English Vocabulary: Lessons 1-8

Percussion

The sharp striking of one thing against another (or describing of)

Perennial

1) Lasting for an indefinitely long time OR 2) Living longer than two years, said especially of plants

Permeate

To penetrate through spaces; to spread throughout

Persevere

To hold fast to a task or purpose despite handicaps or obstacles

Defer

1) To postpone; to delay OR 2) To yield respectfully to the opinion or will of another

Dilatory

Tending to delay or to postpone

Elation

Excited feelings of pride, triumph, or happiness

Inter

To use available evidence to form a conclusion

Contend

To engage in a quarrel, a struggle, or rivalry

Intent

1) A purpose OR 2) Concentrating on or dedicating to an idea or action

Subvert

To upset; to overthrow; to ruin

Subservient

Excessively willing to yield; submissive

Contort

To twist or bend out of shape

Distort

1) To change something to it false OR 2) to twist (something) out of its shape

Retort

To reply quickly and sharply, often as if in to reply to an accusation

Tortuous

1) Having many twists and turns OR 2) Deceitfully roundabout; tricky

Adversity

Hardship; misfortune

Avert

1) To turn away (one's eye) OR 2) To prevent

Introvert

A person whose thoughts and interests are directed inward

Perverse

Stubbornly doing something other than what is reasonable or required; expected

Prose

Ordinary speech or writing without rhyme or meter (that is, without verse)

Excerpt

A passage selected from a book, play, piece of music, etc.

Exhilarate

To cheer; to stimulate; to enliven

Exonerate

To relieve from blame or task

Exorbitant

Excessive

Compound

To mix together; to combine two or more parts or elements

Exposition

1) A precise statement or explanation OR 2) A public exhibit or show

Expound

To set forth an explanation or view of something in detail

Impose

1) To set up, or to force something (or oneself) on others OR 2) To take unfair advantage of someone

Impostor

One who deceives by using a false identity

Proponent

One who argues in support of something

Extraneous

Coming from outside; not essential or vital; foreign

Extraterrestrial

Outside or originating outside the limits of the earth's atmosphere

Extrovert

A person chiefly interested in things outside the self, directing thoughts outward rather than inward

Mediate

To act as negotiator between opposing sides in a dispute

Mediocrity

The condition of being commonplace or ordinary, somewhere in the middle between high and low; a very ordinary person

Medium

1) A substance or element through which something is transmitted OR 2) A person thought to have communication with spirits of the dead

Non sequitur

A statement that does not follow logically from evidence

Obsequious

Excessively to yield to others

Subsequent

Coming after of later

Sequester

To go into hiding; to seek solitude; to isolate

Coherent

Showing and orderly relation of parts; sticking together

Colloquial

Characteristics of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing

Commiserate

To feel or express sorrow or pity

Condone

To forgive; to disregard an offense

Commodious

Spacious, roomy, as in a house

Contrite

Thoroughly remorseful and repentant of one's sins

Abstain

To refrain from something by one's choice

Impertinent

Impudent; rude; irrelevant

Pertinacious

Holding firmly, even stubbornly, to a belief

Tenacity

Hanging on to something persistently or stubbornly

Aptitude

A natural talent or ability; quickness in learning

Inept

Without skill; inappropriate or out of place; foolish or absurd

Adjunct

An added part not essential to the whole

Conjugate

To give forms of verbs in a fixed order

Injunction

An authoritative command or order

Juncture

1) A serious state of affairs OR 2) The condition or point of being joined

Subjugate

To conquer; to dominate completely

Astringent

1) Harsh; severe OR 2) A substance that tightens tissues

Strait

1) A narrow passage of water connecting two large bodies of water OR 2) A difficult or bad position

Stringent

1) Severe; constricted; tight OR 2) Pertaining to scarcity of money

Abrasive

Harsh; rough

Abound

To exist or be filled with great quantities or numbers

Abscond

To leave quickly and secretly and hide oneself

Abhor

To detest thoroughly

Abstemious

Sparing or moderate, especially in eating and drinking

Discreet

Showing tact, respect, and restraint in speech or behavior

Ascertain

To find out something for certain

Discern

To perceive; to detect differences

Infraction

A violation, especially of a law

Infringe

To go beyond set limits

Suffrage

The right to vote, or a vote itself

Superlative

The highest; above the rest

Superfluous

Beyond what is required; extra

Concise

Saving or writing much in few words

Herbicide

A substance for killing plants, especially weeds

Precise

Clearly expressed; exact; accurate in every detail

Analyze

To look at something carefully by attention to its parts

Catalyst

A force or person causing action, especially without being involved or changed by the consequences

Absolve

To relieve of blame or obligation; to pardon a sin

Resolute

Determined; unshakable

Resolve

To make a firm decision or solution about