Vocabulary List #10: 11/10/97
| abound | to be present in large quantities; copiously supplied |
| acme | the highest point; one that represents perfection |
| affable | pleasant and at ease in talking with others; friendly |
| benediction | an expression of good wishes; invocation or blessing |
| blasé | apathetic to pleasure or excitement |
| buffoon | a ludicrous figure; clown; gross person |
| cartel | combination of enterprises designed to limit competition |
| chagrin | mental distress caused by humiliation or disappointment |
| charlatan | one making showy pretenses to knowledge or ability; quack |
| chimerical | fantastically visionary or improbable |
| cynosure | the center of attention or interest |
| dearth | scarcity; inadequate supply |
| demagogue | a person who stirs up the public and leads for selfish ends |
| dichotomy | divided into two contradictory or mutually exclusive groups |
| echelon | an arrangement of a group in a series of steps |
| ecumenical | of world wide extent of influence; representing all churches |
| empirical | relying on experience or observation instead of system or theory |
| endemic | belonging to a particular people or country |
| exacerbate | to make more violent, bitter, or severe |
| fascism | political philosophy placing nation above individual |
| feline | relating to cats or of the cat family; graceful, sleek |
| forte | one's strong point |
| fracas | a noisy quarrel |
| genteel | having an aristocratic quality; upper class |
| guru | spiritual guide or intellectual guide in fundamental matters |
| hallmark | a distinguished trait or feature; stamp indicating genuineness |
| heterodox | contrary to acknowledged standard; holding unorthodox opinions |
| inquest | official inquiry before a jury; the finding of a jury |