Sadlier Oxford Vocabulary Unit 12

appreciable

(adj) sufficient to be noticed or measured

autocratic

(adj) absolute in power or authority

blanch

(v) to remove the color from; to make or turn pale; to parboil

blasphemy

(n) an act, utterance, or writing showing contempt for something sacred

brawny

(adj) strong, muscular

concerted

(adj) planned or performed in cooperation with others

contend

(v) to fight, struggle; to compete; to argue

humane

(adj) kind, merciful

illustrious

(adj) very famous, distinguished

intolerable

(adj) unbearable

irreverent

(adj) disrespectful

laborious

(adj) not easy, requiring hard work; hardworking

lithe

(adj) bending easily, limber

maltreat

(v) to abuse, use roughly or crudely

ponder

(v) to consider carefully, reflect on

subversive

(adj) intended to undermine or overthrow; (n) one who advocates or attempts to undermine a political system

synthetic

(adj) made or put together by people; (n) something artificial

temperate

(adj) mild, moderate

venomous

(adj) poisonous; spiteful, mean

wily

(adj) sly, shrewd, cunning