Vocabulary List #17: 1/20/98
| bane | deadly harm, ruin; the cause of harm |
| colloquy | conversation; dialogue; serious discussion |
| ecclesiastical | relating to a church as part of an established institution |
| enumerate | to specify one after another; count; list |
| etymology | the history and development of a word; origin |
| fiat | an authoritative order, decision, or decree |
| halcyon | tranquil, happy, unruffled |
| hirsute | roughly hairy; with coarse, thick hair |
| iconoclast | one who attacks established beliefs or institutions |
| imperious | marked by arrogant self-assurance |
| incumbent | the holder of an office; imposed as a duty; obligatory |
| judicious | discreet; wise |
| matrix | something within in which something else originates |
| mauve | a moderate purple, violet, or lilac color |
| mimicry | the action of mimicking, imitating, or mocking |
| myrmidon | a loyal follower who executes orders unquestioningly |
| nomenclature | the act or process of naming; terms or symbols of a science or art |
| nonplus | perplex; to cause to be at a loss as to what to say or do |
| paraphernalia | personal belongings; articles of equipment |
| penury | severe poverty; extreme frugality |
| protégé | a man under care of an influential person to further career |
| putrid | rotten; foul; morally corrupted |
| quandary | state of perplexity or doubt; uncertainty |
| raillery | good-natured ridicule; banter; jest |
| regime | a mode of rule or government; regular pattern of occurrence |
| sobriety | seriousness of manner; temperance in drink |
| therapeutic | relating to the treatment of disease or disorders; healthful |
| umbrageous | giving shade or shady; easily offended or aroused to suspicion |
| variegated | of different colors; parti-colored; having variety in appearance |
| virulent | poisonous; venomous; hostile; antagonist |