Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Vocabulary #3

accolade - noun a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction 
Ex: The play received accolades from critics and audiences alike.
acerbity - noun a sharp sour taste; a sharp bitterness; a rough and bitter manner

Ex: The old woman's acerbity was clear when she yelled at the kids for climbing her tree.
attrition - noun the act of rubbing together; wearing something down by friction; a wearing down to weaken or destroy 

Ex: Our club has a high rate of attrition because so many members have moved away.
bromide - noun any of the salts of hydrobromic acid; formerly used as a sedative but now generally replaced by safer drugs; a trite or obvious remark

Ex: Chemists use bromide throughout their experiments
chauvinist - noun an extreme bellicose nationalist; a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind 

Ex: She may be chauvinistic about her country, but she is not naive.
chronic - adj. being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering

Ex: She suffered from chronic pain due to a spinal injury.
expound - verb add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; state 

Ex: True basketball lovers will use any opportunity to expound on the meaning of the game.
factionalism -  self interested; partisan 

Ex: In early territorial politics, factionalism and prejudice ruled the day
immaculate - adj. completely neat and clean; free from stain or blemish; without fault or error

Ex: When the family entered the hotel room, they found it tidy and immaculate.
imprecation - noun the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation

Ex: The wizard muttered imprecations as he worked.
ineluctable - adj. impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"

Ex: We no longer require the use of Gods and Oracles in order to understand the ineluctable power of fate.
mercurial - adj. subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind

Ex: Eddie's personality becomes mercurial when he drinks too much.
palliate - verb provide physical relief, as from pain; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of

Ex: A custom glass of milk before bed may slightly palliate an impending hangover.
protocol - noun code of correct conduct; forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state; (computer science) rules determining the format and transmission of data

Ex: Business protocol requires that we arrive at this meeting on time and prepared.
resplendent - adj. having great beauty and splendor 

Ex: Greek goddess Aphrodite was resplendent in her virtues.
stigmatize - verb mark with a stigma or stigmata; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful 

Ex: Lucy was fearful that being seen buying her clothes at a thirst store would stigmatize her in the eyes of her wealthy classmates.
sub rosa - happening or done in secret

Ex: The meeting happened in sub rosa.
vainglory - noun inordinate pride in one self or ones achievements 

Ex: In performing their funerals, they show no state or vainglory 
vestige - noun an indication that something has been present

Ex: After a huge fire only the vestige of the house remained visible among the ashes
volition - noun the act of making a choice; the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention 

Ex: Impatient for the class to end, Maggie walked out of the room by her own volition

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