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Home > Academics > Special Programs > Communicating Plus > Vocabulary Builders
{ Vocabulary Builders}

100 Words Every Ripon Student Should Know

abate v to reduce in amount, degree, or severity
abscond v to leave secretly
acquiesce v to consent to without argument
ad hoc adj for the special purpose of
adulterate v to make impure
aesthetic adj having a sense of beauty
aggrandize v to increase in power, influence, and reputation
agnostic adj. doubtful or non-committal
amalgamate v to combine
anachronism n an error in the historical placement of something
antediluvian adj very old fashioned
anthropomorphic adj adding human qualities to something non-human
apotheosis n placing someone at the rank of God
archaic adj ancient
assuage v to make less severe
astrology n the study of the interpretation of heavenly bodies
astronomy n the study of space
audacious adj fearless and daring
autocratic adj completely controlling
aver v to assert with confidence
banal adj predicatable and boring
benign adj gracious and gentle
bourgeois adj / n middle classed / a member of the middle class
bureaucracy n government by many officials
capricious adj led by whim
castigate v to punish harshly
catharsis n the release of emotional tension
caustic adj biting in wit
caveat n a warning
coffers n funds
cosmology n the study of the origin and structure of the universe
cosmopolitan adj belonging to the world
counterintuitive adj contrary to what intuition would say
credulous adj too trusting
dearth n an inadequate supply
desultory adj disjointed
detrimental adj damaging
dichotomy n division in two parts
dilettante n someone with an amatuer or superficial interest in a topic
dubious adj doubtful
efficacy n effectiveness
empirical adj derived from experience or evidence
engender v to produce or cause
ephemeral adj short lived
epidemic adj widespread
erudite adj learned or scholarly
esoteric adj known only by a few
ethereal adj airy or tenuous
exacerbate v to make worse
excoriate v verbally assault
exculpatory adj clearing from fault or guilt
existential adj derived from the experience of existence
explicate v to explain
fastidious adj hard to please
felicitous adj well suited
fungible adj freely exchangeable
genial adj cheerful and friendly
genome n a full set of chromosomes
hegemony n complete control of one state/nation over another
idiosyncratic adj particular to an individual
imperturbable adj not able to be disturbed
impetuous adj quick to act without thinking
inane adj lacking sense, silly
insipid adj lacking in interest or flavor
laconic adj using few words
laudable adj praiseworthy
licentious adj morally unrestrained especially in a sexual manner
malignant adj dangerous or harmful
malinger v to avoid responsibility by pretending to be sick
minutiae n precise details
modicum n a moderate or small amount
obfuscate v to hide
obsequious adj overly submissive and eager to please
ostentatious adj. overly showy or intended to attract attention
pallid adj  pale or lacking interest
pandemic adj universal
paradigm n one that serves as a model for all others
pastoral adj simple, serene, rural
perfunctory adj done in a routine way
portent n sign or omen
postdictive adj understood through hindsight
pragmatic adj practical
precipice n a ledge with a vertical or near vertical face
preclude v to make impossible
predilection n an established preference
proliferate v to increase in number quickly
putative adj commonly regarded
quiescent adj motionless
quixotic adj extravagantly impractical
reification n conversion to a concrete thing
repudiate v to say something is false
reticent adj silent, reserved
squalid adj wretched, degrading
tacit adj implied
tautology n a needless repetition of an idea
taxonomy n the technique of classification
ubiquitous adj existing everywhere
venerable adj worthy of deep respect or honor
weltschmerz n sorrow felt about the evils in the world
zealous adj enthusiastically devoted to a cause

 

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