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

Vocabulary List Index #1