Vocabulary Booster, Volume II

AABHOR (v.) to strongly detest ordislikeABSTEMIOUS (adj.) sparing infood and drinkABSTRACT (adj.) theoretical,not concreteACQUIESCE (v.) to agree with,to go along with ADVERSARY (n.) opponent orenemyADVOCATE (v. / n.) to support /a supporterALLEVIATE (v.) to relieve, tolessenAMBIGUOUS (adj.) unclear inmeaningAMBIVALENT (adj.) tornbetween two conflictingemotionsAMORPHOUS (adj.) lacking adefinite shape or formANACHRONISTIC (adj.)obsolete, outdatedANECDOTE (n.) a short storyintended to instruct or amuseARBITRARY (adj.) random, bychanceARCHAIC (adj.) outdated,obsolete, ancientARTICULATE (adj.) skillful inthe use of language, well-spokenASCENDANCY (n.) the state ofrising or ascending; dominationASSENT (n. / v.) agreement / toagree or consent

ASSIDUOUS (adj.) hardworking, diligentASTUTE (adj.) smart, perceptiveAUGMENT (v.) to increase insize, to swellAUSPICIOUS (adj.) favorable,fortunate, boding well for thefutureAUSTERE (adj.) stark, severelysimpleAUTOCRATIC (adj.) havingtotal power, dictatorialAUTONOMY (n.) independenceAVARICIOUS (adj.) greedyAVUNCULAR (adj.) having thequalities of an uncle

BBEHEMOTH (n.) something thatis huge, giganticBENEFACTOR (n.) one whoprovides financial supportBENEVOLENT (adj.) kind,good-hearted

CCANTANKEROUS (adj.)ornery, agitated, mean-spiritedCASTIGATE (v.) to scoldseverely, berateCAUSTIC (adj.) biting, scornfulCLICHE (n.) an overused sayingor expressionCOLLOQUIAL (adj.) pertainingto everyday language or speechCOMMEMORATE (v.) to honorthe memory of

COMPLACENT (adj.) peaceful,easygoingCONDONE (v.) to allowsomething to happen, to giveapproval to a questionable actCONFLAGRATION (n.) a hugefireCRYPTIC (adj.) secretive,hidden, hard to understand

DDEFINITIVE (adj.) defining;held up as the ultimate exampleof somethingDELINEATE (v.) to mark with aline (or lines)DESECRATE (v.) to violate, tomake impure, to defileDESTITUTE (adj.) extremelypoor, poverty strickenDETERRENT (n.) somethingthat prevents something fromhappeningDETRIMENTAL (adj.) harmfulDEVIOUS (adj.) tricky, crafty,unprincipledDIATRIBE (n.) a lengthy andaccusatory speechDIGRESS (v.) to turn away fromthe main point, to get off trackDILATORY (adj.) tending todelayDIMINUTION (n.) a decrease ordiminishingDISDAIN (v.) contempt orscorn; bitter dislikeDIVERGE (v.) to split or moveapart

DOFF (v.) to take off an item ofclothingDON (v.) to put on an item ofclothingDRACONIAN (adj.) extremelyharsh, severe, oppressive

EEBULLIENT (adj.) extremelyjoyfulEDIFY (v.) to instruct, to educateEGREGIOUS (adj.) extremelybad or mistakenELOQUENT (adj.) well spoken,marked by expressive andpersuasive speechELUSIVE (adj.) hard to captureor graspEMISSARY (n.) agent ormessengerERUDITION (n.) deep learning,scholarshipESCHEW (v.) to avoidETYMOLOGY (n.) the study ofword originsEUPHEMISM (n.) a pleasantway of saying somethingunpleasantEVANESCENT (adj.) vanishingquickly, fleetingEXALTED (adj.) holding a highposition, greatly respectedEXEMPLARY (adj.) serving as agood exampleEXONERATE (v.) to free fromblame

EXPATRIATE (n.) someonewho leaves their native land tosettle elsewhereEXPEDITE (v.) to quicken,hastenEXTRANEOUS (adj.) extra andunnecessaryEXTRICATE (v.) to extract,free, disentangle, remove

FFACILITATE (v.) to make easierFALLOW (adj.) barren,uncultivatedFEASIBLE (adj.) doable,possible, able to be accomplishedFLORID (adj.) floweryFOOLHARDY (adj.) daring in afoolish wayFRIVOLOUS (adj.) lacking inimportance or seriousnessFURTIVE (adj.) sneaky, hidden,stealthy

GGERMANE (adj.) pertinent,related to the point at handGLUTTON (n.) habitualovereaterGRANDIOSE (adj.) overly grandGREGARIOUS (adj.) sociableGULLIBLE (adj.) unquestioning,easily fooled

HHIERARCHY (n.) powerstructureHYPERBOLE (n.) exaggeration,overstatement

I

IDIOSYNCRASY (n.) oddpersonality trait, quirkIDOLATRY (n.) worship of falseidol(s)IMMUTABLE (adj.) unable tochange or be changedINCONGRUOUS (adj.) notcongruent, dissimilarINCORRIGIBLE (adj.) not ableto be corrected, beyondredemptionINDIFFERENT (adj.) making nodifference, not caring one way orthe other INDOMITABLE (adj.) unable tobe defeatedINGENIOUS (adj.) pertaining toa genius; very cleverINGENUOUS (adj.) genuine,honest, openINHERENT (adj.) natural,innate; pertaining to the essentialnature of somethingINNOVATION (n.) newdevelopmentINSURMOUNTABLE (adj.)unable to be overcomeINTRACTABLE (adj.)extremely stubborn, not able tobe solvedINTREPID (adj.) brave, fearless,lacking trepidationINVOKE (v.) to call upon

JJOVIAL (adj.) good natured,merry, given to joking

KKINETIC (adj.) pertaining tomotion

LLACONIC (adj.) sparing inwordsLAUD (v.) to praiseLISTLESS (adj.) lacking energyLOQUACIOUS (adj.) talkative

MMALICE (n.) evil intentMELLIFLUOUS (adj.) smooth-flowingMENDICANT (adj. / n.)extremely poor and given tobegging / a beggarMETICULOUS (adj.) payingvery close attention to detailMISER (n.) a person who isextremely stingy or cheapMITIGATE (v.) to lessen ormoderate the severity ofsomethingMNEMONIC (adj.) pertaining tomemory MOLLIFY (v.) to soothe, soften,pacifyMOROSE (adj.) sad, gloomyMYOPIC (adj.) near sighted,lacking foresight

NNOXIOUS (adj.) harmfulNURTURE (v.) to care for, toraise

OOPAQUE (adj.) impossible tosee throughOPTIMISTIC (adj.) having apositive outlook

PPARSIMONY (n.) stinginess,cheapnessPECUNIARY (adj.) pertaining tomoneyPENURY (n.) povertyPERFIDIOUS (adj.) treacherous,disloyalPERPETUAL (adj.) continuous,without endPESSIMISM (n.) a gloomy ornegative outlookPHILANTHROPIST (n.) aperson who donates large sumsof money to charitable causesPIECEMEAL (adj. / adv.) bit bybit / in a gradual wayPINE (v.) to miss, to long for, toyearn forPLATITUDE (n.) overusedsaying, trite remarkPOSTERITY (n.) futuregenerationsPOTENTATE (n.) ruler,monarch, very powerful personPRECOCIOUS (adj.)characterized by earlydevelopment, advanced at anearly agePRIVATION (n.) a condition orresult of deprivation or lossPRODIGAL (adj.) wasteful;reckless with moneyPROFLIGATE (adj.) reckless inspendingPROFOUND (adj.) deep, deeplymovingPROPENSITY (n.) tendencyPROTEGE (n.) a person who isgroomed for a position

PROVINCIAL (adj.) pertainingto a province; narrow-mindedPRUDENT (adj.) wise, markedby good judgmentPUGNACIOUS (adj.) combative,tending to fight

QQUIESCENT (adj.) quiet,dormant, temporarily inactive

RRACONTEUR (n.) a person whotells witty and amusing storiesRAMIFICATION (n.) abranching out; a consequence ofa problematic situationRANCID (adj.) foul, putrid,disgustingRANCOR (n.) anger, ill willREBUFF (v.) to snub, beat backRECTIFY (v.) to fix, correctRECTITUDE (n.) uprightness,moral virtueREDOLENT (adj.) fragrant,scentedREMEDIAL (adj.) pertaining toa remedyREMISS (adj.) at fault, negligentREMUNERATIVE (adj.)resulting in monetary gain,profitableREPARATIONS (n.) money tobe paid for injury or damage REPLETE (adj.) full of or filledwithREPRIMAND (v. / n.) blameREPROACH (n.) blame,disapprovalRESCIND (v.) to take back,recall, nullify, repeal

RESPITE (n.) a brief break orrestREVILE (v.) to hate or detestRHETORIC (n.) skillful use oflanguage, or just language ingeneralRIBALD (adj.) vulgarlyhumorous, lewd, crudeROBUST (adj.) strong, hearty,vigorous

SSCANT (adj.) minimalSCRUTINIZE (v.) to examineclosely (visually)SEEMLY (adj.) proper, suitableSERPENTINE (adj.) serpent-like, snake-likeSLUGGISH (adj.) slow moving,hard to arouseSOPHOMORIC (adj.) of orpertaining to a sophomore; wiseand foolish at the same timeSTAID (adj.) bland, boringSTRIDENT (adj.) loud, harsh,shrillSUBSIDIZE (v.) to assistfinanciallySUBTLE (adj.) not overt,nuanced, subject to finedistinctionsSUPERCILIOUS (adj.) haughty,arrogant, overly proudSUPERFLUOUS (adj.)unnecessary, extraneousSURREPTITIOUS (adj.)secretive, stealthySYCOPHANT (n.) brown-noser,servile flatterer

T

TACITURN (adj.) quiet,reservedTEMPETUOUS (adj.) of orpertaining to a tempest or stormTENACIOUS (adj.) unyielding,forcefulTENET (n.) a key belief orprincipleTENTATIVE (adj.) possible butsubject to change, not definiteTHEOLOGY (n.) the study ofreligionTIMOROUS (adj.) timid, fearfulTIRADE (n.) a lengthy andabusive verbal attackTORPOR (n.) lack of energy,listlessnessTRANSCEND (v.) to surpass, gobeyondTRITE (adj.) overused,unoriginalTRUNCATE (v.) to shorten,reduce

UUTOPIA (n.) a perfect place

VVENERATE (v.) to hold in highregard, to greatly respect, torevereVERACITY (n.) truthfulnessVERBOSE (adj.) wordyVERDANT (adj.) lush withgreeneryVILIFY (v.) to make into orportray as a villainVIRULENT (adj.) poisonous,toxicVOLATILE (adj.) explosive;tending to evaporate quickly

WWARY (adj.) cautiousWANE (v.) to decrease, diminishWHIMSICAL (adj.) fickle,changeable, moodyWISTFUL (adj.) filled withregret and longing