Chapter 14 Advancing Vocabulary Skills

austere

(adj.) Without decoration or luxury; severely simple; plain

esoteric

(adj.) Understood by only a few people; sophisticated; difficult and unusual

facsimile

(n.) An exact copy or reproduction

grotesque

(adj.) Distorted or strikingly inconsistent in shape, appearance, or manner; strange-looking

mesmerize

(v.) To hypnotize or fascinate; hold spellbound

metamorphosis

(n.) A great or complete change; transformation

notorious

(adj.) Regarded negatively; having a bad reputation; known widely but unfavorably

perfunctory

(adj.) Done only as a routine, with little care or interest; performed with no interest or enthusiasm; uninterested

provocative

(adj.) Attention-getting; tending to arouse interest or curiosity

travesty

(n.) A joking, disrespectful imitation; a crude, exaggerated, or ridiculous representation; mockery