Vocab words

1. interminable - seeming to go on forever; wearisomely protracted
2. tocsin - a warning signal, an alarm bell or ringing of a bell; related to the words to touch and signal.
3. yegg - a burglar who robs safes, safecracker; underworld slang of unknown origin, possibly the name of an American burglar and safecracker
4. xanthous - yellow, yellowish; from Greek xanthos "yellow," of unknown origin. Prefix form xantho- is used in many scientific words.
5. yokel - a naive or gullible inhabitant of a rural area or small town
6. xeric - DRY - characterized by, relating to, or requiring only a small amount of moisture
7. scapegrace - an incorrigible rascal; "one who has escaped the grace of God."
8. videlicet - that is to say, namely
9. macrobiotic - of or having to do with macrobiotics, a dietary system derived from Zen Buddhism and purported to prolong life; from Greek makrobiotikos "long-lived" from makros "long" + bios "life."
10. kibbutz - an Israeli communal settlement, especially a farm co-operative; from modern Hebrew qibbus "gathering,"
11. simulacrum - image, representation; an insubstantial form or semblance of something : trace; from "simulare," a Latin verb meaning "to copy, represent, or feign." like simulate
12. bifurcate - to divide or cause to divide into two branches or parts; from the Latin "bifurcus," meaning "two-pronged," a combination of the prefix "bi-" ("two") and the noun "furca" ("fork").
13. prelapsarian - characteristic of or belonging to the time or state before the fall of humankind, related to Latin "lapsus," meaning "slip" or "fall."
14. quaggy - like quagmire - marshy
15. hebetude - lethargy, dullness; suggests mental dullness, often marked by laziness or torpor.
16. officinal - tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain : medicinal; from the Medieval Latin noun "officina," a word for the storeroom of a monastery in which provisions and medicines were kept.
17. ineffable - a : incapable of being expressed in words : indescribable b : unspeakable; not to be uttered : taboo; "Effabilis" comes from "effari" ("to speak out"), which in turn comes from "ex-" and "fari" ("to speak").
18. prolix - unduly prolonged or drawn out : too long; marked by or using an excess of words; redundant, verbose, and wordy; suggests unreasonable and tedious dwelling on details; from a combination of the prefix "pro-" (which means "forward") and the past participle of "liquere," a verb meaning "to be fluid."
19. hypaethral - having a roofless central space, open to the sky - from the Greek prefix "hypo-," meaning "under or beneath," and the Greek word "aither," meaning "air or heaven."
20. reticent - inclined to be silent or uncommunicative in speech : reserved; restrained in expression, presentation, or appearance; reluctant; from the verb "reticere," meaning "to keep silent."
21. lodestar - one that serves as an inspiration, model, or guide; "a star that leads or guides; like lodestone
22. cynosure - 1 : the northern constellation Ursa Minor; also : North Star 2 : one that serves to direct or guide *3 : a center of attraction or attention. From ancient Greek "Kynosoura" meaning "dog's tail", name for Ursa Minor.
23. blithesome - gay, merry; "Blithe" can mean "casual" and "heedless" as well as "joyful" and "lighthearted"
24. prehension - the act of taking hold, seizing, or grasping, mental understanding : comprehension; from the Latin verb "prehendere," which means "to seize" or "to grasp."
25. fastidious - having high and often unpredictable standards; showing a meticulous or demanding attitude, work which reflects a demanding or precise attitude. hard to please; extremely refined or critical. Latin compound of fastus "contempt, arrogance" and tædium "aversion, disgust."
26. chiropteran - any of an order of night-flying mammals with forelimbs modified to form wings : bat; based on the Greek words for "hand," "cheir," and "wing," "pteron."
27. parry - to ward off a weapon or blow; to evade especially by an adroit answer; form of the French verb "parer," meaning "to guard or ward off."
28. confabulation - 1 : familiar talk or conversation 2 : a filling in of gaps in memory by fabrication. From Latin fabula meaning fable.
29. plangent - 1: having a loud reverberating sound <a plangent roar> 2 : having an expressive and especially plaintive quality <plangent lyrics> ... plangens, present participle of plangere to strike, lament.
30. nugatory - 1 : of little or no consequence : trifling , inconsequential 2 : having no force : inoperative. nugatorius, from nugari to trifle, from nugae trifles.
31. ineluctable - not to be avoided, changed, or resisted : inevitable <an ineluctable fate> - Latin ineluctabilis, from in- + eluctari to struggle clear of, from ex- + luctari to struggle, wrestle; akin to Latin luxus dislocated
32. invidious - 1: tending to cause discontent, animosity, or envy <the invidious task of arbitration> 2: envious 3 a: of an unpleasant or objectionable nature : obnoxious <invidious remarks> b: of a kind to cause harm or resentment <an invidious comparison> Latin invidiosus envious, invidious, from invidia envy
33. denouement - French dénouement, literally, untying, from Middle French desnouement, from desnouer to untie, from Old French desnoer, from des- de- + noer to tie, from Latin nodare, from nodus knot — more at node ...1 : the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work 2 : the outcome of a complex sequence of events
34. antediluvian - 1: of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible 2 a: made, evolved, or developed a long time ago <an antediluvian automobile> b: extremely primitive or outmoded <an antediluvian prejudice>
35. pusillanimous - Late Latin pusillanimis, from Latin pusillus very small (diminutive of pusus boy) + animus spirit; perhaps akin to Latin puer child — more at puerile, animate : lacking courage and resolution : marked by contemptible timidity
36. jejune - Latin jejunus empty of food, hungry, meager 1 : lacking nutritive value <jejune diets> 2 : devoid of significance or interest : dull <jejune lectures> 3 : juvenile , puerile <jejune reflections on life and art> synonyms - insipid, vapid , flat , jejune , banal , inane mean devoid of qualities that make for spirit and character
37. filigree - 1: ornamental work especially of fine wire of gold, silver, or copper applied chiefly to gold and silver surfaces 2 a: ornamental openwork of delicate or intricate design b: a pattern or design resembling such openwork <a filigree of frost> c: ornamentation , embellishment <writings…heavy with late Victorian filigree — Jack Beatty>
38. peregrinate - intransitive verb: to travel especially on foot : walk, transitive verb: to walk or travel over : traverse
39. prestidigitation - sleight of hand, legerdemain
40. legerdemain - 1 : sleight of hand. 2 : a show of skill or adroitness. From French "leger de main," light of hand
41. peroration - 1 : the concluding part of a discourse and especially an oration 2 : a highly rhetorical speech
42. herpetology - a branch of zoology dealing with reptiles and amphibians
43. ichthyology - a branch of zoology that deals with fishes
44. ornithology - a branch of zoology dealing with birds
45. superannuate - transitive verb 1 : to make, declare, or prove obsolete or out-of-date 2 : to retire and pension because of age or infirmity, intransitive verb 1 : to become retired 2 : to become antiquated
46. senescence - 1 : the state of being old : the process of becoming old 2 : the growth phase in a plant or plant part (as a leaf) from full maturity to death
47. stevedore - Dock Laborer, Longshoreman; from spanish "estipador," meaning "one who stuffs." From Latin stipare, meaning to stuff.
48. sanguine - 1. cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident: a sanguine disposition; sanguine expectations. 2. reddish; ruddy: a sanguine complexion.
49. salacious - 1. lustful or lecherous. 2. (of writings, pictures, etc.) obscene; grossly indecent.
50. pandiculation - an instinctive stretching, as on awakening or while yawning
51. rakish - dashingly or carelessly unconventional : jaunty <rakish clothes>
52. jaunty - sprightly in manner or appearance : lively <sporting a jaunty red beret> <a jaunty stroll>
53. sprightly - 1 : marked by a gay lightness and vivacity : spirited <a sprightly musical> 2 : having a distinctively piquant taste : zesty <a sprightly salsa>
54. Realpolitik (German: real “realistic”, “practical” or “actual”; and Politik “politics”) refers to politics or diplomacy based primarily on practical considerations, rather than ideological notions.
55. sallow - having a sickly, yellowish color
56. pastiche - 1: a literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work ; also : such stylistic imitation; similar to homage, parody 2 a: a musical, literary, or artistic composition made up of selections from different works : potpourri b: hodgepodge
57. cuckhold - a married man with an adulterous wife. Due to the word's original meaning, a man who is unwittingly raising another man's child, it refers to a man who is unaware of his victimization
58. preternatural - 1 : existing outside of nature *2 : exceeding what is natural or regular : extraordinary 3 : inexplicable by ordinary means; especially : psychic. Latin "praeter naturam," which means "beyond nature."
59. defalcate - to steal or misuse money or property entrusted to one's care. Latin defalcere, from de- + falx/falcem "sickle, scythe"
60. shibboleth - any distinguishing practice which is indicative of one's social or regional origin.
61. adroit - : having or showing skill, cleverness, or resourcefulness in handling situations <an adroit leader> <adroit maneuvers>
62. quantal - 1 : of, relating to, or having only two experimental alternatives (as dead or alive, all or none)
63. osteopath - a practitioner specializing in treatment chiefly by manipulation of the bones and muscles
64. expurgate - to remove objectionable words or passages from a document. From Latin expurgare, from ex- + purgare "to make clean"
65. pinchbeck - 1. an alloy of zinc and copper used to imitate gold in jewelry-making; by extension, something counterfeit; an imitation 2. not genuine; fake
66. gadarene - headlong, precipitate. Biblical story of swine from town of Gadara possessed by demons running in a mad dash down a steep bank into the Sea and drowning.
67. torpid - 1 a: having lost motion or the power of exertion or feeling : dormant , numb b: sluggish in functioning or acting <a torpid frog> <a torpid mind> 2: lacking in energy or vigor : apathetic , dull
68. frenetic - frenzied, frantic
69. malinger - : to pretend or exaggerate incapacity or illness (as to avoid duty or work). French malingre "sickly"
70. elegy - 2 a: a song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation especially for one who is dead b: something (as a speech) resembling such a song or poem. 3 a: a pensive or reflective poem that is usually nostalgic or melancholy b: a short pensive musical composition. From Greek elegos "song of mourning"
71. capricious - impulsive, unpredictable, inconstant. from caprice, Perhaps from Italian capriccio = capo "head" (from Latin caput) + riccio hedgehog. 1 a: a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action b: a sudden usually unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes <the caprices of the weather> 2: a disposition to do things impulsively
72. disabuse - : to free from error, fallacy, or misconception
73. effrontery - : shameless boldness : insolence. From Latin effrons, "shameless"; ex- + front-, frons "forehead"
74. enervate - 1 : to reduce the mental or moral vigor of 2 : to lessen the vitality or strength of
75. sinew - 1: tendon 2: solid resilient strength : power <astonishing intellectual sinew and clarity — Reynolds Price> b: the chief supporting force : mainstay —usually used in plural <providing the sinews of better living — Samuel Pollock>
76. exigent - 1 : requiring immediate aid or action <exigent circumstances> 2 : requiring or calling for much : demanding <an exigent client>. From Latin, present participle of exigere "to demand"
77. fulminate: (transitive verb) : to utter or send out with denunciation <fulminate a decree> (intransitive verb) : to send forth censures or invectives. From Medieval Latin fulminatus, past participle of fulminare, from Latin, to strike (of lightning), from fulmen lightning;
78. ingenuous - a: lacking craft or subtlety <ingenuous in their brutality> b: showing innocent or childlike simplicity and candidness <her ingenuous thirst for experience — Christopher Rawson>
79. inured - : to accustom to accept something undesirable <children inured to violence>
80. paean - 1 : a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph 2 : a work that praises or honors its subject : encomium , tribute. Greek Paian, Paiōn, epithet of Apollo.
81. dirge - 1: a song or hymn of grief or lamentation ; especially : one intended to accompany funeral or memorial rites 2: a slow, solemn, and mournful piece of music. From the first word of a Late Latin antiphon, from Latin, imperative of dirigere to direct.
82. prevaricate - : to deliberately avoid the truth; to deviate from the truth : equivocate, mislead, lie
83. truculent - 1 : feeling or displaying ferocity : cruel , savage. 2 : deadly , destructive. 3 : scathingly harsh : vitriolic <truculent criticism>. 4 : aggressively self-assertive : belligerent
84. subterfuge (n.) - 1 : deception by artifice or stratagem in order to conceal, escape, or evade. 2 : a deceptive device or stratagem. from Latin subterfugere "to escape, evade," from subter- "secretly" (from subter underneath; akin to Latin sub under) + fugere "to flee".
85. sophism, sophistry - 1 : subtly deceptive reasoning or argumentation, : an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid ; especially : such an argument used to deceive.
86. specious - 1: having deceptive attraction or allure 2: having a false look of truth or genuineness : sophistic <specious reasoning>
87. beguile - 1: to lead by deception 2: hoodwink 3: to while away especially by some agreeable occupation ; also : divert 2 4: to engage the interest of by or as if by guile (intr.) : to deceive by wiles
88. guile - 1: deceitful cunning : duplicity
89. internecine - 1: marked by slaughter : deadly ; especially : mutually destructive 2: of, relating to, or involving conflict within a group <bitter internecine feuds>. Latin, from inter- + necare to kill, from nec-, nex "violent death."
90. redound - 1: to have an effect for good or ill <new power alignments which may or may not redound to the faculty's benefit — G. W. Bonham> 2: to become transferred or added : accrue. 3: rebound , reflect. From Latin redundare, from re, red- re- + unda "wave".
91. consternation - sudden dread or paralyzing terror. From Latin consternare "overcome, confuse, dismay," from com- intensive prefix + sternare "throw down"
92. pleonasm - the use of more words than those necessary to denote mere sense : redundancy. "Free Gift!"
93. peculate - to steal money or goods entrusted to one; embezzle.
94. tawdry - : cheap and gaudy in appearance or quality ; also : ignoble <a tawdry attempt to smear his opponent>
95. gaudy - 1: ostentatiously or tastelessly ornamented 2: marked by extravagance or sometimes tasteless showiness : outlandish <gaudy lies> <gaudy claims> ; also : exceptional <a gaudy batting average>
96. garish - 1: clothed in vivid colors 2 a: excessively or disturbingly vivid <garish colors> <garish imagery> b: offensively or distressingly bright : glaring 3: tastelessly showy : flashy
97. meretricious - 1: of or relating to a prostitute : having the nature of prostitution <meretricious relationships> 2 a: tawdrily and falsely attractive <the paradise they found was a piece of meretricious trash — Carolyn See> b: superficially significant : pretentious <scholarly names to provide fig-leaves of respectability for meretricious but stylish books — Times Literary Supplement>. From Latin meretricius, from meretric-, meretrix prostitute, from merēre "to earn"
98. ersatz - being a usually artificial and inferior substitute or imitation <ersatz turf> <ersatz intellectuals>
99. fete - (pronounced like Boba Fett) 1: festival. 2 a: a lavish often outdoor entertainment b: a large elaborate party.
100. pedant \PED-nt\ (n.)- a person who makes a show of detailed knowledge, esp. relying on books; also, a narrow-minded teacher or scholar
101. pedantic - 1 : narrowly, stodgily, and often ostentatiously learned 2 : of, relating to, or being a pedant
102. ascetic - 1 : practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline 2 : austere in appearance, manner, or attitude. Greek askētikos, literally, laborious, from askētēs one that exercises, hermit, from askein to work, exercise
103. austere - 1 a: stern and cold in appearance or manner b: somber, grave <an austere critic> 2: morally strict : ascetic 3: markedly simple or unadorned <an austere office> <an austere style of writing> 4: giving little or no scope for pleasure <austere diets>
104. inveigle - 1 : to win over by wiles : entice 2 : to acquire by ingenuity or flattery : wangle <inveigled her way into a promotion>. From Medieval Latin ab oculis, literally, lacking eyes
105. demur - : to take exception : object —often used with to or at
106. redoubtable - 1: causing fear or alarm : formidable 2: illustrious , eminent ; broadly : worthy of respect
107. perspicacious - : of acute mental vision or discernment : keen, shwewd.
108. acumen - : keenness and depth of perception, discernment, or discrimination especially in practical matters. Latin acumin-, acumen, literally, point, from acuere
109. acuity - : keenness of perception : sharpness
110. acrid - 1 : sharp and harsh or unpleasantly pungent in taste or odor : irritating 2 : deeply or violently bitter : acrimonious <an acrid denunciation> caustic.
111. mordant - 1 : biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style : incisive <a mordant wit>. Latin mordēre "to bite"
112. trenchant - 1: keen , sharp 2: vigorously effective and articulate <a trenchant analysis> ; also : caustic <trenchant remarks> 3 a: sharply perceptive : penetrating <a trenchant view of current conditions> b: clear-cut , distinct <the trenchant divisions between right and wrong — Edith Wharton>
113. aver - 1 a: to verify or prove to be true in pleading a cause b: to allege or assert in pleading 2: to declare positively. From Medieval Latin adverare to confirm as authentic, from Latin ad- + verus true
114. dissemble - 1 : to hide under a false appearance 2 : to put on the appearance of : simulate (intr.) : to put on a false appearance : conceal facts, intentions, or feelings under some pretense
115. evanescent - : tending to vanish like vapor
116. trite - : hackneyed or boring from much use : not fresh or original. Lacking novelty. Synonyms stereotyped, threadbare, banal. Latin tritus, from past participle of terere "to rub"
117. halcyon - 1: of or relating to the halcyon or its nesting period. 2 a: calm , peaceful b: happy , golden c: prosperous , affluent
118. inchoate - : being only partly in existence or operation : incipient ; especially : imperfectly formed or formulated : formless , incoherent <misty, inchoate suspicions that all is not well with the nation — J. M. Perry>
119. obdurate - 1 a: stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing b: hardened in feelings 2: resistant to persuasion or softening influences. From Latin obdurus "to harden", from ob- against + durus hard
120. opprobrium - 1: something that brings disgrace 2 a: public disgrace or ill fame that follows from conduct considered grossly wrong or vicious b: contempt , reproach, scorn
121. obsequious - : marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness. Implies fawning or sycophantic compliance and exaggerated deference of manner <waiters who are obsequious in the presence of celebrities>. Latin obsequi "to comply," from ob- toward + sequi to follow
122. baleful - 1 : deadly or pernicious in influence <baleful effects> 2 : foreboding or threatening evil <a baleful look>. Imputes perniciousness or destructiveness to something whether working openly or covertly <exerting a corrupt and baleful influence>
123. polemical - controversial, argumentative, disputatious
124. prodigal - 1 : characterized by profuse or wasteful expenditure : lavish <a prodigal feast> <prodigal outlays for her clothes> 2 : recklessly spendthrift <the prodigal prince> 3 : yielding abundantly : luxuriant —often used with of<nature has been so prodigal of her bounty — H. T. Buckle>. Latin prodigere to drive away, squander, from pro-, prod- forth + agere to drive
125. querulous - 1 : habitually complaining. 2 : fretful , whining <a querulous voice>. Latin querulus, from queri to complain
126. repudiate - 1: to divorce or separate formally from (a woman) 2: to refuse to have anything to do with : disown 3 a: to refuse to accept ; especially : to reject as unauthorized or as having no binding force <repudiate a contract> b: to reject as untrue or unjust <repudiate a charge> 4: to refuse to acknowledge or pay <repudiate a debt>. Latin from repudium rejection of a prospective spouse, divorce, probably from re- + pudēre "to shame."
127. salubrious - healthful : favorable to or promoting health or well-being <salubrious habits>
128. spurious - 1: of illegitimate birth : bastard. 2: lacking authenticity; outwardly similar or corresponding to something without having its genuine qualities : false <the spurious eminence of the pop celebrity> 3 a: of falsified or erroneously attributed origin, counterfeit : forged b: of a deceitful nature or quality <spurious excuses>. Latin spurius, "bastard"
129. surfeit - 1 : an overabundant supply : excess 2 : an intemperate or immoderate indulgence in something (as food or drink) 3 : disgust caused by excess
130. obstreperous - 1 : marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness : clamorous <obstreperous merriment> 2 : stubbornly resistant to control : unruly. Latin ob- against + strepere to make a noise.
131. strident - : characterized by harsh, insistent, and discordant sound <a strident voice> ; also : commanding attention by a loud or obtrusive quality <strident slogans>. Latin strident-, stridens, present participle of stridere, stridēre to make a harsh noise.
132. purfle - to ornament the border or edges of
133. oligopsony - a market situation in which each of a few buyers exerts a disproportionate influence on the market.
134. temerity - Unreasonable or foolhardy contempt of danger; rashness. Latin temeritas, from temere, blindly, rashly.
135. crepuscular - *1 : of, relating to, or resembling twilight : dim 2 : active in the twilight. "Crepusculum" was favored by Roman writers for the half-light of evening