10/31/2012

1

Vocabulary

Lessons 9 & 10

machination

• an evil design or plan

• scheme; plot

pejorative

• insulting; having a negative effect

• disparaging; derogatory

harbinger

• an omen or sign

• warning; portent

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2

nubile

• suitable for marriage in age and physical development, referring to a female

sapient

• wise; full of knowledge

• sagacious

chimerical

• imaginary; fantastic

• absurd; illusionary

masochist

• someone who enjoys pain and suffering

10/31/2012

3

finesse

• diplomacy; tact; artful management

• skill; cunning

heterogeneous

• different; dissimilar

• diverse; varied

eclectic

• choosing from various sources

• diverse, mixed, varied, wide-ranging

grandiose

• impressive; showy magnificent

• stately; imposing

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4

raiment

• clothing or garments

blanch

• to whiten

• to make pale

hybrid

• anything of mixed origin

idiosyncrasy

• a peculiar personality trait

• eccentricity; quirk

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5

idolatry

• excessive or blind adoration

• worship of an object

adulterate

• to make impure; to contaminate

• taint; corrupt

emanate

• to come forth; to send forth

• rise; emerge

garish

• tastelessly gaudy

• showy; glaring; flashy

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6

immutable

• unchangeable; fixed

• enduring

diadem

• a crown

bucolic

• pertaining to the countryside; rural; rustic

• pastoral

redolent

• having a pleasant odor; suggestive or evocative

• aromatic

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7

impecunious

• without money; penniless

• destitute; indigent

sedition

• rebellion or resistance against the government

• treachery; disloyalty

defile

• to pollute

• to corrupt

gratuitous

• unnecessary or uncalled for

• excessive

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8

onus

• a burden; responsibility

• obligation

impious

• disrespectful toward God

• sacrilegious; profane

caveat

• a warning or caution