Honors English IV Vocab 9

acclamation

a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval

bucolic

a short descriptive poem of rural or pastoral life, relating to shepherds or herdsmen or devoted to raising sheep or cattle, pertaining to the countryside; rural; rustic

calumniate

charge falsely or with malicious intent, to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously

chary

characterized by great cautious and wariness, wary; cautious; sparing

collusion

secret agreement, agreement on a secret plot

dilettante

an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge, showing frivolous or superficial interest, someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic

imperturbable

not easily perturbed or excited or upset, not easily excited; emotionally steady

increment

the amount by which something increases, a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important

mandate

an authoritative command, formal order, authorization; to issue such an order

paltry

contemptibly small in amount, not worth considering

paroxysm

a sudden uncontrollable attack, a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion

pedantry

a ostentatious and inappropriate display of learning, a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details

peregrination

travel (especially by foot), the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country

redolent

having a strong distinctive fragrance, serving to bring to mind

refulgent

radiating or as if radiating light, shining, radiant, resplendent

shibboleth

a favorite saying of a sect or political group, a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others; a commonplace saying or truism

tyro

someone new to a field or activity, (n.) a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill

unremitting

uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing, not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless

vacillate

be undecided about something, to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will

vituperative

marked by harshly abusive criticism, marked by harshly abusive condemnation