Vocabulary List #13: 12/9/97
arbitrary selected at random and without reason
astringent able to draw together the soft organic tissues; puckery
bromide a commonplace or tiresome person; bore
destitute lacking something needed or desirable; poverty; poor
droll having a humorous, whimsical, or odd quality; funny
eulogy a commendatory formal statement or set oration
exodus a mass departure; immigration
felicity quality or state of being happy; apt expression or thought
heresy an opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma
hierarchy a body of persons in authority
inductive leading on; persuasive; introductory
iterate to say or do again
liaison a close bond or connection
melee a confused struggle; hand to hand fight with several people
opportune occurring at an appropriate time
pestilence something destructive or pernicious; violent or fatal disease
preclude to make impossible by necessary consequence
quorum a select group of people; minimum number to transact business
rampant marked by menacing wildness; extravagance or absence of restraint
rapport relationship, especially a close sympathetic one; agreement
renege to back out of an agreement; to deny
reparation the act of making amends; repairs; compensation
respite to put off; delay; interval of rest from work
ruse a stratagem or trick
soporific to crave sleep or characterized by sleeplessness
stoical firmly restraining response to pain or distress; impassive
subsidize to aid or promote with public money
tractable capable of being easily led, taught, or controlled
vociferous so loud of insistence as to comply attention
wry having a bent or twisted shape or condition; perverse; contrary

Vocabulary List Index #2