English 3: Unit 5 Vocabulary

amnesty

(n.) a general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution

autonomy

(n.) self-government, political control

axiomatic

(adj.) self-evident, expressing a universally accepted principle or rule

blazon

(v.) to adorn or embellish; to display conspicuously; to publish or proclaim widely

caveat

(n.) a warning or caution to prevent misunderstanding or discourage behavior

equitable

(adj.) fair, just, embodying principles of justice

extricate

(v.) to free from entanglements or difficulties; to remove with effort

filch

(v.) to steal, especially in a sneaky way and in petty amounts

flout

(v.) to mock, treat with contempt

fractious

(adj.) tending to be troublesome; unruly, quarrelsome, contrary; unpredictable

precept

(n.) a rule of conduct or action

salutary

(adj.) beneficial, helpful; healthful, wholesome

scathing

(adj.) bitterly severe, withering; causing great harm

scourge

(v.) to whip, punish severely; (n.) a cause of affliction or suffering; a source of severe punishment or criticism

sepulchral

(adj.) funereal, typical of the tomb; extremely gloomy or dismal

soporific

(adj.) tending to cause sleep, relating to sleepiness or lethargy; (n.) something that induces sleep

straitlaced

(adj.) extremely strict in regard to moral standards and conduct; prudish, puritanical

transient

(adj.) lasting only a short time, fleeting; (n.) one who stays only a short time

unwieldy

(adj.) not easily carried, handled, or managed because of size or complexity

vapid

(adj.) dull, uninteresting, tiresome; lacking in sharpness, flavor, liveliness, or force