Honors English 12 Vocabulary 3rd Quarter
Week Six
accentuate
(v.) to stress, highlight(Psychologists agree that those people who are
happiest accentuate the positive in life.)
adamant
(adj.) impervious, immovable, unyielding(Though public pressure was intense,
the President remained adamant about his proposal.)
balk
(v.) to stop, block abruptly (Edna’s boss
balked at her request for another raise.)
bane (n.) a burden (Advanced
physics is the bane of many students’ academic lives.)
chaos
(n.) absolute disorder (Mr. Thornton’s
sudden departure for the lavatory plunged his classroom into chaos.)
despondent
(adj.) feeling depressed, discouraged,
hopeless (Having failed the first math test, the despondent child saw no use
in studying for the next and failed that one too.)
emaciated
(adj.) very thin, enfeebled looking (My
sister eats a lot of pastries and chocolate but still looks emaciated.)
foster
(v.) to stimulate, promote, encourage (To
foster good health in the city, the mayor started a “Get out and exercise!”
campaign.)
incessant
(adj.) unending (We wanted to go outside
and play, but the incessant rain kept us indoors for two days.)
indignation (n.) anger sparked by something unjust or unfair (I resigned
from the sorority because of my indignation at its hazing of new members.)
liability
1. (n.) something
for which one is legally responsible, usually involving a disadvantage or risk (The
bungee-jumping tower was a great liability for the owners of the carnival.)
2. (n.) a handicap, burden (Because she often lost her concentration
and didn’t play defense, Marcy was a liability to the team.)
meager
(adj.) deficient in size or quality (My
meager portion of food did nothing to satisfy my appetite.)
morose
(adj.) gloomy or sullen (Jason’s morose
nature made him very unpleasant to talk to.)
oscillate
(v.) to sway from one side to the other (My
uncle oscillated between buying a station wagon to transport his family and
buying a sports car to satisfy his boyhood fantasies.)
perfidious
(adj.) disloyal, unfaithful (After the
official was caught selling government secrets to enemy agents, he was executed
for his perfidious ways.)
petulance
(n.) rudeness, irritability (The Nanny
resigned after she could no longer tolerate the child’s petulance.)
presumptuous
(adj.) disrespectfully bold (The princess
grew angry after the presumptuous noble tried to kiss her, even though he was
far below her in social status.)
remedial
(adj.) intended to repair gaps in students’
basic knowledge (After his teacher discovered he couldn’t read, John was
forced to enroll in remedial English.)
respite (n.) a break, rest (Justin left the pub to gain a brief
respite from the smoke and noise.)
stagnate
(v.) to become or remain inactive, not
develop, not flow (With no room for advancement, the waiter’s career
stagnated.)
Week One
brazen (adj.) excessively bold, brash
capacious (adj.) very spacious
capitulate (v.) to surrender
deferential (adj.) showing respect for another’s authority
elicit (v.) to bring forth, draw out, evoke
fervent (adj.) ardent, passionate
hierarchy (n.) a system with ranked groups, usually according to social, economic, or professional class
imperious (adj.) commanding, domineering
impertinent (adj.) rude, insolent
libertarian (adj.) advocating principles of liberty and free will
maxim (n.) a common saying expressing a principle of conduct
mendacious (adj.) having a lying, false character
nonchalant (adj.) having a lack of concern, indifference
odious (adj.) instilling hatred or intense displeasure
reconcile 1. (v.) to return to harmony 2. (v.) to make consistent with existing ideas
scintillating (adj.) sparkling
solipsistic (adj.) believing that oneself is all that exists
torpid (adj.) lethargic, dormant, lacking motion
trepidation (n.) fear, apprehension
vitriolic (adj.) having a caustic quality
Week Two
brusque (adj.) short, abrupt, dismissive
eloquent (adj.) expressive, articulate, moving
fetter (v.) to chain, restrain
hegemony (n.) domination over others
heterogeneous (adj.) varied, diverse in character
impervious (adj.) impenetrable, incapable of being affected
limpid (adj.) clear, transparent
mercurial (adj.) characterized by rapid change or tempermentality
nondescript (adj.) lacking a distinctive character
officious (adj.) offering one’s services when they are neither wanted nor needed
onerous (adj.) burdensome
partisan (n.) a follower, adherent
reclusive (adj.) solitary, shunning society
rectitude (n.) uprightness, extreme morality
scrupulous (adj.) painstaking, careful
scurrilous (adj.) vulgar, coarse
sophomoric (adj.) immature, uninformed
truncate (v.) to shorten by cutting off
turpitude (n.) depravity, moral corruption
vocation (n.) the work in which someone is employed, profession
Week Three
amalgamate (v.) to bring together, unite
canny (adj.) shrewd, careful
defamatory (adj.) harmful toward another’s reputation
elated (adj.) overjoyed, thrilled
fetid (adj.) having a foul odor
hiatus (n.) a break or gap in duration or continuity
imperative 1. (adj.) necessary, pressing 2. (n.) a rule, command, or order
mawkish (adj.) characterized by sick sentimentality
nominal (adj.) trifling, insignificant
paragon (n.) a model of excellence or perfection
paramount (adj.) greatest in importance, rank, character
recapitulate (v.) to sum up, repeat
reciprocate (v.) to give in return
satiate (v.) to satisfy excessively
tenuous (adj.) having little substance or strength
timorous (adj.) timid, fearful
trenchant (adj.) effective, articulate, clear-cut
venerate (v.) to regard with respect or to honor
veracity (n.) truthfulness, accuracy
viscous (adj.) not free flowing, syrupy
Week Four
accost (v.) to confront verbally
abstain (v.) to freely choose not to commit an action
behemoth (n.) something of tremendous power or strength
bequeath (v.) to pass on, give
carp (v.) to annoy, pester
colloquial (adj.) characteristic of informal conversation
deplore (v.) to feel or express sorrow, disapproval
depravity (n.) wickedness
empathy (n.) sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own
enigmatic (adj.) mystifying, cryptic
forage (v.) to graze, rummage for food
frivolous (adj.) of little importance, trifling
inept (adj.) not suitable or capable, unqualified
iridescent (adj.) showing rainbow colors
lethargic (adj.) in a state of sluggishness or apathy
luminous (adj.) brightly shining
maverick (n.) an independent, nonconformist person
mundane (adj.) concerned with the world rather than with heaven, commonplace
nominal (adj.) trifling, insignificant
nuance (n.) a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression
English 12 vocabulary – 2nd Quarter
Week One
bifurcate – to divide or fork into two branches
bloviate – to speak pompously
circumscribe – to draw a line around, or surround as if by a boundary
coxswain – the steersman of a racing shell who usually directs the rowers
crotchety – given to odd notions, whims, grouchiness
defenestrate – to throw out of a window
dissemination – to scatter or spread widely, to broadcast or disperse
gesticulate – to make gestures while speaking
hoary – gray or white with age, extremely old
humdinger – one that is extraordinary or remarkable
manhandle – to handle roughly
masticate – to grind or crush food with the teeth
modicum – a small, moderate, or token amount
obnubilate – to darken or make obscure
pusillanimous – lacking courage or resolution; cowardly, timid
rapier – a small sword, having a narrow blade and used for thrusting
succulent – full of juice, something that is moist and tasty
titivate – to make smart or spruce (in the sense of dressed up)
uvula – the fleshy lobe hanging from the back of the soft palate
waylaid – to lie in wait for or attack from ambush
Week Three
arable (adj.) Suitable for growing crops
bourgeois (n.) a middle-class person, capitalist
cognizant (adj.) aware, mindful
defer (v.) to postpone something; to yield to another’s wisdom
egregious (adj.) extremely bad
façade 1. (n.) the wall of a building 2.(n.) a deceptive appearance or attitude
gluttony (n.) overindulgence in food or drink
hardy (adj.) robust, capable of surviving through adverse conditions
idiosyncratic (adj.) peculiar to one person; highly individualized
larceny (n.) obtaining another’s property by theft or trickery
malleable (adj.) capable of being shaped or transformed
negligent (adj.) habitually careless, neglectful
oblivious (adj.) lacking consciousness or awareness of something
palette (adj.) a range of colors or qualities
rapport (n.) mutual understanding and harmony
somnolent (adj.) sleepy, drowsy
truculent (adj.) ready to fight, cruel
utilitarian (adj.) relating to or aiming at usefulness
vivacious (adj.) lively, sprightly
whimsical (adj.) fanciful, full of whims
English 12 vocabulary – 2nd Quarter
Week Four
adroit (adj.) skillful, dexterous
blemish (n.) an imperfection, flaw
cadence (n.) a rhythm, progression of sound
dearth (n.) a lack, scarcity
eclectic (adj.) consisting of a diverse variety of elements
facile 1. (adj.) easy, requiring little effort 2. (adj.) superficial, achieved with minimal thought or care, insincere
grievous (adj.) injurious, hurtful; serious or grave in nature
harrowing (adj.) greatly distressing, vexing
idolatrous (adj.) excessively worshipping one object or person
latent (adj.) hidden, but capable of being exposed
maudlin (adj.) weakly sentimental
neophyte (n.) someone who is young or inexperienced
obscure (adj.) unclear, partially hidden
palatable (adj.) agreeable to the taste or sensibilities
rash (adj.) hasty, incautious
salutation (n.) a greeting
tangential (adj.) incidental, peripheral, divergent
usurp (v.) to seize by force, take possession of without right
vituperate (v.) to berate
wizened (adj.) dry, shrunken, wrinkled
Week Five
alacrity (n.) eagerness, speed
blight 1. (n.) a plague, disease 2. (n.) something that destroys hope
calamity (n.) an event with disastrous consequences
debacle (n.) a disastrous failure, disruption
ecstatic (adj.) intensely and overpoweringly happy
fathom (v.) to understand, comprehend
gourmand (n.) someone fond of eating and drinking
hedonist (n.) one who believes pleasure should be the primary pursuit of humans
illicit (adj.) forbidden, not permitted
legerdemain (n.) deception, slight-of-hand
manifest 1. (adj.) easily understandable, obvious 2.(v.) to show plainly
nocturnal (adj.) relating to or occurring during the night
obsequious (adj.) excessively compliant or submissive
parsimony (n.) frugality, stinginess
raucous (adj.) loud, boisterous
sanctimonious (adj.) giving a hypocritical appearance of piety
tedious (adj.) dull, boring
upbraid (v.) to criticize or scold severely
validate (v.) to confirm, support, corroborate
anomaly (n.) something that does not fit into the normal order
English 12 vocabulary – 2nd Quarter
Week Seven
debase (v.) to lower the quality or esteem of something
edict (n.) an order, decree
calibrate (v.) to set, standardize
debauch (v.) to corrupt by means of sensual pleasures
efface (v.) to wipe out, obliterate, rub away
variegated (adj.) diversified, distinctly marked
boisterous (adj.) loud and full of energy
callous (adj.) harsh, cold, unfeeling
debunk (v.) to expose the falseness of something
effervescent (adj.) bubbly, lively
immerse (v.) to absorb, deeply involve, engross
mandate (n.) an authoritative command
raze (v.) to demolish, level
salve (n.) a soothing balm
temerity (n.) audacity, recklessness
vehemently (adv.) marked by intense force or emotion
decorous (adj.) socially proper, appropriate
efficacious (adj.) effective
immutable (adj.) not changeable
obsolete (adj.) no longer used, out of date
Week Eight
paradigm (n.) an example that is a perfect pattern or model
temperance (n.) moderation in action or thought
veneer (n.) a superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, façade
camaraderie (n.) brotherhood, jovial unity
grandiose (adj.) on a magnificent or exaggerated scale
manifold (adj.) diverse, varied
noisome (adj.) unpleasant, offensive, especially to the sense of smell
obstinate (adj.) not yielding easily, stubborn
paradox (n.) an apparently contradictory statement that is perhaps true
sanguine (adj.) optimistic, cheery
tenable (adj.) able to be defended or maintained
venerable (adj.) deserving of respect because of age or achievement
candor (n.) honesty, frankness
deface (v.) to ruin or injure something’s appearance
felicitous 1. (adj.) well suited, apt 2. (adj.) delightful, pleasing
gratuitous (adj.) uncalled for, unwarranted
hypothetical (adj.) supposed or assumed true, but unproven
nomadic (adj.) wandering from place to place
obstreperous (adj.) noisy, unruly
No vocabulary for Weeks Nine & Ten due to midterms
First Quarter Vocabulary
Week 2
Abjure -(v.) to reject, renounce
Blandish -(v.) to coax by using flattery
Cacophony -(n.) tremendous noise, disharmonious sound
Decry -(v.) to criticize openly
Ebullient -(adj.) extremely lively, enthusiastic
Fallacious -(adj.) incorrect, misleading
Garrulous -(adj.) talkative, wordy
Hackneyed -(adj.) unoriginal, trite
Iconoclast -(n.) one who attacks common beliefs or institutions
Jubilant -(adj.) extremely joyful, happy
Laconic -(adj.) terse in speech or writing
Maelstrom -(n.) a destructive whirlpool which rapidly sucks in objects
Nadir -(n.) the lowest point of something
Obdurate -(adj.) unyielding to persuasion or moral influences
Palliate -(v.) to reduce the severity of
Quagmire -(n.) a difficult situation
Rancor -(n.) deep, bitter resentment
Sacrosanct -(adj.) holy, something that should not be criticized
Tacit -(adj.) expressed without words
Ubiquitous -(adj.) existing everywhere, widespread
Week 3
Vacillate -(v.) to fluctuate, hesitate
Wanton -(adj.) undisciplined, lewd, lustful
Zenith -(n.) the highest point, culminating point
Abrogate -(v.) to abolish, usually by authority
Boon -(n.) a gift or blessing
Cajole -(v.) to urge, coax
Defile -(v.) to make unclean, impure
Effrontery -(n.) impudence, nerve, insolence
Fastidious -(adj.) meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards
Grandiloquence -(n.) lofty, pompous language
Hapless -(adj.) unlucky
Ignominious -(adj.) humiliating, disgracing
Juxtaposition -(n.) the act of placing two things next to each other for implicit comparison
Languid -(adj.) sluggish from fatigue or weakness
Magnanimous -(adj.) noble, generous
Nascent -(adj.) in the process of being born or coming into existence
Obfuscate -(v.) to render incomprehensible
Pallid -(adj.) lacking color
Querulous -(adj.) whiny, complaining
Rebuke -(v.) to scold, criticize
Week 4
Sagacity -(n.) shrewdness, soundness of perspective
Taciturn -(adj.) not inclined to talk
Umbrage -(n.) resentment, offense
Vacuous -(adj.) lack of content or ideas, stupid
Winsome -(adj.) charming, pleasing
Zephyr -(n.) a gentle breeze
Acerbic -(adj.) biting, bitter in tone or taste
Brusque -(adj.) short, abrupt, dismissive
Calumny -(n.) an attempt to spoil someone else’s reputation by spreading lies
Deleterious -(adj.) harmful
Effulgent -(adj.) radiant, splendorous
Fatuous -(adj.) silly, foolish
Gregarious -(adj.) drawn to the company of others, sociable
Harangue -1. (n.) a ranting speech 2. (v.) to give such a speech
Impassive – (adj.) stoic, not susceptible to suffering
Largess -(n.) the generous giving of lavish gifts
Malediction -(n.) a curse
Nefarious -(adj.) heinously villainous
Oblique -(adj.) diverging from a straight line or course, not straightforward
Panacea -(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties
Week 5
Quixotic -(adj.) idealistic, impractical
Recalcitrant -(adj.) defiant, unapologetic
Salient -(adj.) significant, conspicuous
Tantamount -(adj.) equivalent in value or significance
Unctuous -(adj.) smooth or greasy in texture, appearance, manner
Vapid -(adj.) lacking liveliness, dull
Wistful -(adj.) full of yearning; musingly sad
Yoke – (v.) to join, link
Zealous – (adj.) fervent, filled with eagerness in pursuit of something
Abscond – (v.) to sneak away and hide
Bereft – (adj.) devoid of, without
Capricious – (adj.) subject to whim, fickle
Deleterious – (adj.) harmful
Elucidate – (v.) to clarify, explain
Fidelity – (n..) loyalty, devotion
Goad – (v.) to urge spur, incite to action
Haughty (adj.) disdainfully proud
Impeccable (adj.) exemplary, flawless
Judicious (adj.) having or exercising sound judgment
Kudos (adj.) praise for an achievement
Week Six
Lenient (adj.) demonstrating tolerance or gentleness
Meticulous (adj.) extremely careful with details
Nebulous (adj.) vaguely defined, cloudy
Ominous (adj.) foreboding or foreshadowing evil
Pariah (n.) an outcast
Quell (v.) to control or diffuse a potentially explosive situation
Rescind (v.) to take back, repeal
Strenuous (adj.) requiring tremendous energy or stamina
Tractable (adj.) easily controlled
Uncanny (adj.) of supernatural character or origin
Vindictive (adj.) vengeful
Wily (adj.) crafty, sly
Aversion (n.) a particular dislike for something
Burnish (v.) to polish, shine
Curtail (v.) to lessen , reduce
Duress (n.) hardship, threat
Exult (v.) to rejoice
Furtive (adj.) secretive, sly
Guile (n.) deceitful, cunning, sly behavior
Hypocrisy (n.) pretending to believe what one does not
Week Seven
Irrevocable (adj.) incapable of being taken back
Lurid (adj.) ghastly, sensational
Myriad (adj.) consisting of a very great number
Nurture (v.) to assist the development of
Ostracism (n.) exclusion from a group
Putrid (adj.) rotten, foul
Quaint (adj.) charmingly old-fashioned
Ruse (n.) a trick
Sycophant (n.) one who flatters for self-gain
Transgress (v.) to violate, go over a limit
Undulate (v.) to move in waves
Vociferous (adj.) loud, boisterous
Wrath (n.) vengeful anger, punishment
Avenge (v.) to seek revenge
Bombastic (adj.) excessively confident, pompous
Curt (adj.) abruptly and rudely short
Dubious (adj.) doubtful, of uncertain quality
Exigent (adj.) urgent, critical
Fortitude (n.) strength, guts
Genial (adj.) friendly, affable
Week Eight
Heinous (adj.) shockingly wicked, repugnant
Inane (adj.) silly and meaningless
Knell (n.) the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death
Licentious (adj.) displaying a lack of moral or legal restraint
Malevolent (adj.) wanting harm to befall others
Notorious (adj.) widely and unfavorably known
Obtuse (adj.) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect
Perusal (n.) a careful examination
Quandary (n.) a perplexed, unresolvable state
Rancid (adj.) having a terrible taste or smell
Serene (adj.) calm, untroubled
Tranquil (adj.) calm
Utopia (n.) an imaginary and remote place of perfection
Vestige (n.) a mark or a trace of something lost or vanished
Wane
(v.) to decrease in size, dwindle
Abhor
(v.) to hate, detest
Bilk (v.) to cheat, defraud
Coalesce (v.) to fuse into a whole
Diaphanous (adj.) light, airy, transparent
Extricate
(v.) to disentangle
Week Nine
Fractious (adj.) troublesome or irritable
Garish (adj.) gaudy, in bad taste
Hallowed (adj.) revered, consecrated
Innate (adj.) inborn, native, inherent
Lucid (adj.) clear, easily understandable
Mollify (v.) To soften in temper
Noxious (adj.) harmful, unwholesome
Ostensible (adj.) appearing as such, seemingly
Plethora (n.) an abundance, excess
Quotidian (adj.) daily
Reprobate (adj.) evil, unprincipled
Scathing (adj.) sharp, critical, hurtful
Travesty (n.) a grossly inferior imitation
Verdant (adj.) green in tint or color
Wallow (v.) to roll oneself indolently; to
Aloof (adj.) reserved, distant
Banal (adj.) dull, commonplace
Cloying (adj.) sickeningly sweet
Desecrate (v.) to violate the sacredness of a thing or place
Emulate (v.) to imitate
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