Vocabulary Level G Unit 13

abstruse

extremely difficult to understand
syn: arcane, recondite, occult

affront

an open or intentional insult; a slight; to insult to one's face; to face in defiance, confront
syn: offense; offend

canard

a false rumor, fabricated story
syn: hoax

captious

excessively ready to find fault; given to petty criticism; intended to trap, confuse, or show up
syn: faultfinding, carping

cognizant

aware, knowledgeable, informed; having jurisdiction
syn: acquainted

contrite

regretful for some misdeed or sin; plagued by a sense of guilt; thoroughly penitent
syn: remorseful, rueful

cynosure

the center of attraction, attention, or interest; something that serves to guide or direct
syn: focus

decorous

well-behaved, dignified, socially proper
syn: seemly, becoming, tasteful

deign

to think it appropriate or suitable to one's dignity to do something; to condescend
syn: deem

desiccated

thoroughly dried out; divested of spirit or vitality; arid and uninteresting
syn: dehydrated, shriveled

efficacy

the power to produce a desired result
syn: effectiveness, potency, reliability

engender

to bring into existence, give rise to, produce; to come into existence, assume form
syn: generate, cause, form

ethereal

light, airy, delicate; highly refined; suggesting what is heavenly (rather than earthbound)
syn: heavenly, celestial, gossamer

facade

the front face of a building; a surface appearance (as opposed to what may lie behind)
syn: exterior, surface, mask

ghoulish

revolting in an unnatural or morbid way; suggestive of someone who robs graves or otherwise preys on the dead
syn: barbarous, monstrous

incongruous

not in keeping, unsuitable, incompatible
syn: discordant

machination

a crafty, scheming, or underhanded action designed to accomplish some (usually evil) end
syn: plot, maneuver

mesmerize

to hypnotize, entrance; to fascinate, enthrall, bewitch

opprobrium

disgrace arising from shameful conduct; contempt, reproach
syn; infamy, dishonor, odium

putative

generally regarded as such; reputed; hypothesized; inferred
syn: supposed, presumed