English 2

Vocabulary – Week 6 (VQ6)

Pre-AP Eng 2 – VQ61. abashed (adj) –embarrassed, disconcerted or ashamed2. luminary (n) – bright object; celebrity; source of inspiration3. luminous (adj) – bright; brilliant; glowing4. luxuriance (n) – elegance; lavishness5. maelstrom (n) – turmoil; agitated state of mind6. malady (n) – illness; disease; disorder7. malefactor (n) – evil-doer; culprit; perpetrator8. missive (n) – note or letter9. mitigate (tv) – to soften or make (something) milder or less

intense10. mnemonic (adj) – relating to memory; designed to assist

memory11. naïve (adj) – foolishly simple; childlike12. nebulous (adj) – unclear; vague; indefinite

abashed (adj) • abashed (adj) – embarrassed,

disconcerted or ashamedEx. Abashed by his father’s intolerance toward people who were different, my guest excused himself from the table. • Synonym: flustered• Antonym: pacified• Related: unabashed (adj); abash (tv)

luminary (n)

luminary (n) – bright object; celebrity; source of inspirationEx. Mark Twain, an author and a luminary, stirred up controversy as well as critical thought.• Synonym: dignitary • Antonym: unknown (n)• Related: illuminate (tv)

luminous (adj)

• luminous (adj) – bright; brilliant; glowing

Ex. A luminous, full moon drizzled pale light upon the ripples of the pond.• Synonym: lustrous• Antonym: obscure• Related: illumination (n)

luxuriance (n)• luxuriance (n) – elegance;

lavishness• Ex. Vivid colors in the

detailed architecture contribute to the luxuriance of Madrid’s Catedral Santa Maria.

• Synonym: opulence• Antonym: lack• Related: luxury (n); luxuriate (v)

maelstrom (n)• maelstrom (n) – turmoil;

agitated state of mindEx. “A merciless fate threw me into this maelstrom. I wanted much…but the gale of the world carried away me and my work.” – Draza Mihajlovic, Yugoslavian soldier (1946)

• Synonym: turbulence• Antonym: harmony• Related: (none)

malady (n)

• malady (n) – illness; disease; affliction

• Ex. Jan Steen’s 1665 painting, “Sick Woman”, portrays a woman who has succumbed to a mysterious malady.

• Synonym: disorder• Antonym: health• Related: maladies,

malaise (n)

malefactor (n)• malefactor (n) – evil-doer; culprit; perpetratorEx. In ancient times, accused or convicted malefactors were subjected to torture.• Synonym: rascal• Antonym: benefactor• Related: maleficent (adj)

missive (n)• missive (n) – note or letterEx. Once upon a time, missives were contemplative, handwritten and sealed with wax; now our messages are limited to 140 characters. #lostArt• Synonym: communique • Antonym: silence• Related: (none)

mitigate (tv)

• mitigate (tv) – to soften or make (something) milder or less intense

Ex. New designs in car seats mitigate the shock and potential injuries caused in accidents.• Synonym: assuage• Antonym: intensify• Related: mitigation (n)

mnemonic (adj)• mnemonic (adj) – relating

to memory; designed to assist memory

Ex. Effective mnemonic pegging like “Roy G. Biv” allows us to remember long sequences of words.• Synonym: implicative• Antonym: (none)• Related: mnemonic (n)

naïve (adj)

• naïve (adj) – foolishly simple; childlike

Ex. (see quote)• Synonym: innocent• Antonym: sophisticated• Related: naiveté (n)

nebulous (adj)

• nebulous (adj) – unclear; vague; indefinite

Ex. (see quote)• Synonym: imprecise• Antonym: distinct• Related: nebula (n)