Vocabulary List #20:  2/17/98
aegis a shield or breast plate associated with majesty; protection
annihilate to reduce to nothing; to destroy
appurtenance an incidental right attached to a principle property right
aspersion a defaming, slanderous remark; innuendo
avaricious greedy for riches; grasping miserly
badinage playful repartee; banter
curmudgeon a crusty, ill-tempered and usually old man
dexterous skillful and competent with the hands; adroit
effigy a portrait, image, or likeness of a person often in contempt
emaciated physically wasted away or worn thin
emolument gain from employment or position; payment
exigency urgency; situation called for immediate action
exuberance the quality or state of being abundant; overflowing; luxuriant
gnome an ageless, often deformed dwarf of folklore
honorarium a payment on which no fee is set or legally attainable
imperceptible extremely slight; granule; subtle
inept lacking in fitness or aptitude; unsuitable
knavery roguish mischief
multitudinous consisting of innumerable elements; populous
necromancy foretelling the future by communicating with the dead
obsolescent going out of use; becoming obsolete
propinquity nearness of blood, kinship; nearness in time or place
pusillanimous lacking courage; cowardly
recalcitrant obstinately defiant of authority; resistant
slake to lessen; reduce; to become less active
superannuated to be old; incapacitated for duty by age
tawny of a warm, sandy, or tan color
testy easily annoyed; irritable
transcendent beyond the limits of ordinary experience; beyond material existence
vehement intensely emotional; forcibly expressed; bitterly antagonistic

Vocabulary List Index #2