Vocabulary List #8:  10/24/97
abate to reduce in degree or intensity; omit; deprive
affinity an attractive force between two things; attraction
aphorism a concise statement of a principle
caricature exaggeration by means of ludicrous distortion
celestial of or relating to the sky or visible heavens
desultory marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose
drivel nonsense; stupid or careless talk
ebony black, dark
epithet a character, word, or phrase occurring in place of the name of a person
fervor warm; steady intensity of feeling or expression
furtive obtained underhandedly; stolen
guileless innocent, naive
impugn to assail by words or arguments
luminous bathed in or exposed to a steady light; emitting light
magnate a person of rank or position often in a specified area
misanthrope one who hates or distrusts mankind
myriad having innumerable aspects or elements; innumerable
pariah outcast
peremptory putting an end to or precluding a debate or delay
poignant painfully affecting the feelings or emotions
quintessence the most typical example or representative
ramification a branched structure; offshoot; growth
ruminate to go over in the mind repeatedly, casually, or slowly
soliloquy the act of talking to oneself; dramatic monologue
spectral suggesting a spectator or ghost; ghostly
trenchant sharply perceptive; keen; sharp
vacillate to sway through a lack of equilibrium
veracity devotion to the truth; something true
voracious having a huge appetite; excessively eager
wizened dried and wrinkled as a result of aging

Vocabulary List Index #1