celibate(adj.) abstaining from intercourse; unmarried

Monks and nuns traditionally took a vow of chastity, meaning they pledged to remain celibate for the entirety of their lives.

fortuitous(adj.) happening by chance or accident

Finding the four-leaf clover was a fortuitous event for Mike and he believed himself to be the luckiest boy in the world.

recapitulate(v.) to summarize; to repeat briefly

If you are accused of plagiarism, you will be called before the Honor Council and asked to recapitulate the details of your error in judgment.

I cheated . . .

perfunctory (adj.) done without care; in a routine fashion

Coach Holdeman’s ten mile run is as perfunctory as his eating, sleeping, and breathing.

baroque(adj.) overly decorated

The baroque dining room was amazing: it had four glass chandeliers, a beautiful table, and a huge painting the size of one of the walls.

hedonism (n.) pursuit of pleasure, especially of the senses

John’s idea of hedonism is to eat a large piece of cake, while mine is to spend the rest of my life on a beach in Florida.

obloquy(n.) strong disapproval; a bad reputation resulting

If you are found guilty of plagiarism, don’t be surprised if even Peyton Manning looks upon you with a profound degree of obloquy.

debacle(n.) a complete failure; a total collapse

The pundits deemed #2 Oregon’s loss to unranked Arizona a debacle. Alabama’s loss was a disaster . . .

quasi-(n.) resembling; seeming; half

The CBHS student celebrated his birthday with a quasi-dip can that was actually his wintergreen flavored cake. Classy . . .

besmirch(v.) to make dirty; to stain

Carl besmirched his reputation for honesty by plagiarizing a major English essay.

imperative(adj.) extremely necessary; vitally important

It is imperative that you get in a long run once per week to maximize your potential in cross country.

sacrosanct(adj.) extremely holy

Members of some Christian sects bow when they cross in front of the altar, the most sacrosanct object in the church.

sadistic(adj.) deriving pleasure from inflicting pain on others

Few coaches are truly sadistic; it just seems that way when you are getting your butt kicked in practice.

demeanor(n.) behavior; manner of conducting oneself

Coach K’s calm, yet self-assured, demeanor engenders the respect and loyalty of college and pro players alike.

facetious(adj.) comical; jocular; flippant

If you behave in a facetious manner when Momma is scolding you for some misdeed, you will pay the price.