Vocab 9 Flashcards
(52 cards)
Excrescence
a distinct outgrowth on a human or animal body or on a plant, especially one that is the result of disease or abnormality.
“the males often have a strange excrescence on the tip of the snout”
an unattractive or superfluous addition or feature.
“removing the excrescences of later interpretation”
Delectation
pleasure and delight.
“a box of chocolates for their delectation”
Pillory
a wooden framework with holes for the head and hands, in which an offender was imprisoned and exposed to public abuse.
attack or ridicule publicly.
“he found himself pilloried by members of his own party”
Stultify
cause to lose enthusiasm and initiative, especially as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine.
Stentorian
(of a person’s voice) loud and powerful.
“he introduced me to the staff with a stentorian announcement”
Posterity
all future generations of people.
“the victims’ names are recorded for posterity”
archaic
the descendants of a person.
“God offered Abraham a posterity like the stars of heaven”
Imperturbable
unable to be upset or excited; calm.
“an imperturbable tranquility”
Rapacious
aggressively greedy or grasping.
“rapacious landlords”
Stringency
(of regulations, requirements, or conditions) strict, precise, and exacting.
“California’s air pollution guidelines are stringent”
Goad
provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate some action or reaction.
“he goaded her on to more daring revelations”
drive or urge (an animal) on with a goad.
“the cowboys goaded their cattle across the meadows”
a spiked stick used for driving cattle.
Epithets
an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned.
“old men are often unfairly awarded the epithet “dirty.””
an epithet as a term of abuse.
“people jeered and hurled racial epithets”
Sheen
a soft luster on a surface.
“black crushed velvet with a slight sheen”
shine or cause to shine softly.
“men entered with rain sheening their steel helms”
Indomitable
impossible to subdue or defeat.
“a woman of indomitable spirit”
Apodictic
clearly established or beyond dispute.
“Slavery is wrong” is an apodictic statement.
Morass
an area of muddy or boggy ground.
“in midwinter the track beneath this bridge became a muddy morass”
a complicated or confused situation.
“she would become lost in a morass of lies and explanations”
Misbegotten
badly conceived, designed, or planned.
“a misbegotten journey to Indianapolis”
contemptible (used as a term of abuse).
“you misbegotten hound!”
archaic
(of a child) illegitimate.
Execrable
extremely bad or unpleasant.
“execrable cheap wine”
Sacrilege
violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred.
“putting ecclesiastical vestments to secular use was considered sacrilege”
Hodgepodge
a confused mixture.
“Rob’s living room was a hodgepodge of modern furniture and antiques”
Supercilious
behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.
“a supercilious lady’s maid”
Ignoble
not honorable in character or purpose.
“ignoble feelings of intense jealousy”
of humble origin or social status.
Incite
encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behavior).
“the offense of inciting racial hatred”
urge or persuade (someone) to act in a violent or unlawful way.
“he incited loyal subjects to rebellion”
Injunction
an authoritative warning or order.
Law
a judicial order that restrains a person from beginning or continuing an action threatening or invading the legal right of another, or that compels a person to carry out a certain act, e.g., to make restitution to an injured party.
Fecund
producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile.
“a lush and fecund garden”
technical
(of a woman or women) capable of becoming pregnant and giving birth
