Word List 02

Group 1

Acrid
sharp; pungent (used of smells and tastes)

Boorish
ill-mannered

Cynical
believing that people act only out of selfish motives

Epistle
a letter (form of communication)

Heresy
against orthodox opinion

Lance
spear; spike; javelin

Obscure
difficult to understand; partially hidden

Poignant
deeply moving; strongly affecting the emotions

Respite
a break; intermission

Terse
concise; to the point

Group 2

Acrophobia
fear of heights

Bourgeois
middle class

Debility
weakness; incapacity

Epistolary
concerned with letters; through correspondence

Hiatus
interruption; pause

Languid
tired; slow

Obscured
hidden; covered; buried

Poised
calm; collected; self-possessed

Resplendent
shining; glowing

Therapeutic
medicinal; curative

Group 3

Acuity
sharpness (mental or visual)

Braggart
someone who boasts

Debunking
exposing false claims or myths

Epitomized
typified; characterized; personified

Hidebound
rigid in opinions

Languish
decay; fade away; get weaker

Obsequious
servile; submissive

Polemical
causing debate or argument

Restorative
a tonic

Thwart
prevent; frustrate

Group 4

Adamant
forceful; inflexible

Brawny
muscular

Decathlon
an athletic competition with ten events

Equivocate
speak ambiguously; avoid telling the truth

Hieroglyphics
1. picture writing; 2. writing which is difficult to read or enigmatic

Larceny
theft; robbery; stealing

Obsession
a dominating concern

Ponderous
weighty; slow and heavy

Retention
preservation; withholding

Timorous
cowardly; fearful

Group 5

Adroit
skilful

Brevity
being brief

Decorum
dignified, correct behavior [decorous (a)]

Err
make a mistake

Hinder
obstruct

Largess
generosity

Obsolete
no longer valid

Pontificate
speak pompously or dogmatically

Reticent
restrained; holding something back; uncommunicative

Tirade
stream of verbal abuse

Group 6

Adulation
strong admiration; worship

Bristle
to show irritation

Decoy
lure; trap; trick

Erratic
wandering; irregular

Histrionic
theatrical; exaggerated

Laud
praise

Obstreperous
noisy and boisterous

Portend
foretell

Retraction
withdrawal; cancellation of a statement

Titter
giggle quietly

Group 7

Adversity
hardship

Broach
start to discuss; approach

Deference
respect

Esoteric
obscure and difficult to understand

Hoary
old

Lavish
on a grand scale; wasteful

Obtuse
mentally dull

Portent
a warning sign; omen

Revere
worship

Tome
large book

Group 8

Advocate
support

Brusque
blunt; abrupt

Defoliate
cause leaves to fall off

Espouse
promote; take up; support

Hone
sharpen; increase; whet

Lax
careless; not strict

Obviate
avoid; make unnecessary

Poseur
someone who puts on an act

Riddled
full of (usually full of holes)

Torpid
inactive; lazy; stagnant

Group 9

Aesthetic
concerning art or beauty

Bulwark
fortification; barricade; wall

Defunct
no longer in existence

Etymology
the study of word origins

Hyperbole
grossly exaggerated speech

Legend
1. key to map; 2. myth or story

Odious
hateful

Posterity
future generations

Rife
common

Torpor
dormancy; sluggishness; inactivity

Group 10

Affable
friendly; social; easygoing

Bureaucracy
officialdom

Degradation
deprivation; poverty; debasement

Eulogy
praise

Hypochondriac
a person obsessed with health; having imaginary illnesses

Legion
in large numbers

Officious
domineering; intrusive; meddlesome

Posthumous
after death

Rigor
thoroughness

Totter
walk unsteadily