english vocab

camaraderie

rapport and goodwill

frangible

fragile; easy to break

litany

any long, repetitive, or dull recital

moratorium

a suspension of activity; an authorized delay

zealous

fervent; fanatical

desiccate

to dry out; to remove moisture

wrenching

causing mental or physical pain

replete

full; abundant

interminable

tiresome and long; seemingly endless

arable

suitable for cultivation of land

lugubrious

mournful; gloomy

truncate

to shorten

ubiquitous

occurring or seeming to occur everywhere; omnipresent

Vernacular

everyday language

equnimity

calmness, composure

metamorphosis

a transformation or dramatic change

donnybrook

a fight; an uproar

nonchalant

unconcerned; indifferent

vestige

a trace or evidence of something that once existed

interlocutor

someone who participates in a conversation

procrustean

strictly disregarding individual differences or circumstances

stygian

dark and forbidding

sophistry

a deliberately deceptive or misleading argument

carte blanche

boundless authority; unlimited power to act

incantation

a chant; a recited magical spell

cosmopolitan

worldly; sophisticated

rife

abundant; prevalent

nomenclature

technical names or naming system in an art or science

brigand

a robber or bandit

contemptuous

haughty; scornful

scapegoat

one who bears the blame for others

peremptory

not allowing refusal or delay; imperative

atelier

n. an artist's or a designer's workshop

axiom

a universal truth; an established rule

dulcet

melodious; pleasing to the ear

usurp

to take over; to seize power

patronizing

treating with condescension; acting superior

iniquity

an evil or wicked act

archaic

no longer current or applicable; antiquated

vacillate

to waver; to sway indecisively

perspicacious

keen; mentally sharp

abstemious

using or consuming sparingly

talisman

a magic charm or superstitious object for protection or luck

expurgate

to remove vulgar or objectionable material

pellucid

transparent; clear

efficacious

effective; producing the desired outcome

Catharsis

a release of emotional tension

inundate

to overwhelm; to fill beyond capacity

revere

to regard with respect, awe, or adoration

internecine

mutually destructive

risible

relating to laughter; laughable

sybaritic

marked by luxury or pleasure

crespuscular

pertaining to twilight

kudos

acclaim or praise

estrange

to alienate

intrinsic

of or relating to a thing's basic nature; inherent

maxim

an established principle; a truth or rule of conduct

putrid

rotten and foul smelling

servile

submissive; slavish

apocryphal

of questionable authenticity, but widely believed

consternation

alarming dismay or concern

anomaly

a deviation from the norm; an odd or peculiar occurrence

vitriolic

harsh in tone; bitterly critical

Preamble

a preliminary statement; an introduction

coterie

a small group of people who share interests and meet frequently

expiate

to make amends for

compendium

a list or collection of items

comprise

to include or consist of; contain

eidetic

pertaining to extraordinarily detailed and vivid recall

innocuous

harmless

foist

to pass off as genuine or valuable

plethora

an overabundance; excess

flippancy

disrespect

incongruous

incompatible; unsuitable for the situation

disconcert

to frustrate; confuse

sectarian

narrowly confined to a particular group

peregrination

travel by walking

accoutrement

an accessory item of dress or equipment

contrive

to plan cleverly; to devise

hubris

overbearing pride; arrogance

platitude

an obvious remark; a cliche

venerate

to respect or revere

scullion

a servant for menial tasks

quotidian

everyday; commonplace