Week 1
Acquittal N. a setting free by judgment of a court
Assert V. to express or state positively
Condescend V. to stop to do something you think is unworthy of you
Contemptuous Adj. showing or feeling scorn
Elite Adj. of or suitable for a select group; N. a group or part of a group
regarded as the best, most skilled, most powerful, etc.
Evolve V. to develop gradually
Fortitude N. patient courage in facing pain or danger; endurance
Inarticulate Adj. unable to speak understandably
Mentor N. a wise and trusted teacher
Notoriety N. fame, usually in the unfavorable sense
Analogy N. a comparison
Antiquity N. quality of being ancient
Electorate N. all persons having the right to vote
Ethical Adj. pertaining to right and wrong
Excerpt N. a selected passage; V. to quote
Heresy N. belief different from accepted doctrine
Paternal Adj. inherited or related through one’s father
Pauper N. a person who is very poor
Posthumous Adj. coming after death
Prophetic Adj. foretell events
Week 2
Amiable Adj. friendly, good-natured
Bayou N. a marshy inlet or outlet of river or lake
Grimace V. to make a face showing pain; N. a distortion of face showing pain
Indomitable Adj. unconquerable
Malleable Adj. easily changed, molded
Melodramatic Adj. overly dramatic, emotional
Succumb V. to die; to yield
Vibrant Adj. vibrating rapidly; energetic
Visage N. appearance
Whimsical Adj. oddly out of the ordinary
Apprehensive Adj. uneasy, fearful about the future
Callous Adj. lacking mercy; insensitive
Commendable Adj. praiseworthy
Indignant Adj. angered by unfairness of something
Ineffectual Adj. inadequate
Judicious Adj. sensible; wise and careful
Paraphrase V. to state a meaning in other words; N. rewording of the meaning of a
text
Personification N. giving nonhuman item human qualities
Portly Adj. stout
Verbatim Adv. In the exact words; Adj. following the original exactly
Week 3
Affiliate N. a member; V. to join or unite with larger body
Encumber V. to hinder; to burden
Exalted Adj. raised in status or rank
Invariably Adv. Constantly
Plausible Adj. possible
Pompous Adj. self-important
Portly Adj. stout
Proximity N. nearness; closeness
Rejuvenate V. to make young again
Unprecedented Adj. never done before
Atrocious Adj. wicked or cruel
Compassion N. pity for someone else’s suffering
Composure N. self-possession
Deteriorate V. to diminish
Discern V. to detect with senses
Insipid Adj. lifeless
Lament V. to mourn; N. a song or poem expressing grief
Loathe V. to detest; intense hatred
Painstaking Adj. diligent
Repress V. to restrain; to keep or put down
Week 4
Aesthetic Adj. having to do with art and beauty
Charisma N. special charm that capture public imagination and devotion
Cliché N. overused expression
Conceive V. to imagine or develop as an idea
Emphatically Adv. Forcefully
Martial Adj. military; warlike
Paradox N. true statement expressing contradictory ideas
Prolific Adj. producing many
Recipient N. person receives something
Wan Adj. colorless; sickly pale
Aura N. an invisible enveloping glow
Fabricate V. to build; to make up or invent
Impediment N. speech disorder
Mediocre Adj. average
Opportune Adj. occurring at a good time
Qualm N. an uneasiness; doubt
Reactionary Adj. advocating a return to earlier condition; N. one who advises a
return
Stamina N. vigor; strength; endurance
Zealous Adj. intensely devoted; eager
Zephyr N. a gentle wind
Week 5
Axiom N. self-evident truth; an established principle
Compatible Adj. able to get along
Compliance N. a tendency to yield
Inanimate Adj. lifeless
Indestructible Adj. cannot be destroyed
Innate Adj. inborn; inherent
Mutable Adj. capable of change
Perception N. an observation gained by using the senses
Prevalent Adj. in general use
Recourse N. a person or thing looked to for help
Encompass V. to surround
Implacable Adj. relentless
Incentive N. motivation; Adj. motivating
Militant Adj. aggressive in support of a belief; N. an activist
Pivotal Adj. vitally important
Postulate N. an assumption; V. to assume without proof
Retribution N. punishment
Stringent Adj. strict; severe
Transcend V. to exceed limits
Transitory Adj. temporary
Week 6
Autonomy N. self-governing
Besiege V. to enclose with armed forces
Devastation N. desolation; destruction
Inclement Adj. harsh; rough or stormy
Latitude N. freedom; scope
Perseverance N. persistence
Precarious Adj. uncertain; dangerous
Vulnerable Adj. easily injured
Wane V. to decrease gradually
Wreak V. to inflict
Appease V. to soothe or pacify
Archaic Adj. old-fashioned
Balmy Adj. soothing; mild and pleasant
Beguile V. to cheat or deceive
Commence V. to start
Espionage N. spying
Facsimile N. an exact reproduction; Adj. duplicate
Invincible Adj. unconquerable
Pretext N. an excuse
Vigilant Adj. alert; watchful; wary
Week 7
Coffer N. box or chest used to story valuables
Edifice N. a building or structure
Hieroglyphic N. picture or symbol representing a word
Inaccessible Adj. out of the way
Innovation N. something new
Juncture N. a crossing; a crisis point
Retainer N. a fee paid in advance for services; a servant
Rivulet N. a small stream
Subsidize V. to aid or assist with a grant of money; to support
Tawny Adj. brownish-yellow; tan
Apex N. the highest point of something
Bourgeois Adj. of or like the middle class-focus on material things; N. the middle
class
Canine N. any animal belonging to dog family; Adj. like a dog
Defunct Adj. dead
Influx N. a flowing in, people or things
Meager Adj. scanty; lean
Obliterate V. to erase completely
Ossify V. to harden like bone; opposed to change
Perceive V. to detect; to observe using senses
Ravage V. to ruin violently; N. great damage
Week 8
Buffet N. a piece of dining room furniture with drawers; a meal where people
serve themselves
Delectable Adj. delicious
Ensue V. to happen as a consequence
Expedient Adj. advantageous; based on self interest
Facilitate V. to aid or assist in; to make easier
Hors d’oeuvre N. food served either before a meal or with drinks
Lapse V. to fall from a higher level; N. a slight, temporary error or slip
Palatable Adj. fit to be eaten; pleasant-tasting
Steppe N. a vast, almost treeless plain in southeastern Europe or Asia
Succulent Adj. juicy; N. a plant with fleshy tissues to conserve moisture
Aptitude N. a natural ability
Astute Adj. crafty
Conducive Adj. helpful
Erratic Adj. irregular
Mosque N. a Muslim house of worship
Pastoral Adj. rural
Quantitative Adj. capable of being measured
Recur V. happen again
Requisite N. a requirement; Adj. absolutely necessary
Zenith N. the point in the sky directly above; highest point