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Coates English
September Vocabulary
146
English
8th Grade
09/01/2010

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Term
nescient
Definition
adj: ignorant, unaware, without knowledge
Term
weathercock
Definition
noun: a weathervane, especially one with the figure of a rooster on it; one who changes readily or often. (wordsmith.org)
Term
anosognosia
Definition
noun: a neurological condition in which a person with a disability is unaware of the disability's existence; from Wikipedia, "a condition in which a person who suffers disability seems unaware of or denies the existence of his or her disability. This may include unawareness of quite dramatic impairments, such as blindness or paralysis. It was first named by neurologist Joseph Babinski in 1914,[1] although relatively little has been discovered about the cause of the condition since its initial identification. The word comes from the Greek words "nosos" disease and "gnosis" knowledge (an- / a- is a negative prefix).
Term
aeolian
Definition
adjective: Relating to or caused by the wind. ETYMOLOGY: After Aeolus, god of the winds in Greek mythology. As keeper of the winds, he gave a bag containing winds to help with Odysseus's sailing. USAGE: "It would not be surprising if a few features -- even very large ones -- were sculpted by aeolian processes into the pyramidal forms we see." Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan; The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark; Random House; 1995. (wordsmith.org)
Term
Buridan's ass
Definition
noun: A situation demonstrating the impracticality of decision-making using pure reason, especially a situation involving two equal choices. ETYMOLOGY: Named after French philosopher Jean Buridan (1300-1358). NOTES: Imagine a hungry donkey standing equidistant from two identical piles of hay. The donkey tries to decide which pile he should eat first and finding no reason to choose one over another, starves to death. This paradox didn't originate with Buridan -- it's been found back in Aristotle's time. A hungry and thirsty man cannot decide whether to slake his thirst first or his hunger, and dies. Buridan, in his commentaries on Aristotle, chose a dog, but his critics, in their parody of Buridan, turned it into an ass. So Buridan's ass was named after a person who neither proposed the paradox nor picked that animal to discuss it. Buridan studied under William of Ockham (of Ockham's razor fame). USAGE: "Unless we felt strongly enough to exert ourselves in one direction rather than another, we would do nothing, but would suffer the fate of Buridan's ass." A.C. Grayling; Though Euphoria Will Fade, Hope Springs Eternal; The Canberra Times (Australia); Nov 12, 2008. (wordsmith.org)
Term
bromide
Definition
noun: a notably trite or commonplace expression or observation
Term
coprolalia
Definition
noun: An uncontrollable or obsessive use of obscene language. (wordsmith.org) ETYMOLOGY: From Greek copro- (dung) + -lalia (chatter, babbling), from lalein (to talk). A related word is coprolite. NOTES: Involuntary coprolalia is found in approximately 15% of the people who suffer from Tourette's syndrome. It has even been observed in deaf people who use sign language -- they swear in sign language. USAGE: "That the brain's executive overseer is ablaze in an outburst of coprolalia, Dr. Silbersweig said, demonstrates how complex an act the urge to speak the unspeakable may be." Natalie Angier; Almost Before We Spoke, We Swore; The New York Times; Sep 20, 2005.
Term
memento mori
Definition
noun: a meditation on death, everyone's inevitable end
Term
pastiche
Definition
noun: a literary, musical, or artistic piece consisting wholly or chiefly of motifs or techniques borrowed from one or more sources; an incongruous combination of materials, forms, motifs, etc., taken from different sources; hodgepodge. (dictionary.com)
Term
palimpsest
Definition
noun: most generally, one text written on a piece of vellum (sheepskin) from which an earlier text has been scraped to make room for it; hence, the Latin "palimpsest," meaning literally, "I scrape."
Term
plutocracy
Definition
noun: rule of the wealthy
Term
epigram
Definition
noun: any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed; epigrammatic expression: Oscar Wilde had a genius for epigram; a short, often satirical poem dealing concisely with a single subject and usually ending with a witty or ingenious turn of thought. (dictionary.com)
Term
epigraph
Definition
noun: any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed; epigrammatic expression: Oscar Wilde had a genius for epigram; a short, often satirical poem dealing concisely with a single subject and usually ending with a witty or ingenious turn of thought. (wordsmith.org)
Term
stenosis
Definition
noun: A narrowing of a passage, vessel, or an opening in the body. (wordsmith.org)
Term
paean
Definition
noun: An expression of praise, joy, or triumph, traditionally in the form of a song.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin paean, from Greek paian (hymn of thanksgiving to Apollo), after Paian, Paion (epithet of Apollo in the hymn). (wordsmith.org)
Term
contumely
Definition
noun: Contemptuous or insulting treatment arising from arrogance. (wordsmith.org)
Term
panegyric
Definition
noun: Contemptuous or insulting treatment arising from arrogance. (wordsmith.org)
Term
sumptuous
Definition
adj: Anything which is excessively fine, such as exceedingly good and plentiful food; rich clothing or interior decoration
Term
sumptuary
Definition
adj: legal restraints on the ability of a class of people to own certain goods because they are emblems of more privileged groups
Term
gloaming
Definition
noun: Twilight; dusk.
Term
beggar
Definition
verb tr.: To exhaust the resources or ability; to defy; To impoverish.
Term
occlude
Definition
verb: To shut off, in, or out
Term
fulsome
Definition
adjective: Effusive; lavish. Excessive to the point of being offensive.
Term
meretricious
Definition
adjective: Appealing in a cheap or showy manner: tawdry. Based on pretense or insincerity.
Term
impeccable
Definition
adj: Beyond question; without flaw
Term
turbulence
Definition
noun: The fact of being swollen with too much of a given fluid whose volume as it moves through a space creates violent movement
Term
pinnacle
Definition
noun: Top; greatest height; apex
Term
cleos
Definition
noun: Greek for everlasting fame
Term
heros, heroes
Definition
Greek singular and plural for hero
Term
horus
Definition
noun: hour as in the appointed time (as in fate) for something to occur; having to do with the appropriate season or time for something to occur
Term
Hera
Definition
noun: Greek goddess of the seasons (derived from horus)
Term
Heracles
Definition
noun: bearer of the glory of Hera which, in his case, was ironic in view of Hera's persecution of him throughout his life, only ending when she accepts him in death
Term
utilitarian
Definition
adjective: Emphasizing usefulness and practicality over other considerations such as beauty. Of or relating to utilitarianism: the doctrine that something's value is measured by its usefulness, especially as expressed by greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.
noun: An adherent of utilitarianism.
Term
rotund
Definition
adjective: Plump; fat. Round in shape. Having a full-toned, resonant sound.
Term
sidereal
Definition
adjective: Relating to the stars. Measured with reference to the apparent motion of the stars. For example, sidereal time.
Term
orison
Definition
noun: A prayer.
Term
sward
Definition
noun: The grassy surface of land: turf.
Term
fait accompli
Definition
noun: A thing accomplished: a done deal.
Term
Camelot
Definition
noun: An idealized time or place, one regarded as enlightened, beautiful, and peaceful.
Term
Hades
Definition
noun: Hell.
Term
emanate
Definition
verb tr., intr.: To emit or to come out.
Term
deify
Definition
verb tr.:
1. To make a god of.
2. To revere or idealize as a deity.
Term
extenuate
Definition
verb tr.
1. To reduce or attempt to reduce the severity of (an error, an offense, etc.) by making partial excuses for it.
2. To lessen or to make light of.
Term
impious
Definition
adjective: the absence of piety
Term
verve
Definition
noun: style or distinction having to do with personality; relational idiosyncracies that are thought to be "cool"
Term
litotes
Definition
Greek noun: understatement for dramatic effect; the antithesis of hyperbole
Term
elegy
Definition
noun: A poem composed as a lament for the dead. (wordsmith.org)
Term
tedium
Definition
noun: The state or quality of being boring, monotonous, or repetitive.
Term
fatwa
Definition
noun: A ruling on a point of law given by an Islamic religious leader; A severe denunciation.
Term
excommunicate
Definition
verb tr.: To formally exclude someone from a group or community, especially from a religious community.noun: A person who has been excluded in this manner.adjective: Having been excluded.
Term
euphemism
Definition
noun: Use of a mild, neutral, evasive, or vague term in place of one considered taboo, offensive, blunt, or unpleasant.
Term
nepotism
Definition
noun: Favoritism shown to relatives and friends, especially in business or political appointments.
Term
cozen
Definition
verb tr.: To trick or deceive.
Term
rein
Definition
noun
a. Often, reins. a leather strap, fastened to each end of the bit of a bridle, by which the rider or driver controls a horse or other animal by pulling so as to exert pressure on the bit;
b. any of certain other straps or thongs forming part of a harness, as a checkrein;
c. any means of curbing, controlling, or directing; check; restraint;
d. reins, the controlling or directing power: the reins of government.
= verb (used with object)
a. to check or guid
= Idioms
a. draw rein, to curtail one's speed or progress; halt: The rider saw the snake and drew rein sharply.
b. give rein to, to give complete freedom to; indulge freely: to give rein to one's imagination. Also, give free rein to, give full rein to.
Term
anhedonia
Definition
noun: the absence of pleasure; the absence of any ability to feel pleasure
Term
nankeen
Definition
noun : A yellow or buff color. .A sturdy yellow or buff cotton fabric.(nankeens). Trousers made of this cloth. A Chinese porcelain having blue designs on a white background.
Term
gamboge
Definition
noun:
a. A strong yellow color.
b. A gum resin obtained from the sap of trees of the genus Garcinia, used as a yellow pigment and as a cathartic.
Term
sinopia
Definition
noun:
a. A reddish-brown color or pigment.
b. A preliminary drawing for a fresco.
Term
solferino
Definition
noun: Purplish red color.
Term
harlequin
Definition
adjective: In varied colors.
noun: A clown.
noun: A stock comic character, masked, and dressed in a diamond-patterned multicolored costume.
Term
stentorian
Definition
adjective: Loud and powerful.
Term
pharisaical
Definition
adjective: Characterized by hypocritical self-righteousness; putting emphasis on strict observance of rituals unrelated to the spirit or meaning of the ceremony.
Term
luddite
Definition
noun: One who opposes or avoids the use of new technology.
Term
simony
Definition
noun: Profiting from holy things, especially buying and selling of holy positions and pardons.
Term
onomancy
Definition
noun: Divination by the letters of a name.
Term
comminate
Definition
verb tr.: To threaten with divine punishment; to curse.
Term
aesthete
Definition
noun: Someone who has or affects high sensitivity to beauty, especially in art.
Term
buttle
Definition
verb intr.: To do a butler's work.
Term
H
Definition
Hydrogen
Term
Li
Definition
Lithium
Term
Na
Definition
Sodium
Term
K
Definition
Potassium
Term
Rb
Definition
Rubidium
Term
Cs
Definition
Cesium
Term
Fr
Definition
Francium
Term
Be
Definition
Beryllium
Term
Mg
Definition
Magnesium
Term
Ca
Definition
Calcium
Term
Sr
Definition
Strontium
Term
Ba
Definition
Barium
Term
Ra
Definition
Radium
Term
Sc
Definition
Scandium
Term
Y
Definition
Yttrium
Term
Ti
Definition
Titanium
Term
Zr
Definition
Zirconium
Term
Hf
Definition
Hafnium
Term
V
Definition
Vanadium
Term
Nb
Definition
Niobium
Term
Ta
Definition
Tantalum
Term
Cr
Definition
Chromium
Term
Mo
Definition
Molybdenium
Term
W
Definition
Tungsten
Term
Mn
Definition
Manganese
Term
Tc
Definition
Technetium
Term
Re
Definition
Rhenium
Term
Fe
Definition
Iron
Term
Ru
Definition
Ruthenium
Term
Os
Definition
Osmium
Term
Co
Definition
Cobalt
Term
Rh
Definition
Rhodium
Term
Ir
Definition
Iridium
Term
Ni
Definition
Nickel
Term
Pd
Definition
Palladium
Term
Pt
Definition
Platinum
Term
Cu
Definition
Copper
Term
Ag
Definition
Silver
Term
Au
Definition
Gold
Term
Zn
Definition
Zinc
Term
Cd
Definition
Cadmium
Term
Hg
Definition
Mercury
Term
B
Definition
Boron
Term
Al
Definition
Aluminum
Term
Ga
Definition
Gallium
Term
In
Definition
Indium
Term
Tl
Definition
Thallium
Term
C
Definition
Carbon
Term
Si
Definition
Silicon
Term
Ge
Definition
Germanium
Term
Sn
Definition
Tin
Term
Pb
Definition
Lead
Term
N
Definition
Nitrogen
Term
P
Definition
Phosphorus
Term
As
Definition
Arsenic
Term
Sb
Definition
Antimony
Term
Bi
Definition
Bismuth
Term
O
Definition
Oxygen
Term
S
Definition
Sulfur
Term
Se
Definition
Selenium
Term
Te
Definition
Tellurium
Term
Po
Definition
Polonium
Term
F
Definition
Fluorine
Term
Cl
Definition
Chlorine
Term
Br
Definition
Bromine
Term
I
Definition
Iodine
Term
At
Definition
Astatine
Term
He
Definition
Helium
Term
Ne
Definition
Neon
Term
Ar
Definition
Argon
Term
Kr
Definition
Krypton
Term
Xe
Definition
Xenon
Term
Rn
Definition
Radon
Term
Es
Definition
Einsteinium
Term
Eu
Definition
Europium
Term
Dy
Definition
Dysprosium
Term
Yb
Definition
Ytterbium
Term
U
Definition
Uranium
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