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Semester Exam
Vocabulary
99
English
12th Grade
01/02/2006

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Cards

Term
cul-de-sac
Definition
dead end
Term
adjunct
Definition
something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential, an assistant or helper
Term
caterwaul
Definition
to howl or screech like a cat, to quarrel
Term
fait accompli
Definition
an accomplished and presumably irreversible deed or action
Term
mirage
Definition
an illusion
Term
hierarchy
Definition
any system or things or people arranged or graded one above another in order or rank, wealth or class
Term
bellwether
Definition
male sheep
Term
liturgy
Definition
a religious service or rite, ritual
Term
hidebound
Definition
narrow-minded in opinions or prejudices
Term
effete
Definition
lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out or exhausted
Term
chimerical
Definition
absurdy; wildly fantastic; impossible
Term
supine
Definition
lying flat on one's back; passive
Term
morass
Definition
swamp
Term
vignette
Definition
short description or sketch; picture or illustration...
Term
proselyte
Definition
a convert; disciple
Term
noisome
Definition
offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling
Term
ribald
Definition
irreverently mocking; coarse; vulgar in language
Term
oblivious
Definition
forgetful or unaware
Term
raillery
Definition
good-humored ridicule; teasing
Term
poltroon
Definition
a coward
Term
quasi
Definition
resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not completely
Term
lachrymose
Definition
given to tears or weeping
Term
bibulous
Definition
fond of or inclinded to drink
Term
aegis
Definition
protection, patronage, sponsorship
Term
melee
Definition
a confused struggle, violent mingling, violent free for all
Term
claque
Definition
a group of people hired to applaud a performer
Term
indigenous
Definition
native
Term
deracinate
Definition
to pull up by the roots
Term
eleemosynary
Definition
charitable, dependent upon or supported by charity
Term
apprise
Definition
to inform of; to make aware by giving oral or written notice
Term
lexicon
Definition
a dictionary or language
Term
vassal
Definition
person undert he protection of a feudal lord.... subservient
Term
polarize
Definition
to cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions
Term
obfuscate
Definition
to darken or obscure, to confuse or bewilder
Term
verisimilitude
Definition
the quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable
Term
minuscule
Definition
very small, tiny
Term
microosm
Definition
a miniature world or universe
Term
paternalism
Definition
the policy or practice or treating or governing people in the manner of father
Term
sangurine
Definition
having a rough complexion; naturally cherrful, confident, or optimistic outlook
Term
purview
Definition
the range, extent, or scope of something
Term
solecism
Definition
a substandard or ungrammatical usage
Term
bowdlerize
Definition
to remove material considered offensive from a book or play
Term
plethora
Definition
superabundance, over fullness
Term
forte
Definition
what a person does best, a strong point
Term
paean
Definition
a song of praise or triumph
Term
quizzical
Definition
puzzled, mocking, odd
Term
deter
Definition
to prevent from acting by fear or doubt, check, to turn aside
Term
ancillary
Definition
supplementary
Term
schism
Definition
a formal split w/in a religious organization, any split into hostile fractions
Term
gratis
Definition
without charge
Term
pragmatic
Definition
concerned with practical considerations
Term
enclave
Definition
an enclosed district, region, or area inhabited by a particular group of people
Term
virtuoso
Definition
a brilliant performer, a person with mastery skill
Term
macrocosm
Definition
the universe, considered as a whole
Term
persiflage
Definition
lighthearted joking, talking, or writing
Term
rapacity
Definition
inordinate greed
Term
cozen
Definition
to trick, to cheat, to swindle
Term
therapeutic
Definition
having the power to cure or heal
Term
mountebank
Definition
a trickster
Term
intersist
Definition
a small narrow space b/w things or parts of things
Term
gamut
Definition
entire range
Term
derring-do
Definition
darring deeds, heroism
Term
affinity
Definition
a natural attraction to something or someone
Term
corollary
Definition
a result
Term
bilious
Definition
irritable, sickeningly
Term
folderol
Definition
nonsense, foolish talk
Term
cognate
Definition
closely related in origin
Term
elixer
Definition
capable of curing all ills and maintaining life indefinitely
Term
divination
Definition
predicting the future or discovering hidden knowledge
Term
risible
Definition
laughter
Term
hoi-polloi
Definition
common people
Term
obloquy
Definition
public abuse indicating strong disapproval
Term
symptomatic
Definition
symptom of a disease
Term
volte-face
Definition
a complete reversal
Term
ineffable
Definition
not expressible in words
Term
mnemonic
Definition
a device to aid the memory
Term
lucubration
Definition
laborious study or thought
Term
parameter
Definition
boundary
Term
pundit
Definition
one who gives authoritative opinions
Term
homily
Definition
sermon
Term
aficionado
Definition
enthusiastic fan
Term
foray
Definition
quick raid
Term
insouciant
Definition
happy-go-lucky
Term
browbeat
Definition
to bully
Term
emolument
Definition
profit or salary
Term
immure
Definition
to enclose or confine w/in walls... to isolate
Term
commensurate
Definition
equal in size or importance
Term
diaphanous
Definition
sheer and light.. almost transparent
Term
genre
Definition
a type, class, or variety
Term
sacrosanct
Definition
very sacred or holy
Term
vicissitude
Definition
a change, variation, or alteration
Term
matrix
Definition
a mold
Term
systemic
Definition
pertaining to the entire body
Term
obsequies
Definition
funeral rites
Term
tendentious
Definition
inteded to promote a particular POV
Term
persona
Definition
a character in a novel or play
Term
panache
Definition
confident and stylish manner, dash, a strikingly elaborate or colorful display
Term
prurient
Definition
having lustful desires or interests, tending to arouse sexual desires
Term
philippic
Definition
a bitter verbal attack
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