English 10 Honors: Vocabulary List #4
mitigate obstinate piety provincial rancor recluse resigned sage satirical sporadic substantiate sycophant terse whimsical zealot
mitigate ('mi-t&-"gAt) transitive verb: 1 : to cause to become less harsh or hostile : mollify
2 a : to make less severe or painful : alleviate b : extenuate
obstinate ('äb-st&-n&t) adjective: 1 : perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion 2 : not easily subdued, remedied, or removed
piety ('pI-&-tE) noun: 1 : the quality or state of being pious (Def. marked by or showing reverence for deity and devotion to divine worship; marked by conspicuous religiosity): as a : fidelity to natural obligations (as to parents) b : dutifulness in religion : devoutness 2 : an act inspired by piety 3 : a conventional belief or standard : orthodoxy
provincial (pr&-'vin(t)-sh&l) adjective: 1 : of, relating to, or coming from a province 2 a : limited in outlook : narrow b : lacking the polish of urban society : unsophisticated 3 : of or relating to a decorative style (as in furniture) marked by simplicity, informality, and relative plainness; especially : French provincial noun: 1 : the superior of a province of a Roman Catholic religious order 2 : one living in or coming from a province 3 a : a person of local or restricted interests or outlook b : a person lacking urban polish or refinement
rancor ('ra[ng]-k&r, -"kor) noun: bitter deep-seated ill will
recluse ('re-"klüs, ri-'klüs, 're-"klüz) noun: a person who leads a secluded or solitary life adjective: marked by withdrawal from society : solitary
resign (ri-'zIn) transitive verb: 1 : relegate, consign; especially : to give (oneself) over without resistance 2 : to give up deliberately; especially : to renounce (as a right or position) by a formal act intransitive verb: 1 : to give up one's office or position : quit 2 : to accept something as inevitable : submit
sage ('sAj) adjective: 1 a : wise through reflection and experience b archaic : grave, solemn 2 : proceeding from or characterized by wisdom, prudence, and good judgment noun: 1 : one (as a philosopher) distinguished for wisdom 2 : a mature or venerable man of sound judgment
satirical (s&-'tir-ik) adjective: 1 : of, relating to, or constituting satire (Def. 1 : a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn 2 : trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly) 2 : manifesting or given to satire
sporadic (sp&-'ra-dik) adjective: occurring occasionally, singly, or in scattered instances
substantiate (s&b-'stan(t)-shE-"At) transitive verb: 1 : to give substance or form to : embody 2 : to establish by proof or competent evidence : verify
sycophant (sik'-&-f&nt also -"fant) noun: : a servile self-seeking flatterer
terse ('t&rs) adjective: 1 : smoothly elegant : polished 2 : devoid of superfluity ; also : short, brusque
whimsical ('hwim-zi-k&l, 'wim-) adjective: 1 : full of, actuated by, or exhibiting whims (Def. a capricious or eccentric and often sudden idea or turn of the mind) 2 a : resulting from or characterized by whim or caprice; especially : lightly fanciful b : subject to erratic behavior or unpredictable change
zealot ('ze-l&t) noun: 1 capitalized : a member of a fanatical sect arising in Judea during the first century A.D. and militantly opposing the Roman domination of Palestine 2 : a person filled with zeal (Def. eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something); especially : a fanatical partisan