Lesson 15
abaseto degrade someone; to make someone feel horrible and small
abhorto hate
accostto aggressively stop someone in order to speak to him or her
acmethe absolute peak.
aggrievedbothered because of having been treated badly
alleviateto provide relief
analgesic a kind of medication, like aspirin, that relieves pain without putting you to sleep
anathema something that is hated
anesthesiasomething that deadens feeling so as to relieve pain
anguishextreme pain
annihilateto ruin completely
avengeto take revenge on someone else’s behalf
batteryan unlawful physical assault
bludgeonto hit hard with a blunt object
buffetto hit something hard and repeatedly
carnagewidespread killing and slaughter
chagrinfeeling of frustration or shame due to disappointment
chaosstate of complete disorder
cherishto adore, to treat as a precious object
composure calmness; control over one’s emotions
corrodeto wear away, as if with acid or chemicals
debaclewhen something goes horribly wrong
decimatedcompletely ruined
derisionscorn, ridicule
desiccateddried out
desolatesad, empty, gloomy
despondentcompletely unhappy
discomfitureconfusion and embarrassment
disseminateto spread (usually referring to information)
ephemeralshort-lived
fathomto understand something, particularly something complex or mystical
flabbergastedbewildered, totally amazed
ignominygreat personal disgrace, dishonor
inconsolableso deeply sad that you can’t be comforted
indignitysomething that offends one’s dignity or self-esteem
mercurialquick and changeable in temperament
mortificationtotal humiliation
nadirthe absolute bottom
obliterateddestroyed without a trace
obloquyan abusive verbal attack
perditioncomplete ruin
razeto bring a structure down to the ground
reciprocateto return, to respond in kind
renounceto formally give up something
slightto insult someone, especially in away that involves ignoring or overlooking the person
stigmaa bad mark on someone’s reputation
treacherousdangerous; betraying
tribulationa great difficulty
Lesson 16
apianhaving to do with bees
apoplecticreally angry
bailiwickan area in which a person has a special ability or responsibility
baker’s dozena set of thirteen
beatitudeperfect happiness and peace
bumptiousaggressively opinionated
congenitalexisting since birth.
coruscateto shine, to flash brightly
cupiditygreed
enervateto weaken
frayto shred something; a fight
friableeasily broken up into little pieces
fulsomeoffensively fawning
hedgeto avoid answering a question directly
helicoidshaped like a spiral
husbandto use something economically.
immutableunchangeable
impregnableunable to be broken by an outside force
infamousknown for a bad reputation.
infinitesimalit means “very, very tiny.”
instrumentalnecessary in order to bring something about
insuperableunable to be overcome or gotten rid of
jocularjoking, playful
juxtaposeto put two (usually unlike) things together
lachrymosecrying easily, or making someone else cry
logorrheaextreme talkativeness, sometimes implying
marshalto gather people together and organize them
masticateto grind with the teeth
noisomeoffensive to the senses
nugatorycompletely unimportant
plasticeasily bent and shaped
quixoticoverly idealistic, romanticized and impractical
racyshockingly sexual
renta rip or tear
restiveactive and out-of-control
rheuma watery discharge coming out of the eyes, nose, or mouth.
saccharinesickeningly sweet
salubriousbeing good for your health or general well-being
scarifyto scratch the skin
seamydistasteful because of its immorality
seedycheap and run-down.
somnambulateto sleepwalk
spendthriftrunning through money wastefully and unnecessarily
spruceto make something look better
straita narrow band of water that joins two larger bodies of water
summarilybrusquely, rudely, without discussion
tyroa complete, rank amateur
waffleto keep changing your mind