lit vocab unit 9 Flashcards
Adulation
(N.) praise or flattery that is excessive
Anathema
(N.) to object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article)
Astute
(Adj.) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom
Avarice
(N.) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth
Culpable
(Adj.) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation
Dilatory
(Adj.) tending to delay or procrastinate; not prompt; intended to delay or postpone
Egregious
(Adj) conspicuous, standing out from the mass (used particularly in an unfavorable sense)
Equivocate
(V.) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague or ambiguous
Evanescent
(Adj.) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy
Irresolute
(Adj.) unable to make up one’s mind, hesitating
Nebulous
(Adj.) cloud like, resembling a cloudy cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, indistinct
Novice
One who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (also used adjectivally)
Penury
(N.) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency
Pretentious
(Adj.) done for show, striving to make a big impression; claiming merit or position unjustifiably; ambitious
Recapitulate
(V.) to review a series of facts; to sum up
Resuscitate
(V.) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence
Slovenly
(Adj.) untidy, dirty, careless
Supposition
(N.) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence
Torpid
(Adj.) inactive, sluggish, dull
Syn- diminish, decrease, subside, let up
Ant- intensity, increased magnify, wax
Abate
Syn- adoration, idolization, hero-worship
Ant- ridicule, derision, odium
Adulation
Syn- male diction, imprecation, abomination
Ant- benediction, blessing
Anathema
Syn- acute, sagacious, judicious, wily
Ant- obtuse, doltish, empty-headed, dumb
Astute
Syn- cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness
Avarice