Verbs

acquiesce to assent tacitly; submit or comply silently or without protest; agree;

consent:
[ak-wee-es]

to acquiesce halfheartedly in a business plan.

Beseech 1.to implore urgently: They besought him to go at once.

2.to beg eagerly for; solicit
3.to make urgent appeal: Earnestly did I beseech, but to no avail.

shirk

= shun, avoid, dodge

shirker,
unshirked/unshirking
[shurk] = to evade (work, duty, responsibility, etc.).

Forage [fawr-ij, for-] 1.to wander or go in search of provisions.

2.to search about; seek; rummage; hunt: He went foraging in the attic for old
mementos.

quash 1.to put down or suppress completely; quell; subdue: to quash a rebellion.
2.to make void, annul, or set aside (a law, indictment, decision, etc.).

prattle 1.to talk in a foolish or simple-minded way; chatter; babble.

2.to utter by chattering or babbling: the prattle of children/of water rushing over stones.

designate 1.to mark or point out; indicate; show; specify.

2.to denote; indicate; signify.
3.to name; entitle; style.
4.to nominate or select for a duty, office, purpose, etc.; appoint; assign.

muster 1.to gather, summon, rouse (often followed by up): He mustered all his courage.
2.to assemble for inspection, service, etc., as troops or forces.

crimp 1.to press into small regular folds; make wavy.

2.to curl (hair), especially with the use of a curling iron.
3.to check, restrain, or inhibit; hinder: Production was crimped by a shortage of workers.

beguile

1.to influence by trickery, flattery, etc.; mislead; delude.

[bih-gahyl] 2.to take away from by cheating or deceiving (usually followed by of): to be
beguiled of money.
3.to charm or divert: a multitude of attractions to beguile the tourist.
4.to pass (time) pleasantly: beguiling the long afternoon with a good book.

Titivate = to make smart or spruce: She titivated her old dress with a new belt.
hanker = yearn; to have a restless or incessant longing (often followed by after, for, or an infinitive)

hightail = to go away or leave rapidly: Last we saw of him, he was hightailing

down the street.
hurry; rush; scamper: Hightail it down to the grocery store and buy some
bread for lunch.

abscond = elope; to depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and
legal prosecution: The cashier absconded with the money.

Circumvent 1. To surround (an enemy, for example); enclose or entrap.

2. To go around; bypass: circumvented the city.
3. To avoid or get around by artful maneuvering; outwit: circumvented the
bureaucratic red tape.

Encumber
1.to impede or hinder; hamper; retard: Red tape encumbers all our attempts at action.
2.to block up or fill with what is obstructive or superfluous: a mind encumbered with trivial
and useless information.
3.to burden or weigh down: She was encumbered with a suitcase and several
packages.

Mitigate

1.to lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness, or pain; moderate.

2.to make less severe: to mitigate a punishment.
3.to make (a person, one's state of mind, disposition, etc.) milder or more gentle;

alleviate = to make easier to endure; lessen; mitigate: to alleviate sorrow; to alleviate pain.
Surmise = to think or infer without certain or strong evidence; conjecture; guess.
endeavor 1.to exert oneself to do or effect something; make an effort; strive: We must
constantly endeavor if we are to
succeed.

2.to attempt; try: He endeavors to keep things neat in his apartment.

Bemuse = to bewilder or confuse (someone).

Forgo = to abstain or refrain from; do without; to give up, renounce, or resign.

forego = to go before; precede.
Stanch = to stop or stem the flow of blood or other liquid from (a wound, leak, etc.).
Discrete = separate; distinct discreet = dicret
warble = to sing or whistle with trills, quavers, or melodic embellishments: The canary
warbled most of the day.

Emend = to free from faults or errors; correct.

Hone = to make more acute or effective; improve; perfect: to hone one's skills.
Vex 1.to irritate; annoy; provoke: His noisy neighbors often vexed him.
2.to torment; trouble; distress; plague; worry: Lack of money vexes many.
3.to discuss or debate (a subject, question, etc.) with vigor or at great length
4.to disturb by motion; stir up; toss about.

Wax 1.to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc.: Discord waxed at an alarming rate.
2.to grow or become: He waxed angry at the insinuation.

Wane 1.to decrease in strength, intensity, etc.: Daylight waned, and night came on. Her
enthusiasm for the cause is waning.
2.to draw to a close; approach an end: Summer is waning.
3.on the wane, decreasing; diminishing: The popularity of that song is on the wane.
the waning of the moon; a period of waning.

Nouns

Scaffold = schel
spade = shovel = cazma, lopat
limestone = calcar
gills = branhii
travesty = a grotesque imitation; mockery; parody: (denaturare a justiiei) a travesty of justice.
dowager = doamn distins (n vrst) / matroan / vduv (a unui nobil sau demnitar)
despondency = profound hopelessness, dejection, discouragement, or gloom
stanchion

[stan-shuh n] = pole; stlp

Harbinger 1.crainic; herald; a person who goes ahead and makes known the
approach of another.
2.vestitor; omen; sign; anything that foreshadows a future event: Frost is a
harbinger of winter.

3.sol; a person sent in advance of troops to provide or secure lodgings and other accommodations

Tinder = iasc
Tallow = seu
Scabbard = teac
Eddy = vltoare, vrtej
red tape = birocraie, formalism, tipicrie [fam.]
fetlock = chii; de pr lng copit (la cal)
catechization = catehizare [bis.]; to teach the principles of Christian dogma, discipline, and
ethics by means of questions and answers.

bow = prora (fa)

iniquity

stern = pupa (spate)

1.gross injustice or wickedness.

[ih-nik-wi-tee] 2.a violation of right or duty; wicked act; sin.

Enmity = a feeling or condition of hostility; hatred; ill will; animosity; antagonism.

Rudder = crm
Nightingale = privighetoare
nexus [nexuses] 1.a means of connection; tie; link.
2.the core or center, as of a matter or situation.

Whey = zer; whey-faced = cu faa palid.

Vexillology = vexilologie; the study of flags.
fourth estate is a term that positions the press (newspapers) as a fourth branch of
government and one that is important to a functioning democracy.

mettle 1.courage and fortitude: a man of mettle.

2.disposition or temperament: a man of fine mettle.
3.on one's mettle, in the position of being incited to do one's best: The loss of the first
round put him on his mettle to win the match.
parsimony = extreme or excessive economy or frugality; stinginess; niggardliness.

plethora = overabundance; excess: a plethora of advice and a paucity of assistance.

Paucity 1.smallness of quantity; scarcity; scantiness: a country with a paucity of resources.
2.smallness or insufficiency of number; fewness.

Adjectives/Adverbs

Ramshackle = drpnat: We remained secluded in our ramshackle burrow for seven nights.

Dilapidated = falling to pieces or in a state of disrepair; shabby

puckish [pksh] = Mischievous; impish: a puckish grin; puckish wit
frolicsome = lively or playful: a frolicsome puppy
lackluster = lacking brilliance or radiance; dull, drab: lackluster eyes
lacking liveliness, vitality, spirit, or enthusiasm: a lackluster performance

obnoxious 1.highly objectionable or offensive; odious: obnoxious behavior.

2.annoying or objectionable due to being a showoff or attracting undue attention
to oneself: an obnoxious little brat.

nascent = incipient; beginning to exist or develop: That nascent republic is holding its
first election this month.

lax

1.not strict or severe; careless or negligent: lax morals; a lax attitude toward discipline.
2.loose or slack; not tense, rigid, or firm: a lax rope; a lax handshake.
3.not rigidly exact or precise; vague: lax ideas.

illustrious 1.highly distinguished; renowned; famous; noted: an illustrious leader.

2.glorious, as deeds or works: many illustrious achievements.

gargantuan = gigantic; enormous; colossal; titanic: gargantuan task.

fractious = querulous
1.refractory or unruly: a fractious animal that would not submit to the harness.
2.readily angered; peevish; irritable; quarrelsome: an incorrigibly fractious young man.

Aforementioned = cited or mentioned earlier or previously.

nubbly (nbl) = Rough or irregular; textured: the nubbly surface of raw silk.
Gullible = credul, naiv
tortuous 1.twisting, winding, or crooked: a tortuous path.

2.not direct or straightforward, as in procedure or speech; intricate = complex;

circuitous: tortuous negotiations lasting for months.
3.deceitfully indirect or morally crooked, as proceedings, methods, or policy.

Venial mortal = excusable; trifling; minor: a venial error; a venial offense.

Prolific = profusely productive or fruitful: a prolific pear tree/ writer/ year for tomatoes.
resolute = characterized by firmness and determination, as the temper, spirit, actions, etc.:
The mayor was asked to take resolute action against the looters.

undaunted = undismayed; not discouraged: undaunted by failure.

Although outnumbered, he was undaunted.

steadfast 1. steadily directed: a steadfast gaze.

2.firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person:
a steadfast friend
3.unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.
5.firmly fixed in place or position.

Ardent 1.passionate; fervent: an ardent vow; ardent love.

2.intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic; zealous: an ardent theatergoer;
an ardent student of French history.
3.vehement; fierce: They were frightened by his ardent, burning eyes.
4.burning, fiery, or hot: the ardent core of a star.

voracious 1.craving or consuming large quantities of food:

a voracious appetite.
2.exceedingly eager or avid: voracious readers; a voracious collector.

Supine

1.lying on the back, face or front upward.

2.inactive, passive, or inert, especially from indolence or indifference. letargic

Foregoing following; previous; prior: The foregoing paragraph presents the problem.
insidious = neltor
1.intended to entrap or beguile: an insidious plan.

2.stealthily treacherous or deceitful: an insidious enemy.

3.operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but
actually with grave effect: an insidious disease.
Vigorous: a youngster; steps; a personality; law enforcement.

vicarious 1. suffered, undergone, or done as the substitute for another: vicarious punishment
2. felt or enjoyed through imagined participation in the experience of others:
He reads biographies, he dreams of great mena vicarious pleasure, presumably.

Abstruse = hard to understand; recondite; esoteric: abstruse theories.

Forensic = judiciar; medico-legal: forensic medicine = medicin legal
Staunch

1. characterized by firmness or loyalty: a staunch Republican; a staunch friend.

2. strong; substantial: a staunch little hut in the woods.
3.impervious to water or other liquids; watertight: a staunch vessel.

arrant = downright; thorough; unmitigated; notorious; utter: an arrant fool.

ubiquitous = existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent:
ubiquitous fog; ubiquitous little ants.

Savvy = experienced, knowledgable, and well-informed; shrewd (often used in combination):

consumers who are savvy about prices; a tech-savvy entrepreneur.

Disinterested = unbiased by personal interest or advantage; not influenced by selfish

motives: a disinterested decision by the referee.
Uninteressed = indifferent.
fortuitous 1.happening or produced by chance; accidental: a fortuitous encounter.
2.lucky; fortunate: a series of fortuitous events that advanced her career.

lily-livered = weak or lacking in courage; cowardly.

Hoary 1.crunt; gray or white with age: an old dog with a hoary muzzle.
2.ancient or venerable: hoary myths.
3.tedious from familiarity; stale: Please don't tell that hoary joke at dinner again
tonight.

Reckon 1.to esteem or consider; regard as: to be reckoned an authority in the field.
2.to think or suppose.

stupendous 1.causing amazement; astounding; marvelous: stupendous news.

2.amazingly large or great; immense: a stupendous mass of information.

unkempt 1.not combed: unkempt hair.

2.uncared-for or neglected; disheveled; messy: clothes; an lawn.

first water 1.the finest quality of diamond or other precious stone

2.the highest grade or best quality
3.the most extreme kind: a fool of the first water

Pyrrhic victory = a victory or goal achieved at too great a cost.

Fastidious = cusurgiu; excessively particular, critical, or demanding;
hard to please: a fastidious eater.

Auspicious 1.promising success; propitious; opportune; favorable: an auspicious occasion.

2.favored by fortune; prosperous; fortunate.

Barren unable to produce plants or fruit

sun-drenched to describe a place that receives a lot of sun
meandering of a river or road, following a route which is not straight or direct
breathtaking extremely exciting, beautiful or surprising
jagged rough and uneven, with sharp points
dusky dark in colour
lush covered with healthy green plants or grass
parched dried out because of too much heat and not enough rain
snowcapped to describe mountains or hills with snow on them
rugged uneven and wild; not easy to travel over
plunging extremely steep
farflung very distant, remote
dense thick; close together; difficult to go or see through
abundant more than enough
picturesque attractive in appearance, especially in an old-fashioned way
cobbled made of rounded stones used on the surface of an old-fashioned road
undulating describing or having small hills and slopes that look like waves

crumbling old and falling into small pieces

towering very tall and impressive
derelict abandonded, no longer in use
wooded covered with trees
wind-swept open to and not protected from strong winds, or (of people) having hair that is untidy
because it has been blown in different directions by the wind
bustling full of busy activity
dreary boring and making you feel unhappy
desolate describes a place that is unattractive and empty, with no people or nothing pleasant in it
blazing burning brightly and strongly

aberration
(n.) something that differs from the norm (In 1974, Poland won the World Cup, but the success
turned out to be an aberration, and Poland have not won a World Cup since).
abhor
(v.) to hate, detest (Because he always wound up getting hit in the head when he tried to play
cricket, Marcin began to abhor the sport).
acquiesce
(v.) to agree without protesting (Though Mr. Pospieszny wanted to stay outside and work in his
garage, when his wife told him that he had better come in to dinner, he acquiesced to her
demands.)
alacrity
(n.) eagerness, speed (For some reason, Simon loved to help his girlfriend whenever he could, so
when his girlfriend asked him to set the table he did so with alacrity.)
amiable
(adj.) friendly (An amiable fellow, Neil got along with just about everyone.)
appease
(v.) to calm, satisfy (When Jerry cries, his mother gives him chocolate toappease him.)

arcane
(adj.) obscure, secret, known only by a few (The professor is an expert inarcane Kashubian
literature.)
avarice
(n.) excessive greed (The bankers avarice led him to amass an enormous personal fortune.)
brazen
(adj.) excessively bold, brash, clear and obvious (Critics condemned the writersbrazen attempt
to plagiarise Frankow-Czerwonkos work.)
brusque
(adj.) short, abrupt, dismissive (Simons brusque manner sometimes offends his colleagues.)
cajole
(v.) to urge, coax (Magda's friends cajoled her into drinking too much.)
callous
(adj.) harsh, cold, unfeeling (The murderers callous lack of remorse shocked the jury.)
candor
(n.) honesty, frankness (We were surprised by the candor of the politicians speech because she is
usually rather evasive.)
chide
(v.) to voice disapproval (Hania chided Gregory for his vulgar habits and sloppy appearance.)
circumspect
(adj.) cautious (Though I promised Martas father I would bring her home promptly by midnight,
it would have been more circumspect not to have specified a time.)
clandestine
(adj.) secret (Announcing to her boyfriend that she was going to the library, Maria actually went
to meet George for a clandestine liaison.)
coerce
(v.) to make somebody do something by force or threat (The court decided that David Beckham
did not have to honor the contract because he had been coercedinto signing it.)
coherent
(adj.) logically consistent, intelligible (William could not figure out what Harold had seen
because he was too distraught to deliver a coherent statement.)

complacency
(n.) self-satisfied ignorance of danger (Simon tried to shock his friends out of
their complacency by painting a frightening picture of what might happen to them.)
confidant
(n.) a person entrusted with secrets (Shortly after we met, he became my chiefconfidant.)
connive
(v.) to plot, scheme (She connived to get me to give up my plans to start up a new business.)
cumulative
(adj.) increasing, building upon itself (The cumulative effect of hours spent using the World
English website was a vast improvement in his vocabulary and general level of English.)
debase
(v.) to lower the quality or esteem of something (The large raise that he gave himself debased his
motives for running the charity.)
decry
(v.) to criticize openly (Andrzej Lepper, the leader of the Polish Self Defence party decried the
appaling state of Polish roads.)
deferential
(adj.) showing respect for anothers authority (Donata is always excessivelydeferential to any
kind of authority figure.)
demure
(adj.) quiet, modest, reserved (Though everyone else at the party was dancing and going crazy,
she remained demure.)
deride
(v.) to laugh at mockingly, scorn (The native speaker often derided the other teachers accent.)
despot
(n.) one who has total power and rules brutally (The despot issued a death sentence for anyone
who disobeyed his laws.)
diligent
(adj.) showing care in doing ones work (The diligent researcher made sure to double check her
measurements.)
elated

(adj.) overjoyed, thrilled (When he found out he had won the lottery, the postman was elated.)
eloquent
(adj.) expressive, articulate, moving (The best man gave such an eloquentspeech that most guests
were crying.)
embezzle
(v.) to steal money by falsifying records (The accountant was fired forembezzling 10,000 of the
companys funds.)
empathy
(n.) sensitivity to anothers feelings as if they were ones own (I feel suchempathy for my dog
when shes upset so am I!)
enmity
(n.) ill will, hatred, hostility (John and Scott have clearly not forgiven each other, because
the enmity between them is obvious to anyone in their presence.)
erudite
(adj.) learned (My English teacher is such an erudite scholar that he has translated some of the
most difficult and abstruse Old English poetry.)
extol
(v.) to praise, revere (Kamila extolled the virtues of a vegetarian diet to her meat-loving
boyfriend.)
fabricate
(v.) to make up, invent (When I arrived an hour late to class, I fabricated some excuse about my
car breaking down on the way to work.)
feral
(adj.) wild, savage (That beast looks so feral that I would fear being alone with it.)
flabbergasted
(adj.) astounded (Whenever I read an Agatha Christie mystery novel, I am
always flabbergasted when I learn the identity of the murderer.)
forsake
(v.) to give up, renounce (I won't forsake my conservative principles.)
fractious

(adj.) troublesome or irritable (Although the child insisted he wasnt tired, hisfractious behaviour
- especially his decision to crush his jam sandwiches all over the floor - convinced everyone
present that it was time to put him to bed.)
furtive
(adj.) secretive, sly (Claudias placement of her drugs in her sock drawer was not as furtive as
she thought, as the sock drawer is the first place most parents look.)
gluttony
(n.) overindulgence in food or drink (Helens fried chicken tastes so divine, I dont know how
anyone can call gluttony a sin.)
gratuitous
(adj.) uncalled for, unwarranted (Every evening the guy at the fish and chip shop gives me
a gratuitous helping of vinegar.)
haughty
(adj.) disdainfully proud (The superstars haughty dismissal of her co-stars will backfire on her
someday.)
hypocrisy
(n.) pretending to believe what one does not (Once the politician began passing legislation that
contradicted his campaign promises, his hypocrisy became apparent.)
impeccable
(adj.) exemplary, flawless (If your grades were as impeccable as your brothers, then you too
would receive a car for a graduation present.)
impertinent
(adj.) rude, insolent (Most of your comments are so impertinent that I dont wish to dignify them
with an answer.)
implacable
(adj.) incapable of being appeased or mitigated (Watch out: once you shun Grandmothers
cooking, she is totally implacable.)
impudent
(adj.) casually rude, insolent, impertinent (The impudent young woman looked her teacher up
and down and told him he was hot.)
incisive

(adj.) clear, sharp, direct (The discussion wasnt going anywhere until herincisive comment
allowed everyone to see what the true issues were.)
indolent
(adj.) lazy (Why should my indolent children, who cant even pick themselves up off the sofa to
pour their own juice, be rewarded with a trip to Burger King?)
inept
(adj.) not suitable or capable, unqualified (She proved how inept she was when she forgot two
orders and spilled a pint of cider in a customers lap.)
infamy
(n.) notoriety, extreme ill repute (The infamy of his crime will not lessen as time passes.)
inhibit
(v.) to prevent, restrain, stop (When I told you I needed the car last night, I certainly never meant
to inhibit you from going out.)
innate
(adj.) inborn, native, inherent (His incredible athletic talent is innate, he never trains, lifts
weights, or practices.)
insatiable
(adj.) incapable of being satisfied (My insatiable appetite for blondes was a real problem on my
recent holiday in Japan!)
insular
(adj.) separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off (Because of the sensitive nature of
their jobs, those who work for MI5 must remain insular and generally only spend time with each
other.)
intrepid
(adj.) brave in the face of danger (After scaling a live volcano prior to its eruption, the explorer
was praised for his intrepid attitude.)
inveterate
(adj.) stubbornly established by habit (Im the first to admit that Im aninveterate cider drinker
I drink four pints a day.)
jubilant
(adj.) extremely joyful, happy (The crowd was jubilant when the firefighter carried the woman
from the flaming building.)

knell
(n.) the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death (Echoing throughout our village, the
funeral knell made the grey day even more grim.)
lithe
(adj.) graceful, flexible, supple (Although the dancers were all outstanding, Joannas control of
her lithe body was particularly impressive.)
lurid
(adj.) ghastly, sensational (Barrys story, in which he described a character torturing his
neighbour's tortoise, was judged too lurid to be published on the English Library's website.)
maverick
(n.) an independent, nonconformist person (John is a real maverick and always does things his
own way.)
maxim
(n.) a common saying expressing a principle of conduct (Ms. Stones etiquettemaxims are both
entertaining and instructional.)
meticulous
(adj.) extremely careful with details (The ornate needlework in the brides gown was a product
of meticulous handiwork.)
modicum
(n.) a small amount of something (Refusing to display even a modicum of sensitivity, Magda
announced her bosss affair to the entire office.)
morose
(adj.) gloomy or sullen (Davids morose nature made him very unpleasant to talk to.)
myriad
(adj.) consisting of a very great number (It was difficult to decide what to do on Saturday night
because the city presented us with myriad possibilities for fun.)
nadir
(n.) the lowest point of something (My day was boring, but the nadir came when my new car
was stolen.)
nominal
(adj.) trifling, insignificant (Because he was moving the following week and needed to get rid of
his furniture more than he needed money, Kim sold everything for a nominal price.)

novice
(n.) a beginner, someone without training or experience (Because we were allnovices at archery,
our instructor decided to begin with the basics
nuance
(n.) a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression (The nuances of the poem were not obvious to
the casual reader, but the teacher was able to point them out.)
oblivious
(adj.) lacking consciousness or awareness of something (Oblivious to the burning smell
emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until
much too late.)
obsequious
(adj.) excessively compliant or submissive (Donald acted like Susans servant, obeying her every
request in an obsequious manner.)
obtuse
(adj.) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect (Political opponents warned that the prime
ministers obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.)
panacea
(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties (Doctors wish there was a single panaceafor every
disease, but sadly there is not.)
parody
(n.) a satirical imitation (A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find
Magdalena acting out a parody of his teaching style.)
penchant
(n.) a tendency, partiality, preference (Fionas dinner parties quickly became monotonous on
account of her penchant for Indian dishes.)
perusal
(n.) a careful examination, review (The actor agreed to accept the role after a threemonth perusal of the movie script.)
plethora
(n.) an abundance, excess (The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost
three feet high.)
predilection

(n.) a preference or inclination for something (James has a predilection for eating toad in the
whole with tomato ketchup.)
quaint
(adj.) charmingly old-fashioned (Mary was delighted by the quaint bonnets she saw in
Romania.)
rash
(adj.) hasty, incautious (Its best to think things over calmly and thoroughly, rather than
make rash decisions.)
refurbish
(v.) to restore, clean up (After being refurbished the old Triumph motorcycle commanded the
handsome price of $6000.)
repudiate
(v.) to reject, refuse to accept (Tom made a strong case for an extension of his curfew, but his
mother repudiated it with a few biting words.)
rife
(adj.) abundant (Surprisingly, the teachers writing was rife with spelling errors.)
salient
(adj.) significant, conspicuous (One of the salient differences between Alison and Helen is that
Alison is a couple of kilos heavier.)
serendipity
(n.) luck, finding good things without looking for them (In an amazing bit ofserendipity,
penniless Mark found a $50 bill on the back seat of the bus.)
staid
(adj.) sedate, serious, self-restrained (The staid butler never changed his expression no matter
what happened.)
superfluous
(adj.) exceeding what is necessary (Samantha had already won the campaign so her constant
flattery of others was superfluous.)
sycophant
(n.) one who flatters for self-gain (Some see the people in the cabinet as the Prime Ministers
closest advisors, but others see them as sycophants.)
taciturn

(adj.) not inclined to talk (Though Magda never seems to stop talking, her brother is
quite taciturn.)
truculent
(adj.) ready to fight, cruel (This club doesnt really attract the dangerous types, so why was that
bouncer being so truculent?)
umbrage
(n.) resentment, offence (He called me a lily-livered coward, and I tookumbrage at the insult.)
venerable
(adj.) deserving of respect because of age or achievement (The venerable High Court judge had
made several key rulings in landmark cases throughout the years.)
vex
(v.) to confuse or annoy (My boyfriend vexes me by pinching my bottom for hours on end.)
vociferous
(adj.) loud, boisterous (Im tired of his vociferous whining so Im breaking up with him.)
wanton
(adj.) undisciplined, lewd, lustful (Joannas wanton demeanor often made the frat guys next door
very excited.)
zenith
(n.) the highest point, culminating point (I was too nice to tell Emily that she had reached the
absolute zenith of her career with that one top 10 hit of hers.)