Vocab #1

adumbrate - verb foreshadow; describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of

• In the movie Jaws the sinister soundtrack adumbrates that a horrific event is going to occur

apotheosis - noun the elevation of a person (as to the status of a god); model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal

• The United States of America has more than one apotheosis to equal the balance of power.  

ascetic - adj. characterized by practice of self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.

• John, a Buddhist monk, led a very ascetic lifestyle.     

bauble - noun a showy ornament or decoration of little value

• The colored bells dangling from the jesters hat was merely a bauble.

beguile - verb deceive someone in a cunning way or to enchant someone and make him become attracted to you

• Hans beguiled Anna into thinking he wanted to marry her in order for him to get the crown.

burgeon - verb grow and flourish

• A cherry tree burgeons during springtime

complement - noun something added to complete or make perfect; either of two parts that mutually complete each other; verb make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to

• The daughter added a star on top of the Christmas tree as a complement

contumacious - adj. wilfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient

• Nathan Price, a contumacious character, went against Tata Ndu’s warnings by continuing his “teachings”  

curmudgeon - noun a cranky, ill tempered individual

• The teacher was curmudgeon without her fill of coffee in the mornings.

didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively)

• The professor had a very didactic lesson plan for his Organic Chemistry class, consisting of a presentation, a video, and a lecture.  

disingenuous - adj. not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness; withholding information

• The student caught cheating was disingenuous as she pretended to know nothing about the origin of the answer sheet.

exculpate - verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges

• The judge exculpated the man suspected of stealing a bike.

faux pas - an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation

• Elizabeth made a faux pas by forgetting all the she memorized when asked to present to the class.

fulminate - verb cause to explode violently and with loud noise; come on suddenly and intensely; criticize severely

• The student failed to combine the right chemicals causing the experiment to fulminate.

fustian - noun a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap; pompous or pretentious talk or writing

• The student mocked the teacher by his fustian words.

hauteur - noun overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors

• A handsome and privileged man, Josh had a natural hauteur that deemed him egotistic.

inhibit - verb limit the range or extent of; to put down by force or authority

• The wildfire had to be inhibited as it was out of control.

jeremiad - noun a long and mournful complaint

• The principal, fed up with the lack of maturity and respect, gave a jeremiad to the upperclassmen

opportunist - adj. taking immediate advantage, often unethically, of any circumstance of possible benefit; noun a person who places expediency above principle

• Bill Gates, an entrepreneur, is an opportunist.

unconscionable - adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; lacking a conscience; unreasonable

• His reason for not practicing for the state championship was unconscionable.