Week 7/8 Lit. Vocab.

aggrandize

(V.) to increase in greatness, power, or wealth; to build up or intensify; to make appear greater

inscrutable

(Adj.) impossible to see through physically; incapable of being understood

archetype

(N.) an original model after which similar things are patterned; a perfect or typical example

erudite

(Adj.) scholarly, learned; boorish, pedantic

infer

(V.) to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply

affable

(Adj.) courteous and pleasant, sociable, easy to speak to

amorphous

(Adj.) shapeless, without definite form; of no particular type or character; without organization, unity, or cohesion

gossamer

(Adj.) thin, light, delicate, insubstantial; (N.) a very thin, light cloth

aura

(N.) that which surrounds (as an atmosphere); a distinctive air or personal quality

insular

(Adj.) relating to, characteristic of, or situated on an island; narrow or isolated in outlook or experience

sleazy

(Adj.) thin or flimsy in texture; cheap; shoddy, or inferior in quality or character; ethically low, mean, or disreputable

irrevocable

(Adj.) incapable of being changed or called back

sedulous

(Adj.) persistent, showing industry and determination

remonstrate

(V.) to argue or plead with someone against something, protest against, object to

retrench

(V.) to cut down, reduce in scope and cost

resilient

(Adj.) able to return to an original shape or form; able to recover quickly

reverberate

(V.) to re-echo, resound; to reflect or be reflected repeatedly

querulous

(Adj.) peevish, complaining, fretful

repudiate

(V.) to disown, reject, or deny the validity of

propensity

(N.) a natural inclination or bent toward

scurrilous

(Adj.) coarsely abusive, vulgar or low (especially in language), foul-mouthed