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

Vocabulary List Index #2