submit

-ven

to come

-cede

to give up, to yield

finale

the ending of an event

dauntless

fearless; unintimidated

infinite

limitless; without end

mediocre

of average quality; ordinary

mediate

(v.) to bring about an agreement between persons or groups, act as a go-between

histrionic

overly dramatic, emotional

impede

To obstruct or interfere with

somber

dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit

congenial

pleasant to be around; social, agreeable

blather

to talk nonsensically

oust

to eject; to force out; to banish

petulant

cranky; ill-humored; easily irritated or annoyed

misnomer

an incorrect, unfitting or inappropriate name

denounce

to condemn openly; to expose critically

emit

to send or give out

medi

middle

fin

end

sens, sent

to feel

mem

to remember

idiosyncrasy

a behavioral quirk

infamy

evil fame or reputation

disparage

to say uncomplimentary things; to belittle

elapse

To pass or slip by (used with time)

optimum

the most advantageous; the best condition, degree, or amount

debacle

a downfall; a complete failure; a total collapse

pillage

to rob of goods by violence, force

rudimentary

basic; elementary; in the earliest stages of development

scrutinize

to observe carefully

masticate

to chew

aloof

distant, reserved in manner; uninvolved

connoisseur

an expert in matters of culture, food, or wine

consensus

general agreement

resentful

Full of bitterness at something wrong or insulting

memento

a reminder of the past; a keepsake

commemorate

honor the memory of

scrib

to write

dict

to say

commodious

roomy, spacious

dearth

a lack, scarcity

bereave

suffering the death of a loved one; left alone

bludgeon

(n.) a short club used as a weapon; (v.) to strike with a heavy club; to use force or strong arguments to gain some point

alleviate

to relieve, make more bearable

migratory

roving, wandering, nomadic

scapegoat

(n.) a person or thing carrying the blame for others

deft

skillful, nimble

philanthropy

love of mankind through charitable gifts and deeds

paranoia

an irrational suspiciousness or distrust of others

emulate

to imitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the model

dispel

To scatter about, break up

indictment

a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime

contradict

to speak against; to say the opposite

inscribe

to write or engrave

describe

to tell in words

vert/vers

to turn

per

through/against

hovel

a small, miserable dwelling

comprise

to include or contain; to be made up of

beset

to harass; to surround

allure

(v.) to entice, tempt; to be attractive to; (n.) a strong attraction; the power to attract, charm

melancholy

sadness, depression, gloomy

defame

to ruin the good name of

stupefy

to stun, baffle, or amaze

sonorous

producing a deep or full sound

periphery

the outermost part or boundary

disperse

to scatter, spread far and wide

enrapture

to delight, to thrill or give pleasure

opportune

occurring or coming at a good time

permeate

to spread throughout

persevere

(v.) to keep doing something in spite of difficulties; to refuse to quit even when the going is tough

divert

to turn aside from a direction

versatile

able to do many things well; capable of many uses