Transcript Slide 1

WEEK 1ONE
Acquiesce
(verb) to accept or submit without objection
Ambiguous (adj.) having more than one possible meaning
Amiable
(adj.) friendly; pleasant
Annihilate
(verb) to destroy completely
Arbitrary
(adj.) selected at random
Avarice
(noun) greed
Capricious
(adj.) an inclination to do things
impulsively
Chagrin
(noun) a feeling of annoyance or disappointment
Circuitous
(adj.) having a circular or winding course
Euphemism (noun) the substitution of an agreeable
expression
for one that may offend
Facetious
(adj.) joking, often inappropriately; witty,
humorous
Gesticulation (noun) the act of making gestures
Heinous
(adj.) hatefully or shockingly evil
Idiosyncrasies (noun) personal peculiarity
Implacable (adj.) not capable of being appeased or changed.
SAMPLE VOCAB QUIZ WEEK 1
Annihilate
Arbitrary
Ambiguous
1.The movie’s theme was _____________. It is hard to tell what the
writer was trying to say.
2.Billy the Exterminator’s goal is to ____________ wasps and hornets
from his customers’ homes.
3.I know that you are upset with your grade, but it is not
______________. It was determined by your work and participation.
Week Two: Words from History & Government A
anarchy
bourgeois
boycott
bureaucracy
canon
demagogue
hegemony
proxy
quisling
quixotic
recession
reprisal
subversion
surrogate
viable
(n) complete absence of government; political disorder & violence
(adj.) typical of the social middle class
(verb) to join with others to refuse to use, buy or deal with
(n) a system that rigidly adheres to rules, paper forms, and routines
(n) an ecclesiastical or secular law or code of laws; any officially
recognized set of books
(n) leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to
the emotions and prejudices of the populace
(n) leadership; preponderant influence or authority
(n) an agent or substitute; document giving one authority to act for
another
(n) traitor; collaborator
(adj.) romantically idealistic; impractical
(n) the act of withdrawing or going back; a moderate and temporary
decline in economic
(n) the practice of using political or military force without actually
resorting to war; retaliation
(n) ruination or complete destruction; corruption
(n) a substitute
(adj.) able to live; likely to survive; workable
WEEK 3
WORDS FROM GOVERNMENT (B)
Ethos - (noun) the disposition, character, or attitude that distinguishes a particular group,
epoch, or region
Expatriate - (noun) one who lives in a foreign country
Gerrymander - (verb) to divide an area into voting districts to give unfair advantage to one
party in an election
Imperialism - (noun) the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation
over countries
Lame duck - (noun) elected official who remains in office for a brief period after a successor
has been elected
Machiavellian - (adj.) acting in accordance with the principles of government; subtly or
unscrupulously cunning or deceptive
Martial - (adj.) inclined or disposed to war; brave; warlike
Muckraker - (noun) one who searches for and exposes real or alleged corruption and scandal
Partisan - (noun) an adherent or supporter of a person, party, or cause
Protocol - (noun) forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of
states; the first copy of a treaty
Reactionary - (noun) a person who favors political conservatism or extreme rightism
Schism - (noun) a separation or division into factions
Suffrage - (noun) the right to vote
Totalitarian - (adj.) of or pertaining to a centralized government in which those in control
grant neither recognition nor toleration to parties of differing opinions
Transition - (noun) process or period of passing from on condition, place, or action to
Week 4 – Words about Groups
Cabal
(noun) a clique; a small group joined in a secret intrigue; a
conspiracy
Camaraderie (noun) comradeship; good fellowship
Caste
(noun) a distinct social class or system
Cortége
(noun) a group of attendants accompanying a person; a ceremonial
procession
Détente
(noun) a relaxing or easing, especially of international tension
Echelon
(noun) a level of command or authority or rank; a step-like
formation of ships, troops, or planes
Ecumenical
(adj.) universal; promoting or fostering Christian unity throughout the world
Elite
(adj.) the best or most skilled members of a given social group
Esprit de corps (noun) a sense of union and of common interests and responsibilities
Freemasonry
(noun) a secret or tacit brotherhood; instinctive sympathy
Genealogy
(noun) lineage; the science of family descent
Hierarchy
(noun) a group of persons or things arranged in order, rank, or grade
Hobnob
(verb) to associate on very friendly terms
Liaison
(noun) the contact maintained between military or navel unitin order to
undertake action; an illicit relationship between two people
Rapprochement (noun) the reestablishment of cordial relations
Week 5 Words from the Social Sciences
Aberrant
(adj.) deviating from what is normal or typical
Anthropomorphism(noun) attributing human shape to gods, objects, and animals
Archetype
(noun) model; original pattern; prototype
Authoritarian
(adj.) characterized by unquestioning obedience to authority and by
a rejection of individual freedom of judgment and action
Catharsis
(noun) the relieving of the emotions through art; the alleviation of
fears by bringing them to consciousness
Demography
(noun) the science of vital statistics, as of births, deaths, and
population
Epidemiology
(noun) the branch of medicine which investigates the causes and
controls of epidemics
Euthanasia
(noun) the method of causing death painlessly; mercy killing
Extrovert
(noun) a person who is active and expressive; a person who is
outgoing
Psychic
(noun) of the psyche or mind; beyond natural or known physical
processes
Psychopath
(noun) a person afflicted with a mental disorder
Psychotherapy (noun) using forms of mental treatment to cure nervous disorders
Schizophrenia
(noun) a mental disorder characterized by delusions of persecution
and omnipotence; often referred to as having a “split personality”
Subliminal
(adj.) below the threshold of comprehension; subconscious
Trauma
(noun) an emotional experience that has a lasting effect
Week 6
Words about Time
anachronism (noun) anything that is out of place in time
anon
(adv.) soon; shortly
antebellum
(adj.) before the war; especially before the American Civil
War
antediluvian (adj.) old-fashioned; before the flood
atavism
(noun) reversion to a primitive life; resemblance
to a remote ancestor
augury
(noun) the art of prophecy; an omen
betimes
(adv.) early; promptly; before it is too late
biennial
(adj.) happening every two years
diurnal
(adj.) daily; of the daytime
eon
(noun) long, indefinite period of time; thousands of years
ephemeral
(adj.) short-lived; transitory
epoch
(noun) noteworthy period
generation
(noun) the period of time between the birth of one group
and that of its offspring; approximately 30 years
score
(noun) twenty people or objects; twenty years
tercentenary (noun) a period of 300 years
WEEK 7
Aficionado - (noun) fan; devotee
Barrio - (noun) part of the city where Spanish-speaking people live;
ghetto
Bonanza - (noun) rich pocket of ore; any source of wealth
Bravado - (noun) pretended courage
Desperado - (noun) bold outlaw; dangerous criminal
Flotilla - (noun) small fleet of ships
Grandee - (noun) nobleman of the highest rank
Hacienda - (noun) large estate; country house
Lariat - (noun) lasso; rope used for tethering grazing horses
Machismo - (noun) manly self assurance; masculine drive; virility
Mañana - (noun/adv.) tomorrow; some indefinite time in the future
Palmetto - (noun) small palm tree
Renegade - (noun) deserter; turncoat; traitor
Siesta - (noun) midday nap
Torero - (noun) bullfighter on foot
Bane (noun) cause of death, ruin, or distress
Deign (verb) to think something beneath one’s dignity; to condescend
Eke (verb) to supplement; to manage to make a living with difficulty; to use
frugally
Knell (verb/noun) to ring a slow, solemn way; a toll; to call or announce by a
mournful ringing; an omen of death
Mete (verb) to allot, distribute, or apportion
Moot (adj.) so hypothetical as to be meaningless
Mulct (verb) to punish by a fine or by depriving of something; to exact by
fraud or deceit
Plumb (adj.) perfectly vertical; directly; to test or sound with a plumb line
measure; to discover the facts of; to understand
Quail (verb) to draw back in fear; to lose courage or heart; to cower
Roil (verb) to make a liquid cloudy or muddy; to stir up or agitate
Ruck (noun) a heap or stack; large quantity or crowd; mass of ordinary
people or things
Shunt (verb) to move or turn to one side; to shift or switch from one track; to
turn away
Svelte (adj.) slender and graceful; suave; polished
Thrall (noun) a slave or bondman; a person under the moral or psychological
influence of something or someone else
Tryst (adj.) an appointment, as by lovers; to meet
Week 9 – QUIZ on THURSDAY!!
atonement
(noun) amends for wrong-doing
bicameral
(adj.) composed of two houses, chambers, or branches
centenarian
(noun) one who is 100 or older
decalogue
(noun) the Ten Commandments
decimate
(verb) to destroy a great number of
dichotomy
(noun) division into two, usually contradictory parts or opinions
fathom
(noun) measure of water depth equaling six feet
millennium
(noun) a span of a thousand years
nihilism
(noun) total rejection of established laws and institutions; total
destructiveness toward the world and oneself
penultimate
(adj.) next to the last
primeval
(adj.) original; belonging to the first or the earliest age
quatrain
(noun) a stanza or poem of four lines, usually with alternate
rhymes
quintessence
(noun) the most perfect embodiment of something; the purest or
most typical instance
tithe
(noun) one-tenth, or tenth part, of something paid as a
contribution or tax to support a religious establishment
untrammeled
(adj.) unhampered; unrestrained
Amplitude
Elfin
(noun) greatness of size; fullness; breadth of range
WEEK 10
(adj.) fairylike; delicate; small and charmingly merry or
mischievous
Infinitesimal (adj.) too small to be measured
Lilliputian
(adj.) very small; tiny; narrow minded
Megalopolis (noun) an extensive, heavily populated, always urban area
Minimize
(verb) to reduce to a minimum; decrease to the least possible
amount`
Minutia
(noun) small or trivial details; trifling matters
Palatial
(adj.) like a palace; large and ornate
Peccadillo
(noun) a small sin or fault
Picayune
(adj.) of little value or account; petty or prejudiced
Simulacrum (noun) a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness or resemblance
Soupcon
(noun) a slight trace or flavor; a very small amount
Teeming
(adj.) swarming; fertile
Titanic
(adj.) of enormous size, strength, or power
Vista
(noun) a far reaching intellectual view; a view or prospect,
especially seen through a long, narrow avenue or passage; a
mental view extending over a long period of time
Amorphous
(adj.) without definite form; shapeless
Gargantuan
(adj.) huge; gigantic; prodigious
Iota
(noun) a very small quantity
Lissome
(adj.) supple; limber; flexible
Macrocosm
(noun) the great world; the universe
Magnitude
(noun) greatness of size or extent; importance or influence
Magnum opus
(noun) a great work, especially of art or literature
Microcosm
(noun) little world; miniature universe
Micrometer
(noun) an instrument for measuring very small distances,
WEEK 11
angles, diameters
Scabrous
(adj.) rough with small points or knobs; bumpy; scaly; full
of difficulties
Scintilla
(noun) the least trace; a particle
Serpentine
(adj.) evilly cunning or subtle; treacherous; coiled
Sinuous
(adj.) bending; wavy
Smidgen
(noun) a small amount; a bit
Tenuous
(adj.) unsubstantial; flimsy; physically thin
Accolade - (noun) praise or approval; an embrace of greeting or salutation
WEEK 12
Conclave - (noun) a private or secret meeting; an assembly or gathering,
especially one with authority, power or influence
Dirge - (noun) a funeral hymn; a slow, sad song, poem or musical composition
Draconian - (adj.) harsh or vigorous; a law or code of extreme severity
Epicurean - (noun) devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; fond of good food, comfort and
ease
Gossamer - (adj.) soft, sheer, gauzy fabric; anything light, delicate or insubstantial
Immolate - (verb) to kill, as a sacrifice; to destroy or renounce for the sake of something
else
Juggernaut - (noun) any terrible, irresistible force; anything that extracts blind devotion
or terrible sacrifice
Junket - (noun) a party, banquet, or outing; a trip taken by an official and paid for with
public funds
Ostracism - (noun) rejection or exclusion from a group or society by general consent
Proletariat - (adj.) the working class;
Rigmarole - (noun) confused, incoherent, foolish talk; a complicated and petty procedure
Rubric - (noun) title, heading, or direction in a book written or printed in red or otherwise
distinguished from the rest of the text
Socratic - (adj.) pertaining to Socrates
Sycophant - (noun) self-seeking flatterer; fawning parasite; one who attempts to win
favor or advance himself through flattery
a cappella
ad hoc
avant-garde
coup de grace
cul-de-sac
fait accompli
without instrumental accompaniment
for this case only; temporary
the leaders of a movement; vanguard
the shot or blow which brings death; the finishing stroke
a passage or street with only one outlet; dead end
something that is already done so that there is no use
debating it
gauche
awkward; lacking grace; without tact
junta
a political group which seeks to control a government; a
faction or cabal
laissez-faire
hands-off policy; letting businesses operate without
government interference
non compos mentis incapable of handling one’s own affairs; insane
non sequitur
in logic this is a conclusion which does not follow from the
evidence
piece de resistancethe principal dish of a meal; the main item or event in a series
quid pro quo
one thing in return for another
savoir faire
a ready knowledge of what to do or say; tact
vis-à-vis
a person or thing that is face to face with another; opposite
Week 14 - Words about Food and Taste
a la carte
by the card or by the bill of fare; used to describe a meal
that is ordered dish by dish
assuage
to satisfy and slake; to lessen; allay; calm; relieve
comestible suitable to be eaten
condiment seasoning or relish for food, such as pepper, mustard, or sauce
cuisine
style of cooking or preparing food
culinary
of the kitchen or cooking; suitable for use in cooking
gastronomic pertaining to the art and science of good eating
gourmand
a glutton; a person with a hearty liking for good food and
drink
manna
food miraculously provided for the Israelites in the
wilderness; divine and spiritual sustenance; anything badly
needed that comes unexpectedly
palatable
pleasing or acceptable to the taste; acceptable to the mind
piquant
agreeably pungent or stimulating to the taste; pleasantly
sharp or bitter; exciting; stimulating
refection
refreshment, especially with food or drink
repast
a meal, mealtime
subsistence existence; means of support or livelihood; often the barest
viands
foods of various kinds, especially choice dishes
Week 15
indigenous
inexorable
judiciously
produced, growing, or living naturally in a region
not to be moved by entreaty; relentless
having, exercising, or characterized by sound
judgment
lackadaisical lacking life, spirit, or zest
malinger
to pretend illness to avoid duty
meticulous extremely careful in attending to details
obstreperous uncontrollably noisy; stubbornly resistant to control
ostentatious pretentious or excessive display
palpitant
rapidly and strongly beating; throbbing
poignant
painfully affecting the feelings, deeply moving
prodigious exciting wonder; extraordinary in size or degree
repugnant
marked by repugnance; contrary to a person’s tastes
or principles
scrutinize
to examine closely
trepidation nervous agitation, horror, terror, panic
voracious
having a huge appetite; very eager, ravenous
Adagio – music played in a leisurely manner; slowly
Coiffure – a style of arranging or combing of the hair
Crescendo – a gradual, steady increase in loudness or force
Denouement – the final resolution of the intricacies of a plot, as of a drama or
novel
Entrepreneur – a person who organizes and manages any enterprise,
especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk
Falsetto – an unnaturally or artificially high-pitched voice or register,
especially in a man
Impasse – a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock
Ingénue – the part of an artless, innocent, unworldly girl or young woman,
especially as represented on the stage
Malaise – a condition of general bodily weakness or discomfort, often marking
the onset of a disease
Repartee – a quick, witty reply
Staccato – shortened and detached when played or sung
Tête-á-tête – a private conversation or interview, usually between two people
Tour de force – an exceptional achievement by an artist, author, or the like,
that is unlikely to be equaled by that person or anyone else; stroke of genius
Vendetta – blood feud; prolonged feud marked by bitter hostility
Vignette – an anecdote; a brief literary composition
WEEK 18 – WORDS FROM SCIENCE
archeology – systematic recovery by scientific methods the material
evidence remaining from man’s life and culture in the past ages
biopsy – the cutting out of a piece of tissue for diagnostic examination by
a microscope
cadaver – dead body; corpse for dissection
carcinogen – any substance that causes cancer
cardiology – the medical study of the diseases and functioning of the
heart
comatose – as if in a coma; lethargic
ecology – the science of the relationships between organisms and their
environments
gynecology – branch of medicine that deals with women, their diseases &
hygiene, and medical care
mastectomy – the surgical removal of a breast
neurology – the medical science of the nervous system and its disorders
paleontology – the study of fossils and ancient forms
pathology – the scientific study of the nature of disease, its causes,
processes, development, and consequences
prosthesis – replacement for a missing part of a body
therapeutic – curative; serving to heal
toxicology - the study of the nature, effects, and detection of poisons &
the treatment of poisoning
WEEK 19
Aspersion- the act of defaming; a damaging remark
Badinage- playful, teasing talk; banter
Bombast- talk or writing that sounds grand or important but has little
meaning
Censure- strong disapproval, a judgment condemning a person for
misconduct
Countermand- to cancel or revoke a command
Gainsay- to deny; speak or act against; a contradiction
Guttural- of the throat; harsh, rasping sound
Harangue- a long scolding speech; a tirade
Jargon- a language full of specialized words; speech of a certain
profession or work
Maverick- one who acts independently
Nemesis- agent of retribution; just punishment; the enemy
Philanderer- one who engages in passing love affairs
Resonant- echoing; reinforced and prolonged by reflection
Saturnine- sluggish, gloomy; grave
Tawdry- cheap, gaudy, showy
20 WORDS FROM MYTHOLOGY
Adonis
an exceptionally handsome man
bacchanal
a drunken reveler; a follower of Bacchus, the god of wine
calliope
a musical instrument fitted with steam whistles, played
from a keyboard
erotic
concerning sexual love and desire
gorgon
a repulsively ugly or terrifying woman; a monster
harpy
a shrewish woman; a predatory person
hermetic
made airtight by fusion or sealing
iridescent
displaying lustrous colors like those of a rainbow
narcissism
excessive admiration of oneself
odyssey
a long series of wanderings, especially when filled with
notable experiences or hardships
oracular
uttered or delivered as if divinely inspired; ominous
paean
any song of praise, joy, or triumph
palladium
anything believed to provide protection or safety
phoenix
a person or thing of peerless beauty or excellence
stygian
gloomy and dark; hellish
21 – LEGAL LANGUAGE (A)
Adjudicate- to hear and settle a case by judicial process
Amicus Curiae- friend of the court; a lawyer who advises the court on a legal
matter
Appellate- having the power to hear appeals and reverse lower court
decisions
Arson- the crime of setting fire to property in order to collect insurance
Collusion- a secret agreement for a deceitful or fraudulent purpose
Contiguous- adjacent; touching
Contraband- goods forbidden by law to be exported
Deposition- testimony under oath, especially in a written statement by a
witness for use in court in his absence
Equity- something that is just, impartial, and fair; the value of a business or
property in excess of any claim against it
Exhume- to dig out of the earth
Incommunicado- without the means or right of communication with others as
one held in solitary confinement
Intestate- having made no valid will; one who dies without a legal will
Ipso facto- by the fact itself; by that very fact
Larceny- theft
Lien- the right to take and holder sell the property of a debtor as security
payment for a debt; mortgage
22 – LEGAL LANGUAGE B
Abnegation – giving up of rights; self-denial
Abscond- to run away and hide in order to escape the law
Affidavit- a written statement made on oath, usually before a notary public
Altercation- a quarrel; an angry or heated dispute
Barrister- lawyer in England
Battery- a pounding; illegal beating
Bequest- that which is given by inheritance; a gift specified in will
Codicil- addition to a will; an appendix or supplement
Disenfranchise- to deprive the rights of citizenship; to deprive of a privilege
Litigation- legal action or process
Litigious- quarrelsome; given to carrying on lawsuits
Perjury- the deliberate, willful giving of false, misleading or incomplete
testimony by a witness under oath in a criminal procedure
Pettifogger- a petty, quibbling, unscrupulous lawyer
Tort- any wrongful act not involving breach of contract for which a civil suit
can be brought
Tribunal- a seat or court of justice
23 – Words from Legal Language “C”
1. Capital- involving or punishable by the death penalty
2. Culpable- deserving condemnation or blame
3. Embezzle- to steal money which was entrusted in your care
4. Extradition- turning over a fugitive from one jurisdiction to another
5. Habeas corpus- a court order requiring that a prisoner be produced to
determine the legality of his imprisonment
6. Immaterial- without substance; unimportant
7. Incarcerate- to jail; to confine
8. Injunction- a command or order; a court order stopping a person or group
from carrying out a given action
9. Jurisprudence- the science or philosophy of law
10. Miscreant- villain, criminal, evil person
11. Perpetrator- a person who commits an offense
12. Plagiarism- passing off someone else’s working or idea as your own
13. Probation- a period of testing or trial; the condition that the convicted
demonstrates good behavior in order to stay out of jail
14. Recidivist- a person with a tendency to relapse; chronic offender; habitual
criminal
15. Venue- location where trial is held
CH. 24
Baleful- deadly, sinister
Bellicose- warlike, a quarrelsome nature
Bilious- bad tempered, bitter
Captious- critical; quick to find fault; quibbling
Churlish- boorish, surly, ill mannered, rude
Complaisant- willing to please; tending to consent with the
wishes of others
Debonair- courteous, gracious; having sophisticated charm
Demure- modest, shy
Dispassionate- fair, impartial, calm
Feisty- touchy, excitable
Flaccid- weak, feeble, flabby
Flippant- disrespectful, saucy
Florid- ruddy, rosy, ornate
Genteel- well bred, refined, excessively polite
Imperious- overbearing, arrogant, domineering
WEEK 25
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Ambivalent- conflicting feelings toward a person
Circumspect- careful, cautious
Contrite- crushed in spirit by feeling of guilt
Convivial - festive; sociable
Craven - cowardly
Crotchety- full of peculiar whims, eccentric
Dilatory- slow; late doing things
Intractable- hard to manage, unruly
Jocund- pleasant, agreeable
Licentious- morally unrestrained
Mercurial- changeable, volatile
Meretricious- flashy, tawdry
Splenetic- irritable, bad tempered
Truculent- fierce, cruel, savage
Vacuous- empty, stupid
WEEK -26
1. Disconsolate- sad, dejected, cheerless
2. Ingenious- clever, original, inventive, resourceful
3. Mutable- inconstant, fickle, tending to frequent change
4. Nonchalant- cool, indifferent, without warmth or animation
5. Noxious- unwholesome, harmful to health
6. Obdurate- hard headed, inflexible, not easily moved to pity
7. Obtuse- slow to understand, dull
8. Omniscient- having infinite knowledge
9. Pedantic- stressing trivial points of learning; lacking a sense of
proportion in scholarship
10. Pontifical- ornate, stiff, having the pomp and dignity of a high priest
or pope
11. Pretentious- making claims to some distinctions; showy
12. Recalcitrant- unruly, refusing to obey authority
13. Ribald- coarse, vulgar in language, irreverent
14. Sardonic- sarcastic, bitter, sneering
15. Voluptuous- sensuous, full of sensual delights and pleasures