Semester 1 Vocab (Weinberg/Lynch)

assuage

to make something unpleasant less severe or intense; to ease

indigenous

native; occurring naturally in the specified place

malevolent

having or exhibiting ill will; wishing to harm others

piety

reverence to God; the state or quality of being pious

sojourn

a temporary stay; a brief period of residence

amiable

generally pleasing, friendly, sociable

tyrannical

unjustly cruel, harsh, or oppressive

fractious

tending to be troublesome; unruly

benevolence

a desire to do good to others; goodwill

benign

of a gentle disposition; gracious; showing kindness and getleness

ensue

to follow in order; come afterward

prowess

exceptional valor, bravery, or ability, especially in combat or battle

nebulous

hazy, vague, confused

articulate

able to speak well or expressively

inordinate

not within reasonable or proper limits; excessive

malignant

having evil or harmful disposition

palliate

to reduce the violence of; to moderate the intensity of

caricature

a picture or description exaggerating by ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics

passé

out of date; old fashioned

innate

existing, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth

ascertain

to make certain, exact or precise

viscous

sticky; thick; adhesive

rudiment

a basic principle, step, or element; a fundamental skill

essence

the individual, real, or ultimate nature of a thing

ingenuous

candid; frank; free from reserve

analogous

resembling or comparable in certain aspects

impudent

lacking modesty; marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others

temerity

unreasonable or fool hardy contempt of danger or opposition; rashness; recklessness

perpetrate

to bring about or carry out (as a crime or deception)

duress

forcible restraint or restriction

corroborate

to support with evidence or authority; to make more certain; confirm

cynical

contemptuously distrustful of human nature and motives

browbeat

to intimidate or disconcert by a stern manner or arrogant speech; bully

contraband

goods or merchandise whose importation, exportation, or possession is forbidden

expunge

to strike out, obliterate, or mark for deletion

exodua

a mass departure

vehement

intensely emotional; deeply felt

garish

clothed in vivid colors; excessively vivid; flashy

spurious

of illegitimate birth; of falsified origin; counterfeit

turmoil

a state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, or commotion

equitable

fair and impartial

disillusioned

disappointment in someone or something

ominously

in a way that suggest something bad is going to happen

proximity

nearness in space, time or relationship

marginalized

(of a person group or concept) treated as insignificant or peripheral

formidable

inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large; powerful, intense, or capable

exonerate

absolve someone from blame for a fault or wrong doing especially after due consideration of the case

dilapidated

(of a building or object) in a state of disrepair or in ruin as a result of age or neglect

animosity

strong hostility

palpable

(of a feeling or atmosphere) so intense as if to seem almost tangible

rhetoric

the art of effective persuasive speaking or writing

concede

admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it

culpability

responsibility for fault or wrongdoing; blame

vindicate

clear someone of blame of suspicion

emphatically

in a forceful way

provocative

causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately

inflammatory

arousing or intending to arouse angry violent feelings

clemency

mercy; lenience

peremptory

(in relation to the law) not open to appeal or change; final

futile

incapable of producing any useful result; pointless

anomaly

something that deviates form what is standard, normal, or expected

aptitude

a natural ability to do something

contentious

causing or likely to cause an argument; contorversial

precariously

in a way that is not securely in a position and is likely to fall or collapse

perjury

the offense of willingly telling an untruth in a court after taking an oath

candid

truthful and straightforward; frank

impunity

exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action

egregious

outstandingly bad; shocking

coerce

persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats

anonymity

the condition of being anonymous

myriad

a countless or extremely great number

recidivism

the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend

proliferate

increase rapidly in numbers; multiple

terse

sparing in the use of words; abrupt

defamation

the act of damaging the good reputation of someone

malice

intention or desire to do evil; ill will

preeminent

surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way

pervasive

(especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or group of people

prudent

acting with or sharing care and thought for the future

reciprocal

given, felt, or done in return

recumbent

reclining or reclined

juncture

a place where two things are joined

mollified

reduced; pacified

imperiously

dominantly; agressively

fawn

to behave affectionately or in a servile manner

complacently

enjoyably’ pleasingly; satisfyingly

bemused

perplexed; bewildered

derogatory

something that lessens the reputation of a person or thing

aloof

distant; apart; remote; isolated

scourge

to punish or criticize severly

pugnacious

excessively inclined to quarrel or fight

writhe

to twist the body about, or squirm, as in pain

gingerly

cautiously; carefully

jeer

to speak or shout rudely at; taunt

brusquely

curtly; abruptly; bluntly

subdue

to conquer and take into subduction

cower

to cringe in fear

wryly

dryly; sarcastically; understatedly

crestfallen

dispirited; dejected; depressed

jar

to rattle or shake