Vocabulary #1

adumbrate - verb give to understand; describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of
I adumbrate the story of Pride and Prejudice to try to help her understand the plot for our test next period.
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
Hannah Hurd the apotheosis for the class of 2015 with her #1 class rank.
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
The ascetic monk sits outside the temple for hours praying without eating or drinming.
bauble - noun a mock scepter carried by a court jester; cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
She wears bauble like its gold.
beguile - verb attract; cause to be enamored; influence by slyness
Matthew beguiles me with his good looks.
burgeon - verb grow and flourish
The flowers have no problem burgeoning in the garden.
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
That necklace perfectly complements your dress.
contumacious - adj. wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient
Toddler has a contumacious attitude when his mom tells him to put the toy back that he wants.
curmudgeon - noun a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas
The curmudgeon down the street feels the need do disagree with every political statement I make.
didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively)
The didactic professor seems to never stop talking when we are trying to work on our project.
disingenuous - adj. not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness
Two-faced people can be disingenuous when presenting themselves.
exculpate - verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
I was exculpated of the charge when the jury was let out.
faux pas - noun a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.
She has a faux pas when she forgot to put her napkin on her lap at dinner.
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
The volcano fulminated and caused the city of Pompeii to be covered in ash.
fustian - noun a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap; pompous or pretentious talk or writing
A wild story of fustian and fantasy.
hauteur - noun overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
She looked at him with the hauteur of someone who is used to being obeyed.
inhibit - verb limit the range or extent of; to put down by force or authority
Her stare from across the room inhibited me from saying anything to my parents.
jeremiad - noun a long and mournful complaint
The students' jeremiads about the first day of school are too much for me.
opportunist - adj. taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit; noun a person who places expediency above principle
I am an opportunist concerning homework, doing it in every spare moment.
unconscionable - adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; lacking a conscience
When you are drunk you are in an unconscionable state.