Vocabulary List #22: 3/9/98
abash | to make ashamed or uneasy; embarrass |
abeyance | temporary suspension of activity or function |
accost | to approach and speak to in a challenging, aggressive way |
adjunct | something joined or added to another thing, but not essentially a part of it |
anathema | a ban or curse; a vigorous denunciation; one intensely disliked |
aria | an accompanied elaborate melody sung by a single voice |
cabalistic | secret; mystic |
canard | a false or unfounded report or story; rumor |
cognizance | the fact of being aware; perception, knowledge |
consternation | paralyzing alarm; dismay |
coup | a brilliant, sudden, highly successful stroke or act |
environs | surroundings, adjoining region or space |
fruition | the state of bearing fruit; realization; accomplishment |
gratis | without charge or recompense; free |
harp | to dwell on or recur to a subject tiresomely |
harry | assault; to make a destructive raid on |
ideology | the way of thinking of a person; the study of ideas |
intrinsic | belonging to the essential nature of a thing |
meritorious | deserving of reward or honor |
mesmerize | hypnotize; spellbind; fascinate |
miscellany | mixture of various things; often in collection |
obsequious | exhibiting a servile attentiveness |
omniscience | having infinite awareness and understanding; all knowing |
orthography | spelling; writing words with proper letters |
pauper | very poor person; person destitute of means |
preponderance | majority; superiority in power, importance, number |
prevaricate | to deviate from the truth; equivocate |
reprehensible | worthy of deserving blame; culpable |
virago | a bold, quarrelsome woman; strong; manlike large woman |