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Lesson 14 Vocabulary 2nd 9 Weeks

adulterate

To make impure by adding lesser substances; to corrupt

The authorities were concerned that the drugs might have been adulterated

intentionally.

uh DUL ter ate

animosity

Harsh feelings, enmity, resentment, hatred

I have a lot of animosity for him, since he attempted to steal my girlfriend.

an uh MAH suh tee

apocryphal

Of doubtful origin or authenticity, not genuine

Why would they name it this?

The jury saw through the apocryphal tears of the

witness.

uh PA kra ful

avarice

Greed for wealth

Avarice and gluttony are two vices that can destroy lives.

AV uh ris coalesce

To merge, to fuse, to join, or to unite

If the party can coalesce diverse groups into a united force, it might win the election.

ko uh LESS

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collaborate

To work togetherSometimes singers will collaborate

to make a new album.

kuh LAB uh rate cryptic

Mysterious, secret

KRIP tik

I did not understand his cryptic message.

desultory

Jumping around, aimless, randomThe man’s desultory attempts at finding

employment wasted his time.

DES ul tore ee

dissipation

Wasteful spending, squandering

Even though he inherited a million dollars, I expect quick dissipation of his fortune.

dis uh PAY shun

edifying

Instructing and improving spiritually or morally

Visiting the cathedral was an edifying experience.

ED uh fie ing

equivocate

To attempt to lie, to mislead, or to hide the truth

Tell the truth and do not attempt to equivocate.

eh KWIV uh kate

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espousing

Marrying, giving one’s loyalty; adopting or embracing a cause

The politician seems to be espousing the issue of decreased taxation in order to

gain supporters.

eh SPOUZ ing

hedonist

One who seeks pleasure as the sole aim in life

The world is full of hedonists who seek nothing but their own pleasures.

HEED un ist

indefatigable

Tireless, incapable of being fatigued

in deh FAT uh guh bul

The indefatigable army moved ahead steadily over the many days without rest.

interminable

Having or seeming to have no end, wearisomely

protracted

in TUR mun uh bul

Naïve

Unsophisticated; inexperiencedMany naïve young women go to Hollywood believing that they will become movie stars.

na EVE parody

Humorous or ridiculous imitationMany skits on Saturday Night Live

are parodies of current events.

PAIR uh dee

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peripheral

On the edge, not importantLet’s discuss the main topic now and

save peripheral issues for later.

puh RUF ur ul portent

A sign or forewarning

PORE tent

The stock market crash was a portent of the coming of a depression.

prodigious

Extraordinary in bulk, quantity, or degree, great in size, enormous

His prodigious appetite allowed him to eat the entire turkey.

pruh DUJ us

profane

Showing contempt toward sacred things

Profane language will not be tolerated in English class.

pruh FANE

respite

A rest, a delay, a period of reliefI enjoy a quiet lunch that serves as a respite from my tense job of being an

air traffic controller.

RES pit

sordid

Filthy, foul

SOR did

The sordid details of the brutal ax murder sickened the jurors.

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surfeitedSUR feh ted

Fed or supplied to excessI was surfeited after having eaten so

much food at the banquet.

trifling

Not significant, frivolousSome think that watching MTV is a

trifling experience.

TRY fling