Vocabulary List #31: 5/18/98
aberration deviation from what is normal, common, or correct
alteration modification, change
ambient surrounding on all sides; encompassing
bathos anticlimax; excessive sentimentality or triteness
benighted overtaken by darkness or night; moral or intellectual darkness
bivouac a temporary shelter or settlement
capitulation a giving over of resistance (agreement) upon terms
castigate to punish or chastise
concordant agreeing; harmonious
cupidity a strong desire, especially for wealth; greed
declivity downward inclination; descending slope
dirge a funeral hymn or requiem mass; song of mourning
divination foretelling the future by occult means; prophecy; augury
exude to ooze or pour out gradually
fatuous complacently or inanely foolish
fulsome characterized by abundance; copious; lavish; overdone
fallow cultivated land that is allowed to lie idle during the growing season
gesticulate to make gestures, especially when speaking
glaucous of a pale yellow-green color; waxy
harridan a haggard, shrewish old woman
hauter arrogance; haughtiness
homunculus a little man; manikin
imposture practice of deceiving by means of assumed character or name
libertine a freethinker, especially in a religious manner
panegyric formal praise, ecomium, eulogistic oration or writing
photic of or relating to, or involving light; of the sun
plait to pleat or braid
retrospect a review or meditation on a past event or events
taciturn temperamentally disinclined to talk; reticent, quiet
vouchsafe to be gracious enough to condescend to grant

Vocabulary List Index #4