Vocabulary List #14: 12/15/97
annuity | an amount payable yearly at regular intervals |
atrophy | a wasting away or progressive decline; degeneration |
attrition | repentance for sin from fears of punishment; a waning away |
augur | to predict the future, especially by omens |
barrister | a counsel that undertakes public trial cases; lawyer |
bigotry | obstinate or intolerant devotion to one's belief or opinion |
casuist | one skilled in / given to dealing with cases / conscience or right / wrong |
conjecture | a conclusion deduced by surmise or guesswork |
epitome | a summary of a written work; representative; typical |
erroneous | containing or characterized by error; mistaken; wrong |
expediency | quality or state of being suited to the end in view |
extricate | to free or remove from an entanglement or difficulty |
flotsam | unimportant miscellaneous material; floating wreckage |
foment | to promote growth and development of |
frugality | economy in the expenditure of resources |
horde | wandering tribe or group; crowd; pack |
inchoate | being only partly in existence or operation; not yet clearly formed |
indolent | causing little or no pain; avoiding work; lazy |
laconic | using or involving the use of minimum words; concise |
libelous | seditious; defamatory; slanderous writing |
liquidate | to get rid of; to settle by payment or other method |
litigation | a legal consent by judicial process |
motley | composed of diverse, often incongruous elements; wearing many colors |
obdurate | stubbornly persistant in wrongdoing; hard-hearted; hardened |
petulant | insolent or rude in speech or behavior; impatient; immodest |
placate | to soothe or mollify, especially by concessions |
tirade | a long vehement speech, especially one of denunciation |
traduce | to deface; slander; vilify |
vaunt | to boast or brag |
zenith | the highest point; culmination; peak |