Vocabulary List #18: 2/2/98
abortive | coming to nothing; unsuccessful |
basilica | originally a royal palace, now a Christian church |
carmine | red or purplish-red; pigment, crimson |
coercion | the act of restraining, dominating, or nullifying individual will |
comply | to act in accordance with a request, demand, or order |
daub | to whiten; whitewash; to paint, splash, or smear |
defray | to pay for; to provide for the payment of |
derogatory | tending to lessen or impair; belittling; detracting |
entomology | the branch of zoology dealing with insects |
felony | major crime such as arson or rape with a great punishment |
foray | to raid; plunder; pillage |
glutton | a person who eats too much |
habitation | a place in which to live; dwelling; residence |
idolatry | the worship of an idol, a person, or a thing |
impetus | the force which a body moves against resistance |
jovial | full of hearty good humor; jolly; congenial |
knell | to ring in a slow solemn way; toll |
lethal | causing death; fatal; deadly |
maritime | on or living near the sea; of the sea |
metamorphosis | a change of physical form, shape, or structure |
mien | a way of carrying or conducting oneself; manner |
mystical | spiritually significant or symbolic; mysterious; enigmatic |
nadir | the lowest point; time of deepest degrees |
ovation | an enthusiastic outburst of applause |
palatial | of or like a palace; large; ornate |
qualm | feeling of uneasiness or doubt; tinge of conscience |
recessive | receding or tending to recede |
saline | of or containing salt or sodium chloride; salty |
scrutiny | a close examination or minute inspection |
witticism | a cleverly witty and often biting reply or ironic remark |