Word List 17
accedeto consent to something
accordagreement; a state of harmony
admonishto rebuke, to scold gently
adversitytrouble, suffering
advocateto stand up for something
amendssomething done or given to make up for having done wrong
aspersioncriticism
assurancesomething offered to inspire confidence
benevolentkindly
carpto keep complaining about something
chastiseto criticize heavily
compassionto feel sympathy for another’s misfortunes
contritegenuinely apologetic
covenanta binding promise or contract
culpableat fault
delineateto explain something in detail
disaffecteddisappointed and dissatisfied
docilemeek, easy to control
empathizeto identify with another person’s feelings
exasperatedfed up and angry
exhortto urge someone to do something
expiateto make amends
explicitvery clear; very open and direct about sexuality
extricateto disentangle oneself from a sticky situation
forbearanceself-control
forsaketo give something up
fortitudestrength, stamina
fraternalrelating to brothers
goadto prompt, to provoke
interrogateto question aggressively
intuitiveknown instinctively
maledictiona curse
mandatean official order
maternalrelating to mothers
objectivewithout bias or personal involvement
obstinatestubborn
paternalrelating to fathers
penitentgenuinely apologetic
placateto please someone in order to make someone less angry
pugnaciousaggressive
quandarya puzzling situation
rationaleline of reasoning
reconcileto make up
rescindto take back something (like a promise or an argument)
resilientable to bounce back from hardship
stipulateto specify something as part of an agreement or contract
subjectivebased on opinions and feelings
submissiveeasily giving in
tentativenot definite; likely to change before it is final
unconditionalguaranteed with no strings attached
vindicateto show that someone was justified and correct
Word List 18
anachronisticfrom the wrong period of time
anomalysomething that doesn’t belong
austereextremely simple, severely plain
baroqueexcessively exaggerated in style
behemothsomething huge and powerful
capaciousspacious
comelypretty, attractive
commodiousspacious
conformista person who always thinks and behaves in socially acceptable ways
copiouslarge in quantity
diaphanousgauzy, delicate
discrepancya difference between two things that are supposed to match
disruptivecausing disorder
embellishedhaving lots of ornaments and decorations
enhanceto improve a particular quality in something
etherealinsubstantial, airy
exorbitantextravagantly large or high
extraneousextra and unnecessary looking around, I immediately felt incongruous
façadethe outward appearance of something
farcicalresembling a farce; ridiculous and confused
freneticfrenzied, rushed
garishexcessively colorful or shiny, perhaps looking fake or cheap
gaudyexcessively colorful or shiny, perhaps looking fake or cheap
gilta thin layer of gold
gossamera very thin, filmy material
grandiosemagnificent, but often also implies pretentious or unrealistic
incandescentgiving off light
incompatibleunable to blend in or get along
incongruousstrange and out of place
manifestmade obvious or clear
nondescriptplain, uninteresting
opulenceaffluence, luxurious splendor
ostentatiousshowy, obvious
ostracizeto avoid or exclude someone from a group
palatialspacious and luxurious
pariahan outcast
regaliaformal, ceremonial clothing and objects worn by members of royalty
repletefully supplied
resplendentdazzling in appearance
sinuousslinky, winding
spartanvery plain and austere
sumptuousluxurious, magnificent
tiradea long outraged speech
translucentletting light through, but not completely transparent
trysta secret, prearranged meeting, usually between lovers
voluminouslarge, expansive