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VOCABULARY LISTS > USER LISTS

INTERESTING WORDS II 97 words

December 28, 2009 By Ed H. (Destin, FL)

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Definitions Notes & Examples Words Only
  1. apostasy
    the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes)
  2. preterist
    a theologian who believes that the Scripture prophecies of the Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) have already been fulfilled
  3. taciturn
    habitually reserved and uncommunicative
  4. derivative
    a compound obtained from, or regarded as derived from, another compound
  5. couturier
    someone who designs clothing
  6. stochastic
    being or having a random variable
  7. epidemiology
    the branch of medical science dealing with the transmission and control of disease
  8. punctilious
    marked by precise accordance with details
  9. exegesis
    an explanation or critical interpretation (especially of the Bible)
  10. allegory
    a short moral story (often with animal characters)
  11. normative
    relating to or dealing with norms
  12. epistemology
    the philosophical theory of knowledge
  13. expurgate
    edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
  14. hubris
    overbearing pride or presumption
  15. fusillade
    rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
  16. chimera
    a grotesque product of the imagination
  17. viscid
    having the sticky properties of an adhesive
  18. populist
    an advocate of democratic principles
  19. abstemious
    marked by temperance in indulgence
  20. blandishment
    flattery intended to persuade
  21. tergiversate
    be deliberately ambiguous or unclear in order to mislead or withhold information
  22. implacable
    incapable of being placated
  23. mitigate
    lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
  24. capstan
    a windlass rotated in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis; used on ships for weighing anchor or raising heavy sails
  25. antipathy
    a feeling of intense dislike
  26. reverberate
    ring or echo with sound
  27. baneful
    deadly or sinister
  28. kitsch
    excessively garish or sentimental art; usually considered in bad taste
  29. ethereal
    characterized by lightness and insubstantiality; as impalpable or intangible as air
  30. gossamer
    a gauze fabric with an extremely fine texture
  31. aplomb
    great coolness and composure under strain
  32. ephemeral
    anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form
  33. tautological
    repetition of same sense in different words
  34. astringent
    tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue
  35. oviparous
    egg-laying
  36. stochastic
    being or having a random variable
  37. ascetic
    someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline
  38. acquiesce
    to agree or express agreement
  39. recapitulate
    summarize briefly
  40. mugwump
    a neutral or uncommitted person (especially in politics)
  41. etiolated
    (especially of plants) developed without chlorophyll by being deprived of light
  42. psephology
    the branch of sociology that studies election trends (as by opinion polls)
  43. nexus
    the means of connection between things linked in series
  44. ameliorate
    to make better
  45. apocryphal
    being of questionable authenticity
  46. abbess
    the superior of a group of nuns
  47. extirpation
    the act of pulling up or out; uprooting; cutting off from existence
  48. rapturous
    feeling great rapture or delight
  49. perfidious
    tending to betray; especially having a treacherous character as attributed to the Carthaginians by the Romans
  50. confutation
    evidence that refutes conclusively
  51. largesse
    liberality in bestowing gifts; extremely liberal and generous of spirit
  52. redound
    have an effect for good or ill
  53. apostasy
    the state of having rejected your religious beliefs or your political party or a cause (often in favor of opposing beliefs or causes)
  54. dilatory
    wasting time
  55. transcend
    be greater in scope or size than some standard
  56. perfidy
    an act of deliberate betrayal
  57. transcendent
    exceeding or surpassing usual limits especially in excellence
  58. rapacious
    living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey
  59. rejoinder
    a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
  60. paragon
    an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
  61. confrere
    a person who is member of one's class or profession
  62. anthropomorphism
    the representation of objects (especially a god) as having human form or traits
  63. scenario
    an outline or synopsis of a play (or, by extension, of a literary work)
  64. concupiscence
    a desire for sexual intimacy
  65. specious
    plausible but false
  66. phlegmatic
    showing little emotion
  67. ablution
    the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels
  68. impertinence
    the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties
  69. insolence
    the trait of being rude and impertinent; inclined to take liberties
  70. gentry
    the most powerful members of a society
  71. precis
    a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
  72. propitious
    presenting favorable circumstances; likely to result in or show signs of success
  73. sagacity
    the mental ability to understand and discriminate between relations
  74. spurious
    plausible but false
  75. pernicious
    exceedingly harmful
  76. voracious
    devouring or craving food in great quantities
  77. remedial
    tending or intended to rectify or improve
  78. rapacious
    living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey
  79. fugacious
    lasting a very short time
  80. depredation
    an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding
  81. gerrymander
    divide unfairly and to one's advantage; of voting districts
  82. euphemism
    an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh
  83. narcissism
    an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself
  84. paradigm
    a standard or typical example
  85. flora
    all the plant life in a particular region or period
  86. fauna
    all the animal life in a particular region or period
  87. conservatory
    a schoolhouse with special facilities for fine arts
  88. blackguard
    someone who is morally reprehensible
  89. apotheosis
    model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
  90. ecclesiology
    the branch of theology concerned with the nature and the constitution and the functions of a church
  91. commodity
    articles of commerce
  92. beignet
    a deep-fried, yeast-raised doughnut dusted with confectioners' sugar
  93. hovel
    small crude shelter used as a dwelling
  94. esoteric
    confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
  95. tacit
    implied by or inferred from actions or statements
  96. spangle
    adornment consisting of a small piece of shiny material used to decorate clothing
  97. visage
    the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)