vocab_list_4 (1).docx

ADULATE

to praise or flatter too greatly; fawn over

ADVERSITY

great trouble or difficulty

ALLEVIATE

to lessen pain or tension

AMICABLE

friendly, kind

ANTAGONISM

hatred or hostility

ANTEDILUVIAN

very, very old; antiquated

ARTISAN

a person who is skillful with his or her hands

ASCETIC

a person who refrains from indulging in earthly pleasures

AUSTERE

having great economy; showing self-control when it comes to foregoing luxuries, frills; stern in manner or appearance

AVID

showing enthusiasm; ardent

CACOPHONY

lack of harmony; loud and unpleasant noise; a racket

CHASTISE

to punish or scold harshly

CIRCUMSPECT

careful and cautious before acting

CLANDESTINE

hidden, secret, concealed

CONFOUNDING

puzzling; baffling

CONTEMPORARY

modern, new; relating to the same time period

COPIOUS

abundant; much; plentiful

DETRIMENTAL

harmful

EPHEMERAL

lasting a short time; fleeting

FURTIVE

secretive, sneaky

INCONSPICUOUS

hardly noticeable

INIQUITOUS

showing a lack of fairness; wicked; vicious

INTRACTABLE

stubborn; hard to manage

LANGUOR

a weak or lifeless feeling

LOQUACIOUS

very talkative; liking to talk; garrulous

MELLIFLUOUS

sweet and smooth sounding

METICULOUS

very careful with details

MITIGATE

to make or become less severe; to lessen pain or damage

MUNIFICENT

very generous

NOMADIC

wandering

NONCHALANT

casual and indifferent; not showing any great concern or worry about anything

NOVEL

new

OBSEQUIOUS

obeying or performing a service for someone in an overly attentive manner

OBSOLETE

old; outdated, as in no longer in use

PALATABLE

pleasing to the taste buds; acceptable

PHLEGMATIC

hard to get excited or emotional; calm

PLATITUDE

quality of being dull; an obvious remark uttered as if it were original

PRECARIOUS

dangerous or risky; uncertain

PRESUMPTUOUS

too forward or bold; overstepping proper bounds

PRODIGAL

wasteful; lavish

QUELL

to pacify; to subdue; to quiet down

RETICENT

not talking much; reserved

RHETORICAL

relating to speech that is used to persuade or have some effect; insincere in expression

SUBORDINATE

inferior; lower in rank or status

TRIFLING

lacking significance; unimportant

UNPRECEDENTED

never happened before

VIGILANT

watchful

VIRTUOSO

a highly skilled performer, usually a musician

VOLATILE

explosive or changing very quickly

ZEALOUS

filled with enthusiasm