Vocabulary List #30: 5/11/98
panacea remedy for all diseases or troubles; cure-all
invidious tending to cause discontent or envy
parley to speak with another; conference; discussion
obtuse slow in understanding or feeling; insensitive
sycophant informer; self-seeking flatterer; parasite
amalgamate to mix, so as to make the whole; to merge
calumny a false or malicious statement to injure someone
compulsion an irresistible impulse to perform an irrational act
guttural of or pertaining to the throat; produced in the throat; rasping
adroit clever, sly; skillful in the use of hands
deride to subject to bitter ridicule
debilitate to impair the strength of; weaken
diminution the act or process of decreasing
compilation the act or process of collecting; something compiled
gargantuan of enormous size or capacity; gigantic
kaleidoscope a variety of changing patterns or scenes
libertine a freethinker, especially in religious matters
effulgence great brightness, luster, splendor
despondency dejection; hopelessness
refulgent radiant, brilliant; shining brightly
refractory stubbornly disobedient; unmanageable
abstruse difficult to comprehend
posterity descendants; all future generations
coalition alliance of parties, persons, or states
ablution the washing of one's body or part of it, especially religiously
maudlin weakly and effusively sentimental
jocund marked by high spirits and mirth; merry
deprecate to express disapproval of; belittle; play down
disputation an oral defense of a thesis by formal logic
accolade any award, honor, or laudatory notice

Vocabulary List Index #3