Unit 2 Vocabulary

Ameliorate

Verb. To improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming.

Aplomb

Noun. Poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity.

Bombastic

Adjective. Pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas.

Callow

Adjective. Without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers.

Drivel

Noun. Saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; Verb. to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly.

Epitome

Noun. A summary, condensed account; an instance that represents a larger reality.

Exhort

Verb. To urge strongly, advise earnestly.

Ex officio

Adjective & Adverb. By virtue of holding a certain office.

Infringe

Verb. To violate, trespass, go beyond recognized bounds.

Ingratiate

Verb. To make oneself agreeable and thus gain favor or acceptance by others (sometimes used in a critical or derogatory sense).

Interloper

Noun. One who moves in where he or she is not wanted or has no right to be, an intruder.

Intrinsic

Adjective. Belonging to someone or something by its very nature, essential, inherent; originating in a bodily organ or part.

Inveigh

Verb. To make a violent attack in words, express strong disapproval.

Lassitude

Noun. Weariness of body or mind, lack of energy/

Millennium

Noun. A period of one thousand years; a period of great joy.

Occult

Adjective. Secret, hidden from view; not detectable by ordinary means; mysterious, magical, uncanny. Verb. To hide, cover up; eclipse; Noun. Matters involving the supernatural.

Permeate

Verb. To spread through, penetrate, soak through.

Precipitate

Verb. To fall as moisture; to bring about suddenly; to hurl down from a great height; to give distinct form to; Adjective. Characterized by excessive haste; Noun. Moisture; the product of an action or process.

Stringent

Adjective. Strict, severe; rigorously or urgently binding or compelling; sharp or bitter to the taste.

Surmise

Verb. To think or believe without certain supporting evidence; to conjecture or guess. Noun. Likely idea that lacks definite proof.