English Midterm Vocab Words

percussion

the sharp striking of one thing against another

perenial

lasting for an indefinitely long time

permeate

to penetrate through spaces; to spread throughout

persevere

To hold fast to a task or purpose despite handicaps or obstacles

defer

to postpone or delay

dilatory

tending to delay or to postpone

elation

Excited feelings of pride, triumph, or happiness

infer

to use available evidence to form a conclusion

contend

to engage in a quarrel, a struggle, or rivalry

intent

purpose

subvert

To upset; to overthrow; to ruin

subservient

excessively willing to yield; submissive

contort

to twist or bend out of shape

distort

to change something to make it false
to twist something out of its natural shape.

retort

to reply quickly and sharply, often as if in reply to an accusation

tortuous

having many twists and turns; deceitfully roundabout; tricky

adversity

Hardship; misfortune

avert

turn away; to prevent

introvert

a person whose thoughts and interests are directed inward

perverse

stubbornly doing something other than what is reasonable or required

prose

referring to speech or writing other than verse

excerpt

A passage selected from a book, play, piece of music, etc.
to take a passage from a book; to quote

exhilarate

to cheer; to stimulate; to enliven

exonerate

to free from blame
to relieve of a task

exorbitant

excessive

compound

to mix together; to combine two or more parts or elements
a combination of elements

exposition

a precise statement or explanation
a public exhibit or show.

expound

to set forth an explanation or view of something in detail

impose

to set up, or to force something (or oneself) on others; to take unfair advantage of someone

impostor

one who deceives by using a false identity.

proponent

One who argues in support of something

extraneous

(adj.) coming from the outside, foreign
not essential or vital

extraterrestrial

outside or originating outside the limits of the earth's atmosphere

extrovert

a person chiefly interested in things outside the self, directing thoughts outward rather inward

mediate

to act as negotiator between opposing sides in a dispute

mediocrity

The condition of being commonplace or ordinary, somewhere in the middle between high and low; a very ordinary person

medium

a substance or element through which something is transmitted
a person thought to have communication with spirits of the dead.

non sequitur

A statement that does not follow logically from evidence

obsequious

excessively willing to yield to others

subsequent

coming after or later

sequester

to go into hiding; to seek solitude; to isolate

coherent

showing an orderly relation of parts; sticking together; being able to communicate clearly and logically

colloquial

Characteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing

commiserate

to feel or express sorrow or pity

condone

to forgive; to disregard an offense
to approve or sanction

commodious

spacious, roomy, as in a house

contrite

thoroughly remorseful and repentant of one's sins

abstain

to refrain from something by one's choice

impertinent

impudent; rude; irrelevant

pertinacious

holding firmly, even stubbornly, to a belief

tenacity

Hanging on to something persistently or stubbornly

aptitude

a natural talent or ability; quickness in learning

inept

without skill; inappropriate or out of place; foolish or absurd

adjunct

an added part not essential to the whole

conjugate

to give forms of verbs in a fixed order

injuction

an authoritative command or order

juncture

a serious state of affairs; the condition or point of being joined

subjugate

to conquer; to dominate completely

astringent

harsh; severe

strait

A narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water; a difficult or bad position

stringent

severe; constricted; tight; pertaining to scarcity of money

abrasive

Harsh; rough

abound

to exist in great quantities or numbers; to be fully supplied or filled

abscond

to leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself

abhor

to detest throuroughly

abstemious

sparing or moderate, especially in eating and drinking

discreet

showing tact, respect, and restraint in speech or behavior

ascertain

to find out something for certain

discern

to perceive; to detect differences

infraction

a violation, especially of a law

infringe

to go beyond set limits

suffrage

the right to vote, or vote itself

superlative

the highest; above the rest

superfluous

beyond what is required; extra

concise

saying or writing much in few words

herbicide

a substance for killing plants, especially weeds

precise

Clearly expressed; exact; accurate in every detail

analyze

to look at something carefully by attention to its parts

catalyst

a force or person causing action, especially without being involved or changed by the consequences

absolve

to relieve of blame or obligation; to pardon a sin

resolute

determined; unshakable

resolve

to make a firm decision about; to find a solution