Vocabulary #3

accolade - noun a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
Lewis accolade Denise when she finished singing her solo in the school play
acerbity - noun a sharp sour taste; a sharp bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
War heads have an acerbity to them when first eaten
attrition - noun the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction; a wearing down to weaken or destroy; sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation; the wearing down of rock particles by friction due to water or wind or ice; erosion by friction
The attrition of the car tires after a long period of time make them go bald
bromide - noun any of the salts of hydrobromic acid; formerly used as a sedative but now generally replaced by safer drugs; a trite or obvious remark
Bromide was used in an experiment for our chemistry lab
chauvinist - noun an extreme bellicose nationalist; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
Martha is a chauvinist for her native country of India
chronic - adj. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
Linda has had chronic back pains for the past five years.
expound - verb add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; state
The English teacher expounded on Beowulf in a group discussion
factionalism - self-interested
In dictatorships factionalism is seen as the a way of life for the ruler.
immaculate - adj. completely neat and clean; free from stain or blemish; without fault or error
My bedroom looked immaculate, after I spent 4 hours cleaning it
imprecation - noun the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation
An imprecation was yelled onto the man by a witch
ineluctable - adj. impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"
the ineluctable death of the prince brought sadness upon the kingdom
mercurial - adj. relating to or containing or caused by mercury; relating to or having characteristics (eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, thievishness) attributed to the god Mercury; relating to or under the (astrological) influence of the planet Mercury; liable to sudden unpredictable change
The mercurial gazelle danced across the lake
palliate - verb provide physical relief, as from pain; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
The Advil palliated her headache
protocol - noun code of correct conduct; forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state; (computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data
The mission protocol was observed by the CIA
resplendent - adj. having great beauty and splendor
The sound of the violin had an resplendent tune
stigmatize - verb mark with a stigma or stigmata; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
The audition Julie stigmatized Amanda for her horrible singing
sub - noun a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes; a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States; verb be a substitute
The sub went underwater to surprise attack the enemy ships
rosa - noun large genus of erect or climbing prickly shrubs including roses
The rosa was difficult to pass on the way to the top of the hill
vainglory - noun outspoken conceit
The vainglory of the quarterback was displeasing to everyone who was around him
vestige - noun an indication that something has been present
The vestige of the note left Lucy questioning her faith
volition - noun the act of making a choice; the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
The volition between going to the party and staying home was a tough call for Penny