unit 4 vocab Flashcards
affable
courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy do speak to
aggrandize
to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater
amorphous
shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion
archetype
an original model on which something was patterned or replicated; the ideal example of a particular type of person or thing
aura
that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality
contraband
(n) illegal traffic, smuggled goods; (adj) illegal, prohibited
erudite
scholarly, learned, bookish, pedantic
gossamer
(adj) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; (n) a very thin, light cloth
inscrutable
incapable of being understood; impossible to see through physically
insular
relating to, characteristics of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience
irrevocable
incapable of being changed or called back
propensity
a natural inclination or predilection toward
querulous
peevish, complaining, fretful
remonstrate
to argue with someone against something, protest against
repudiate
to disown, reject, or deny the validity of
resilient
able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly
reverberate
to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly
scurrilous
coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed
sedulous
persistent, showing industry and determination
sleazy
thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable
affable syns and ants
syns: genial, amicable, cordial
ants: surly, cantankerous, dour, inhospitable
aggrandize syns and ants
syns: augment, amplify, enhance, exalt
ants: reduce, decrease, diminish
amorphous syns and ants
syns: formless, unstructured, inchoate
ants: definite, well-defined, clear-cut
archetype syns and ants
syns: model, prototype, epitome