vocab 4-6

aggrandize

(v.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater

amorphous

(adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion

aura

(n.) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality

erudite

(adj.) scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic

inscrutable

(adj.) incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically

propensity

(n.) a natural inclination or predilection toward

querlous

remonstrate

resilient

(adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

sedulous

(adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination

affable

(adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to

archetype

an original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example of a particular type of person or thing

contraband

(n.) illegal traffic, smuggled goods; (adj.) illegal, prohibited

gossamer

(adj.) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; (n.) a very thin, light cloth

insular

(adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

irrevocable

incapable of being changed or called back

repudiate

(v.) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

reverberate

(v.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

scurrilous

(adj.) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed

sleazy

(adj.) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable

amnesty

(n.) a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution

blazon

to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely

equitable

fair, just, embodying principles of justice

filch

(v.) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts

SYNONYMS: pilfer, purloin, swipe

fractious

(adj.) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable

precept

a rule of conduct or action

scathing

(adj.) bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm

soporific

(adj.) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy; (n.) something that induces sleep

straitlaced

(adj.) extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical

vapid

(adj.) dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force

autonomy

(n.) self-government, political control

axiomatic

self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule

caveat

a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior

extricate

(v.) to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort

flout

to mock, treat with contempt

salutary

(adj.) beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome

scourge

(v.) To whip, punish severely; (n.) A cause of affliction or suffering; a source of severe punishment or criticism

sepulchral

(adj.) funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal

transient

(adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time

unwieldy

not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity

anomalous

abnormal, irregular, departing from the usual

bizarre

(adj.) extremely strange, unusual, atypical

cajole

(v.) to coax, persuade through flattery or artifice; to deceive with soothing thoughts or false promises

demagogue

(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

disabuse

(v.) to free from deception or error, set right in ideas or thinking

fetter

(n.) a chain or shackle placed on the feet (often used in plural); anything that confines or restrains; (v.) to chain or shackle; to render helpless or impotent

heinous

(adj.) very wicked, offensive, hateful

megalomania

(n.) a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc., far in excess of reality

surreptitious

(adj.) stealthy, secret, intended to escape observation; made or accomplished by fraud

transmute

(v.) to change from one nature, substance, or form to another

aspersion

(n.) a damaging or derogatory statement; the act of slandering or defaming

brusque

(adj.) abrupt, blunt, with no formalities

castigate

(v.) to punish severely; to criticize severely

contrive

(v.) to plan with ingenuity, invent; to bring about as the result of a scheme or plan

ennui

(n.) weariness and dissatisfaction from lack of occupation or interest, boredom

immutable

(adj.) not subject to change, constant

insurgent

(n.) one who rebels or rises against authority; (adj.) rising in revolt, refusing to accept authority; surging or rushing in or on

sinecure

(n.) a position requiring little or no work; an easy job

transgress

(v.) to go beyond a limit or boundary; to sin, violate a law

vicarious

(adj.) performed, suffered, or otherwise experienced by one person in place of another