Vocabulary List #23:  3/16/98
affectation the act of displaying an attitude of behavior not genuinely felt
agape wide open; with the mouth open in surprise
agility being able to move with a quick, easy grace
amorous fond of loving; full of love or desire
apostasy abandonment of previous loyalty or principles
attenuate to lessen the amount, force, value of; to thin or dilute
aural of or related to the ear or sense of hearing
autonomous having the right or power of self-government; without outside control
carrion dead or putrefying flesh
construe to understand the intent of; to infer or deduce
corrugated folded into parallel ridges to create a wavy surface
crevasse a deep crack or fissure; a break on a glacier
cygnet a young swan
demise death; the transfer of an estate by will or death
demur delay, hesitate; to take exception, object
disreputable not respectable; discreditable
enigmatic puzzling, obscure
factitious artificial; produced by man rather than nature
genesis a beginning, origin, creation
hegira any journey or exodus for safety; flight
immutable not capable of or susceptible to change; fixed
impending about to happen; imminent; to hover or hang threateningly
infernal of or relating to hell; wicked
ingenuous showing innocent or child-like simplicity; candidness; natural
intrepid characterized by fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance
leaven to produce fermentation by means of yeast or other ferment
mediocre average; ordinary
obtrude to thrust oneself forward to gain attention
pilfer to steal in small quantities often again and again
thwart to oppose successfully; frustrate

Vocabulary List Index #3