English 2 Vocab list 11- 60 (copy)

chasm

a deep, gaping hole; a gorge

epitome

the perfect example of something; a summary or abstract of a written work

specious

deceptively plausible or attractive

absolve

to forgive or free from blame; to free from sin; to free from obligation

vindictive

seeking revenge

munificent

very generous; lavish

deference

submission to another's will; respect; courtesy

debauchery

wild living; excessive intemperance

amorous

feeling loving, especially in a sexual sense; in love; relating to love

affable

easy to talk to; friendly

malaise

a feeling of depression, uneasiness, or queasiness

flout

to disregard something out of disrespect

spurious

false; fake

milieu

environment; surroundings

efface

to erase; to rub away the features of

belie

to give a false impression of; to contradict

civil

polite; civilized, courteous

guile

cunning; duplicity; artfulness

inherent

part of the essential nature of something; intrinsic

cynic

one who deeply distrusts human nature

bastion

stronghold; fortress; fortified place

covet

to wish for enviously

ambience

atmosphere; mood; feeling

absolute

total; unlimited; perfect

beset

to harass; to surround

dilettante

someone with superficial knowledge of the arts; an amateur

abash

to make ashamed; to embarrass

awry

twisted to one side; away from the appropriate plan or expected course; amiss

assuage

to soothe; to pacify; to ease the pain of; to relieve

sentient

able to perceive or feel things using the senses; conscious

repercussion

a consequence; an indirect effect

utopia

an ideal society

palliate

to relieve or alleviate something without getting rid of the problem; to assuage; to mitigate

fidelity

faithfulness; loyalty

lucid

clear; easy to understand

prodigious

extraordinary; enormous

heresy

any belief that is strongly opposed to established beliefs

futile

useless; hopeless

archetype

an original model or pattern; a universal symbol

acute

sharp; shrewd

fervor

great warmth or earnestness; ardor; zeal

condescend

to stoop to someone else's level; to patronize; to show feelings of superiority; to do something in a haughty way, as if it is beneath one’s dignity and importance / adj. condescending

ameliorate

to make better or more tolerable

exemplify

to illustrate by example; to serve as a good example

supercilious

haughty; patronizing

infamous

shamefully wicked; having an extremely bad reputation; disgraceful / n. infamy

affluent

rich; prosperous

judicious

exercising sound judgment

superfluous

extra; unnecessary; redundan

augment

to make bigger; to add to; to increase