Vocabulary List #12: 11/24/97
adulterate to corrupt or make impure by the addition of a foreign substance
alacrity promptness in response; cheerful readiness
aridity excessive dryness; lacking interest in life
bourgeois a middle-class person between workers and elite; commonplace; smug
commiseration the act of expressing sorrow or compassion
deciduous falling off or shedding seasonally or at a certain stage of development
diabolical characteristic of the devil; fiendish
enfranchise to set free (as from slavery); admit privileges of citizenship
excruciating very intense; extreme; agonizing
germane relevant or appropriate
indigenous living naturally in a particular region or environment; innate
inimical reflecting or indicating hostility; unfriendly; hostile
itinerant traveling from place to place
jetsam cargo that is cast overboard to lighten the load of a ship in distress
legible capable of being read or deciphered
molest to annoy; disturb or persecute
munificent characterized by great liberality or generosity; lavish; generous
odious exciting or deserving hatred or repugnance
penitent expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins
picayune of little value; petty
precarious dependent on uncertain circumstances; uncertain
privy admitted as one sharing a secret
proletariat the lowest social or economical class of a community; working class
pungent having a stiff or sharp point; causing a sharp, irritating sensation
repugnant incompatible; inconsistent; hostile; exciting distaste
resplendent shining brilliantly; characterized by a glowing splendor
rudiment a basic principle or fundamental skill
spontaneity involuntary or undetermined action or movement
succinct marked by compact, precise expression without wasted words
undulating forming or moving in waves; fluctuating

Vocabulary List Index #2