Vocabulary List #1: Definitions

1. adumbrate - verb give to understand; describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of
2. apotheosis - noun the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god); model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
3. ascetic - adj. practicing great self-denial; pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline; noun someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
4. bauble - noun a mock scepter carried by a court jester; cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
5. beguile - verb attract; cause to be enamored; influence by slyness
6. burgeon - verb grow and flourish
7. complement - noun something added to complete or make perfect; either of two parts that mutually complete each other; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction;number needed to make up a whole force; a complete number or quantity; one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response; verb make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to
8. contumacious - adj. wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient
9. curmudgeon - noun a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas
10. didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively)
11. disingenuous - adj. not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness
12. exculpate - verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
13. faux - adj. not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article
14. pas - noun (ballet) a step in dancing (especially in classical ballet)
15. fulminate - noun a salt or ester of fulminic acid; verb cause to explode violently and with loud noise; come on suddenly and intensely; criticize severely
16. fustian - noun a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap;pompous or pretentious talk or writing
17. hauteur - noun overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
18. inhibit - verb limit the range or extent of; to put down by force or authority
19. jeremiad - noun a long and mournful complaint
20. opportunist - adj. taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit; noun a person who places expediency above principle
21. unconscionable - adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; lacking a conscience