Vocabulary #1

adumbrate - verb give to understand; describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of
Ex: Patrick adumbrated Pride and Prejudice to his friend Sarah.
apotheosis - noun the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god); model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
Ex: To some people God is seen as an apotheosis of Christianity.
ascetic - adj. practicing great self-denial; pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline; noun someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
Ex: Monks live Ascetic lives
bauble - noun a mock scepter carried by a court jester; cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
Ex: Some Christmas sweaters have bauble designs on them.
beguile - verb attract; cause to be enamored; influence by slyness
Ex: Harold was beguiled by Becca's beauty.
burgeon - verb grow and flourish
Ex: the lillie's in the meadow burgeoned in the Spring.
complement - noun something added to complete or make perfect; either of two parts that mutually complete each other; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction; number needed to make up a whole force; a complete number or quantity; one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response; verb make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to
Ex: Paxton and Marcie complemented each other.
contumacious - adj. wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient
Ex: The 4 year old child was contumacious after his nap.
curmudgeon - noun a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas
Ex: The cranky curmudgeon didn't let us tell him our own opinions on the driving age.
didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively)
Ex: the didactic tutor helped John pass his Calculus test.
disingenuous - adj. not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness
Ex: Beatrice was disingenuous when breaking up with Paul, so he thought they were just on a break.
exculpate - verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
Ex: The judge exculpated the witness.
faux - adj. not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article
Ex: The $50 jacket was made of faux fur.
pas - noun (ballet) a step in dancing (especially in classical ballet)
Ex: Missy Franklin knows how to incorporate pas movements in her routines.
fulminate - noun a salt or ester of fulminic acid; verb cause to explode violently and with loud noise; come on suddenly and intensely; criticize severely
Ex: In chemistry class Phil fulminated chemicals in his lab.
fustian - noun a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap; pompous or pretentious talk or writing
Ex: The story was structured into a fustian style towards the antagonist.
hauteur - noun overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
Ex: Darcy in Pride and Prejudice was hauteur to the Bennett's, at first.
inhibit - verb limit the range or extent of; to put down by force or authority
Ex: The police officer inhibited the drug dealer.
jeremiad - noun a long and mournful complaint
Ex: Kristy gave a jeremiad about the 20 hour car ride.
opportunist - adj. taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit; noun a person who places expediency above principle
Ex: The opportunist bought 10 In N Outs.
unconscionable - adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; lacking a conscience
Ex: The lawyer was unconscionable when prosecuting the opposing witness.