Vocabulary Week 1

Vocabulary 1

Word 1: Dubious adjective Definition: Having a doubtful, questionable outcome

"The life of man is a dubious experiment. It is a tremendous phenomenon only in numerical terms. Carl Jung

Word 2: Dappled verbDefinition: Contrasting patches of color caused by light shining making shadows and the earth beneath was dappled with the shadows of his fluttering leaves. J.R.R.Tolkien

3Word 3: Cacophony noun Defintion: A mixture of loud unpleasant soundsJust as the strength of the Internet is chaos, so the strength of our liberty depends upon the chaos and cacophony of the unfettered speech the First Amendment protects. Judge Dalzell

Word 4: Subservient adjectiveDefinition: Too willing to obey others; submissiveCulture of the mind must be subservient to the heart. Mahatma Gandhi

Word 5: Excruciating adjective Definition: Very painful and agonizing ..the change is excruciating. Learning a new language and dealing with strange customs make the first years of life in the new land painful John Lachs

Word 6: Obstinate adjective Definition: Not willing to change ideas or behavior The fool is obstinate, and doubteth not; he knoweth all things but his own ignorance. Akhenaton

Word 7: Plethora noun Definition: A great amount or variety The plethora of special effects --- some dazzling, some clumsy --- make Harry Potter at times resemble a generic Hollywood horror movie. David Ansen

Word 8: Malicious adjective / Malice noun Definition: Strong desire to hurt others Malice can always find a mark to shoot at, and a pretence to fire. Charles Simmon

Word 9: Vile adjectiveDefinition: Shockingly and morally bad The homeless man was vile. He hasnt washed for years.

Word 10: Malevolent adjective/ Malevolence noun Definition: Wishing to do evil to others good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if lacking understanding. Mason Cooley

Word 11: Ardent adjectiveDefinition: Feeling strong emotions towards something Objects we ardently (adverb) pursue bring little happiness when gained; most of our pleasures come from unexpected sources. Herbert Spencer

Word 12: Verbose verboseDefinition: Using more words than necessaryDont let fluff and flowers and verbosity(noun) creep in. Mark Twain

Word 13: Aspire verbDefinition: Desire to achieve great things Only human beings can feel affection for each other, and this is the highest achievement they can aspire to. -Alexandr Solzhenitsyn

14Word 14: Enigma nounDefinition: Something very difficult to understand Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Winston Churchill

Word 15: Unprecedented adjective Definition: Something that has never happened before in size, degree or amountWe will not have great individuals or great leaders, but a great average bulk, unprecedentedly(adverb) great. Walt Whitman

Word 16: Cantankerous adjectiveDefinition: ill-tempered, irritating to deal withGreat speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous. Zhuang Zi

Word 17: Doting adjective / Dote verbDefinition: To give excessive fondness and attention I dote on his very absence. William Shakespeare

Word 18: Inconspicuous adjectiveDefinition: Not noticedHe looked about as inconspicuous as a tarantula on a slice of angel food. Raymond Chandler

Word 19: Ubiquitous adjective Definition: Present everywhereTechnology has become as ubiquitous as the air we breathe, so we are no longer conscious of its presence. Godfrey Riggio

Word 20: Austere adjectiveDefinition: Plain and simple in style.Americans have always been able to handle austerity(noun) and even adversity. Prosperity is what is doing us in. James Reston