Vocabulary #1

adumbrate - verb give to understand; describe roughly or briefly or give the main points or summary of. “In my summary I adumbrated the plot of the book.”

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 conceited man felt his social status was apotheosis of his fellow workmen.”

ascetic - adj. practicing great self-denial; pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline; noun someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline. “Being and ascetic person, I struggle with accepting my accomplishments.”

bauble - noun a mock scepter carried by a court jester; cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing. “My cross necklace is bauble and keeps breaking.”

beguile - verb attract; cause to be enamored; influence by slyness. “The man beguiled the attractive women with his charm.”

burgeon - verb grow and flourish. “As we grow older, we burgeon into mater adult.”

complement - noun something added to complete or make perfect; either of two parts that mutually complete each other; a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction; number needed to make up a whole force; a complete number or quantity; one of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response; verb make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to. “Red and green are good complement colors for Christmas.”

contumacious - adj. willfully obstinate; stubbornly disobedient. “Many adolescents are acquiring contumacious personalities.”

 
curmudgeon - noun a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas. “The 90-year-old woman was curmudgeon about her opinions.”

didactic - adj. instructive (especially excessively. “The teacher had a very didactic manner.”

disingenuous - adj. not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness. “His answer to the question was very disingenuous.”

exculpate - verb pronounce not guilty of criminal charges. “The guilty criminal was ecstatic when he was exculpated.”

 
faux pas- noun an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation. “When talking to my friends parents I had a faux pas and stumbled repeatedly over my words.”

fulminate - noun a salt or ester of fulminic acid; verb cause to explode violently and with loud noise; come on suddenly and intensely; criticize severely. “The gas explosion was fulminate.”

fustian - noun a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap; pompous or pretentious talk or writing. “The dress was made of fustian material.”

hauteur - noun overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors. “Her hauteur personality drove all her friends away.”

inhibit - verb limit the range or extent of; to put down by force or authority. “ Cops inhibit the frequency and intensity of crimes.”

jeremiad - noun a long and mournful complaint. “I am to jeremiad about my increasing workload.”

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

unconscionable - adj. greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; lacking a conscience. “Criminals who commit repeated violent crimes are unconscionable.”