Vocabulary List #4: 9/29/97
adamant | an unbreakable or extremely hard substance; inflexible, unyielding |
affluence | an abundant flow or supply; wealth, abundance |
austerity | quality of being stern and forbidding; extreme economy |
cajole | to deceive with soothing words or false promises |
callous | to be hardened; feeling no sympathy for others |
condiment | something used to enhance the flavor of food |
cursory | rapid and often superficially performed; hasty |
denigrate | to deny the importance or validity of; belittle, defame |
effervescence | to show liveliness or exhilaration; bubbly |
elucidate | to give a clarifying explanation |
egregious | conspicuously bad; distinguished |
intrepid | characterized by resolute fearlessness and endurance |
fathom | to penetrate and to come to understand; comprehend |
flippant | lacking proper respect or seriousness |
fortuitous | occurring by chance; fortunate |
frivolous | of little weight or importance |
gregarious | tending to associate with others of one's kind; sociable |
impeccable | free from fault or blame; flawless |
impunity | freedom from punishment, harm, loss |
iniquity | gross injustice; wickedness |
idiom | the language peculiar to a people or class; dialect |
limpid | transparent; clear and simple to understand |
prodigy | an extraordinary, marvelous, or unusual accomplishment, event, or child |
proficient | well-advanced in art, occupation, etc. |
raucous | hoarse; loud and rowdy |
sinecure | an office or position that requires little or no work |
tepid | moderately warm; lukewarm |
blasphemy | the act of insulting or showing lack of reverence for God |
timorous | expressing or suggesting fear; fearful |
bonafide | made in good faith without fraud or deceit; genuine |