Vocab list #10

Vocabulary defined by Bernardo Gonzalez.

1. aficionado- (noun) a serious devotee of some particular music genre or musical performer
2. browbeat- (verb) to discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate
3. commensurate- (adj) able to be measured by a common standard
4. diaphanous- (adj) Of such fine texture as to be transparent or translucent
5. emolument- (noun) Payment for an office or employment
6. foray- (noun) A sudden raid or military advance
7. genre- (noun) A realistic style of painting that depicts scenes from everyday life
8. homily- (noun) An inspirational saying or platitude
9. immure- (verb) To confine within or as if within walls; imprison
10. insouciant- (adj) carefree or unconcerned; light-hearted
11. matrix- (noun) a substance, situation, or environment in which something has its origin, takes form, or is enclosed
12. obsequies- (noun) A funeral rite or ceremony
13. panache- (noun) A bunch of feathers or a plume, especially on a helmet.
14. persona- (noun) The role that one assumes or displays in public or society; one's public image or personality, as distinguished from the inner self
15. philippic- (noun) a bitter or impassioned speech of denunciation; invective
16. prurient- (adj) unusually or morbidly interested in sexual thoughts or practices
17. sacrosanct- (adj) Regarded as sacred and inviolable
18. systemic- (adj) Of or relating to systems or a system
19. tendentious- (adj) Marked by a strong implicit point of view; partisan
20. vicissitude- (noun) A change or variation

Vocab List #9

1. Abortive-failing to succeed; unsuccessful; born prematurely imperfectly developed; rudimentary.
2. Bruit-to voice abroad; rumor (used chiefly in the passive and often fol. by about ); clamor.
3. Contumelious; scornful and insulting; insolent.
4. Dictum-an authoritative pronouncement; judicial assertion; a saying
5. Ensconce-to settle securely or snugly; to cover or shelter; hide securely
6. Iconoclastic-characterized by attacks on established beliefs.
7. In medias res-into the middle of affairs; into the midst of things.
8. internecine-destructive to both sides in a conflict; murderous; deadly
9. maladroit-ineffective or bungling; clumsy; awkward
10. maudlin-self pityingly or tearfully sentimental; sentimental; mawkish
11. Modulate-exert a modifying or controlling influence on; vary the strength, tone, or pitch of.
12. Portentous-done in a pompous or overly solemn manner.
13. Prescience-the power to foresee the future.
14. quid pro quo-a favor or advantage granted in return for something
15. salubrious-pleasant; healthy-giving
16. saturnalian-the festival of Saturn, celebrated in December in ancient Rome as a time of unrestrained merrymaking 
17. touchstone-a standard by which something is judged or recognized.
18. traumatic-emotionally disturbing or distressing 
19. vitiate-spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of; destroy or impair the legal validity of; corrupt.
20. waggish-humorous in a playful, mischievous, or facetious manner; jocose; jocular

Vocabulary Definitions List #8

1. Abeyance: temporary disuse or inactivity
2. Ambivalent: simultaneous and contradictory feelings; having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone
3. Beleaguer: trouble, harass; surround and harass with difficulties
4. Carte blanche: full discretionary power; Complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best; a blank check
5. Cataclysm: event that brings great changes; A large-scale and violent event in the natural world; A sudden violent upheaval, esp. in a political or social context
6. Debauch: to lead away from virtue or excellence; (noun) A bout of excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, esp. eating and; (verb) Destroy or debase the moral purity of; corrupt; deprave
7. Éclat: ostentatious (pretentious) display; publicity; Brilliant display or effect
8. Fastidious: having high and often capricious (fickle) standards; difficult to please; Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
9. Gambol: to skip about in play
10. Imbue: Inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality
11. Inchoate: Just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary
12. Lampoon: (verb) Publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule or sarcasm; (noun) A speech or text criticizing someone or something in this way
13. Malleable: Able to be hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking; easily influenced
14. Nemesis: The inescapable or implacable agent of someone's or something's downfall.
15. Opt: Make a choice from a range of possibilities
16. Philistine: A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them
17. Picaresque: Of or relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero
18. Queasy: Nauseated; feeling sick
19. Refractory: (adj.) Stubborn or unmanageable;
20. Savoir-faire: The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situation

Midterm Reflection

This guy embodies my emotions during and after the exam.

A) The vocabulary midterm went really well. I studied twenty minutes each day rotating lists. I had the vocabulary down and memorized when I walked into room 608. I mean, multiple choice is a cake-walk. Multiple choice exams, especially for vocabulary, are always easy because you use process of elimination. 

B) I didn't find that anything went bad. I just didn't like the fact that you would give us 15 minutes for each section and I would finish each section in under five minutes. By the end of class, I had drawn doodles on my hand to entertain myself. 

C) I'm pretty sure the content will stay embedded into my mind. I studied pretty well and I was only uncertain on one or two words out of all the vocabulary. 

D)Honestly, I felt really comfortable with this exam. I was expecting a final section where we create a story with as many vocabulary as you can. Because I expected more and was prepared for more, I wasn't affected in a negative way when the exam ended up being easier. 

Midterm Review Strategy

       Well, I will use the same technique that i have always used: flash-cards. I find that repetition is the best way to embed information in one's head. I have been using flash-cards to study since list one so all I have to do is organize them and make sure none are missing. From there, I just study and study the flash-cards until I have them down.

Vocabulary: List #7

1. aberration-(Noun)A departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome; A person whose beliefs or behavior are unusual or unacceptable.
2. ad hoc-(Adjective)Formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose only.
3. bane-(Noun)A cause of great distress or annoyance;Something, typically poison, that causes death.
4. bathos- ludicrous descent from the exalted or lofty to the commonplace; anticlimax;
5. cantankerous-(Adjective)Bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
6. casuistry-(Noun)The use of clever but unsound reasoning, esp. in relation to moral questions; sophistry;The resolving of moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances.
7. de factor-(Adverb)In fact, whether by right or not; (Adjective)Denoting someone or something that is such in fact: "a de facto one-party system".
8. depredation-(Noun)An act of attacking or plundering.
9. empathy-(Noun)The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
10. harbinger-anything that foreshadows a future event; omen; sign: Frost is a harbinger of winter.
11. hedonism-the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good; choosing pleasure as a way of life
12. lackluster-lacking brilliance or radiance; dull: lackluster eyes.
13. malcontent-not satisfied or content with currently prevailing conditions or circumstances. dissatisfied with the existing government, administration, system, etc.(Noun) A person who is dissatisfied and rebellious. (Adjective) Dissatisfied and complaining or making trouble.
14. mellifluous-(Adjective)(of a voice or words) Sweet or musical; pleasant to hear.
15. nepotism-(Noun)The practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, esp. by giving them jobs.
16. pander-Gratify or indulge (an immoral or distasteful desire, need, or habit or a person with such a desire, etc.).
17. peccadillo-(Noun)A small, relatively unimportant offense or sin.
18. piece de resistance-the principal dish of a meal; the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction.
19. remand-to send back, remit, or consign again.
20. syndrome-a group of related or coincident things, events, actions, etc.;predictable, characteristic pattern of behavior, action, etc., that tends to occur under certain circumstances

Vocabulary: Fall List #6

1. Beatitude- Supreme blessedness
2. bete noire (anathema)- someone or something which is particularly disliked or avoided; an object of aversion, the bane of one’s existence.
3. Bode- Be an omen of a particular outcome; announce beforehand
4. Dank- unpleasantly damp, musty, and typically cold
5. Ecumenical- general; universal; Promoting or relating to unity among the world's Christian churches
6. Fervid- Intensely enthusiastic or passionate; heated or vehement in spirit or enthusiasm. 
7. Fetid- Smelling extremely unpleasant or having an offensive odor
8. Gargantuan- gigantic; enormous; colossal:
9. Heyday- The period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, vigor, strength, or success; an exclamation of cheerfulness, surprise, wonder
10. Incubus- A male demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; a cause of distress or anxiety like a nightmare
11. Infrastructure- the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization
12. Inveigle- to acquire, win, or obtain by beguiling talk or methods; persuade by trickery or cleverness
13. Kudos- Praise and honor received for an achievement  
14. Lagniappe- a gift or token
15. Prolix- Using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy
16. Protégé- a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare
17. Prototype- the original or model on which something is based or formed
18. sycophant-A person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer
19. tautology- A phrase or expression in which the same thing is said twice in different words
20. truckle- to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely; to give in like a coward
21. obsequious-Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree; false flattery

Vocabulary: Fall List #5

1. Acumen-The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions; keen insight; shrewdness
2. adjudicate- Make a formal judgment or decision about a problem or disputed matter; judge
3. anachronism- A thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, esp. a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned; something that is out of place
4. apocryphal- of doubtful authenticity;unsure
5. disparity- A big difference; dissimilar
6. dissimulate- Conceal or disguise (one's thoughts, feelings, or character) under a false appearance
7. empirical- Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic
8. flamboyant- Tending to attract attention because of their exuberance, confidence, and stylishness
9. fulsome- offensive to an excessive degree; Of large size or quantity; characterized by generousity or abundance
10. immolate- Kill or sacrifice by fire
11. imperceptible- Impossible to perceive; very slight, gradual, or subtle
12. lackey- a servant; a servile follower
13. liaison- A person who acts as a link to assist communication or cooperation between groups of people; Communication or cooperation that facilitates a close working relationship between people or organizations
14. monolithic- consisting of one piece; solid or unbroken
15. mot juste-the exact appropriate word
16. nihilism- The rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless; extreme skepticism
17. patrician-an aristocrat or nobleman; pertaining to the aristocracy
18. Propitiate- Win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them.
19. Sic- usually written parenthetically to denote that a word, phrase, passage, etc., that may appear strange or incorrect has been written intentionally or has been quoted verbatim:
20. Sublimate- Divert or modify (an instinctual impulse) into a culturally higher or socially more acceptable activity; to divert the energy of (a sexual or other biological impulse) from its immediate goal to one of a more acceptable social, moral, or aesthetic nature or use.

Vocabulary list #4

1. Apostate: person who forsakes his religion, party.
2. Effusive: expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner; lacking reserve.
3. Impasse: position or situation of no escape; deadlock.
4. Euphoria: a feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being
5. Lugubrious: looking or sounding sad or and dismal.
6. Bravado: A bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate; pretentious, swaggering display of courage.
7. Consensus: General agreement; majority opinion
8. Dichotomy: A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different
9. Constrict: Make narrower, esp. by encircling pressure
10. Gothic: Of or in the style of architecture prevalent in western Europe in the 12th–16th centuries, characterized by pointed arches, rib vaults, and flying buttresses, together with large windows and elaborate tracery; portentously gloomy or horrifying
11. Punctilio: A fine or petty point of conduct or procedure; a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or procedure.
12. Metamorphosis: A change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means.
13. sine qua non: An essential condition; a thing that is absolutely necessary
14. quixotic: Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical
15. raconteur: A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way
16. vendetta: A prolonged bitter quarrel with or campaign against someone; A blood feud in which the family of a murdered person seeks vengeance on the murderer or the murderer's family
17. non sequitur: “does not follow”; statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement
18. mystique: A fascinating aura of mystery, awe, and power surrounding someone or something;
19. quagmire: A soft boggy area of land that gives way underfoot; anything soft or flabby
20. parlous: Full of danger or uncertainty; precarious   

Vocabulary: Fall List #3

Vocabulary: Fall

1. Accolade: any award, honor, or privilege granted as an acknowledgement of merit. 
2. Acerbity: sourness, a sharp bitterness
3. attrition: a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength; a wearing down or weakening of resistance, especially as a result of continuous pressure or harassment:.
4. Bromide: a person who is boring.
5. chauvinist :a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.
6. Chronic: habitual, (of an illness) Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.
7. expound: to explain in detail or the meaning of
8. factionalism: The splitting of a group into factions; Conflict between factions
9. immaculate: free from flaws or mistakes; clean
10. Imprecation: a spoken cure; cursing.
11. ineluctable: Unable to be resisted or avoided; inescapable
12. mercurial: changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic; animated; lively; sprightly; quick-witted.
13. palliate: to relieve or lessen without curing or removing the cause; mitigate; alleviate.
14. protocol: the customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, precedence, and etiquette.
15. resplendent: shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid: attractive/impressive through being coloful
16. stigmatize: to set some mark of disgrace or infamy upon:
17. sub rosa: happening or done in secret; confidentially; privately.
18. vainglory: excessive elation, vanity or pride
19. vestige: a mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence; smallest amount.
20. volition:the act of willing, choosing, or resolving; using one’s will