Vocabulary List #19: 2/10/98
abscond to depart secretly and hide oneself
axiom a proposition regarded as a self-evident truth
benign of a gentle disposition; showing kindness and gentleness
caucus a closed meeting of a group to set policy / choose candidates
dismantle to take apart or into pieces; to strip of dress or covering
embellish to make beautiful by decorating; heighten attractiveness
exotic strikingly or excitingly different or unusual; not native
fetid having a heavy, offensive smell
grovel to creep with face to the ground; to give oneself over to unworthiness
horrendous perfectly horrid, dreadful
impervious not allowing entrance; incapable of being damaged or harmed
lien charge on real or personal property for satisfaction of debt
meager lacking desirable qualities; deficient in quality or quantity
non sequitur a statement that does not follow logically previous material
orison prayer
palpitate to beat rapidly or flutter; throb
parody a work imitating the style of another for comedy or ridicule
pied of two or more colors in blotches; piebald
protracted lengthen in duration; extended; drawn to scale
quarry game killed in hunt; prey; excavation for obtaining stone or slate
rectify to set right, remedy; to correct by removing errors
reek to have a strong, offensive smell; permeated with unpleasantness
sloth indolence, laziness
specious having deceptive attraction or allure; false look of truth
synonymous alike in meaning or significance
tenet a principle of belief held by a group or organization; doctrine
urbanity the state of being of a city; city conduct
venomous poisonous, noxious, spiteful, malevolent
visage the face or appearance of a person; aspect
whim a sudden and capricious idea or turn of mind; impulse

Vocabulary List Index #2