Vocabulary Workshop Level E Unit 5-8

altruistic

showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others

assent

to agree or express agreement

benefactor

one who does good to others

chivalrous

marked by honor, courtesy, and courage; knightly

clemency

mercy, humaneness; mildness, moderateness

dearth

(n.) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine

diffident

shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved

discrepancy

a difference; a lack of agreement

embark

to go aboard; to make a start; to invest

facile

easily done or attained; superficial; ready, fluent; easily shown but not sincerely felt

indomitable

(adj.) unconquerable, refusing to yield

infallible

free from error; absolutely dependable

plod

to walk heavily or slowly; to work slowly

pungent

causing a sharp sensation; stinging, biting

remiss

(adj.) neglectful in performance of one's duty, careless

repose

(v.) to rest; lie; place; (n.) relaxation, peace of mind, calmness

temerity

(n.) rashness, boldness

truculent

fierce and cruel; aggressive; deadly, destructive; scathingly harsh

unfeigned

(adj.) sincere, real, without pretense

virulent

(adj.) extremely poisonous; full of malice; spiteful

officious

meddling; excessively forward in offering services or assuming authority

ominous

unfavorable, threatening, of a bad omen

pinnacle

a high peak or point

premeditated

considered beforehand, deliberately planned

rampant

growing without check, running wild

solace

comfort, relief; to comfort, console

stately

dignified, majestic

supple

bending easily; bending with agility; readily adaptable; servile

suppress

to stop by force, put down

venal

open to or marked by bribery or corruption

accede

to yield to; to assume an office or dignity

brandish

to wave or flourish in a menacing or vigorous fashion

comprise

to include or contain; to be made of

deft

skillful, nimble

destitute

deprived of the necessities of life; lacking in

explicit

definite, clearly stated

extirpate

to tear up by the roots; to destroy totally

inopportune

coming at a bad time; not appropriate

ironic

suggesting an incongruity between what might be expected and what actually happens; given to irony; sarcastic

musty

stale, moldy; out-of-date

abhor

to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

amend

to change in a formal way; to change for the better

buffet

(v.) to slap or cuff; to strike repeatedly; to drive or force with blows; to force one's way with difficulty; (n.) a slap or blow

chaos

great confusion, disorder

commodious

roomy, spacious

corrosive

eating away gradually, acidlike; bitterly sarcastic

discern

to see clearly, recognize

extant

still existing; not exterminated, destroyed, or lost

implicate

to involve in; to connect with or be related to

inter

to bury, commit to the earth; to consign to oblivion

martinet

a strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules

obviate

to anticipate and prevent; to remove, dispose of

renegade

(n.) one who leaves a group; a deserter, outlaw; (adj.) traitorous, unconventional, unorthodox

reprehensible

deserving blame or punishment

somber

dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit

squalid

filthy, wretched, debased

turbulent

disorderly, riotous, violent; stormy

vociferous

loud and noisy; compelling attention

voluminous

of great size; numerous; writing or speaking at great length

waive

to do without, give up voluntarily, to put off temporarily, defer

animosity

strong dislike; bitter hostility

apathy

a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest

apprehensive

fearful or anxious, especially about the future

commend

to praise, express approval; to present as worthy of attention; to commit to the care of

compatible

able to get along or work well together; capable of use with some other model or system

condolence

an expression of sympathy

consecrate

to make sacred, hallow; to set apart for a special purpose

decrepit

old and feeble; worn-out ruined

deride

to ridicule, laugh at with contempt

ingenuous

innocent, simple; frank, sincere

multifarious

having great variety; numerous and diverse

obsolete

out-of-date, no longer in use

omnivorous

eating every kind of food; eagerly taking in everything, having a wide variety of tastes

parsimonious

stingy, miserly; meager, poor, small

quandary

a state of perplexity or doubt

recalcitrant

stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority

reprisal

an injury done in return for injury

revel

to take great pleasure in; a wild celebration

stultify

to make ineffective or useless, cripple; to have a dulling effect on

suave

smoothly agreeable or polite; pleasing to the senses