VOCAB UNIT12

Absolve

• (v.): To clear from blame or guilt• Ex: The detective absolved the suspect of all

charges.

Absolve

Caricature

• (n) A representation in which the subject’s characteristic features are deliberately exaggerated

• (v) to present someone or something in a deliberately distorted way

• Ex: The comedian caricatured the scandalous celebrity.

Caricature

Clangor

• (n) a loud ringing sound• Ex: The school emptied when they heard the

clangor of the fire alarm.

Clangor

Contiguous

• (adj) side by side, touching; near; adjacent in time

• Ex: The contiguous girls were rarely seen without each other.

Contiguous

Cupidity

• (n) an eager desire for something; greed• Ex: The dog had a great cupidity for the new

toy.

Cupidity

Deleterious

• (adj) harmful, injuries• Ex: People had to wear heavy-duty gloves to

handle the deleterious chemical.

Deleterious

Enhance

• (v) To raise to a higher degree; to increase the value or desirability of

• Ex: The use of new vocabulary enhances the quality of one’s writing.

Enhance

Enthrall

• (v) to captivate, charm, hold spellbound; to enslave; to imprison

• The opera singer’s voice enthralled me throughout the performance.

Enthrall

Extenuate

• (v) To lessen the seriousness or magnitude of an offence by making partial excuses

• Ex: The parent extenuated the student’s cheating by saying he did it because he was very tired.

Extenuate

Implicit

• (adj) Implied or understood though unexpressed; without doubts or reservations, unquestioning; potentially contained in

• Ex: The students knew the implicit direction to raise their hands before they spoke in class.

Implicit

Incisive

• (adj) Sharp, keen, penetrating• The incisive insults were truly hurtful, as they

were aimed right to the core of who I am.

Incisive

Ostentatious

• (adj) marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy

• The ostentatious wedding was over the top and cost way too much money.

Ostentatious

Paragon

• (n.) A model of excellence or perfection• Many believe the United States is a paragon of

governmental structure, as it has effectively worked for two hundred years.

Paragon

Paraphrase

• (v) To restate in other words • (n) a statements that presents a given idea in

new language• Everyday I will ask you to paraphrase the

happenings of The Catcher in the Rye.

Paraphrase

Politic

• (adj) Prudent, shrewdly conceived and developed; artful, expedient

• The mother was politic in giving advice to her children, as she wanted to help but did not want to make all their decisions for them.

Politic

Prosaic

• (adj) Dull, lacking in distinction and originality; matter-of-fact, straightforward; characteristic of prose, not poetic

• While the paper was factual, it was prosaic and boring to read.

Prosaic

Redundant

• (adj) Extra, excess, more than is needed; wordy, repetitive; profuse, lush

• The teacher gave a redundant speech on the importance of vocabulary because she wanted her students to finally see the importance of learning new words.

Redundant

Sanctimonious

• (adj) Making a show of virtue or righteousness; hypocritically moralistic or pious, self-righteous, canting, holier-than-thou

• The sanctimonious speech made me roll my eyes, as the person delivering it was not the saint he tried to make himself out to be.

Sanctimonious

Scintillating

• (adj., part.) Sparkling, twinkling, exceptionally brilliant

• The engagement ring contained a scintillating diamond.

Scintillating

Winsome

• (adj) charming, attractive, pleasing (often suggesting a childlike charm and innocence)

• The winsome day at the beach consisted of floating in the water, playing in the sand, and peacefully sleeping in the sun.

Winsome