2016 Vocabulary #20 – Period 1
1.
reticence
[ret-uh-suh nt]
–adjective
1. disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved.
2. reluctant or restrained
Origin: 1825–35; < L
2.
bandolier [ban-dl-eer]
–noun
a broad belt worn over the shoulder by soldiers and having a number of
small loops or pockets, for holding a cartridge or cartridges.
Origin: 1570–80; earlier bandollier < MF
3.
elusive
[ih-loo-siv]
–adjective
1. eluding clear perception or complete mental grasp; hard to express or
define: an elusive concept.
2. cleverly or skillfully evasive: a fish too elusive to catch.
Origin:1710–20
4.
feckless
[fek-lis]
–adjective
1. ineffective; incompetent; futile: feckless attempts to repair the
plumbing.
2. having no sense of responsibility; indifferent; lazy.
Origin: 1590–1600; orig. Scots
5.
shrapnel
[shrap-nl]
–noun
1. a hollow projectile containing bullets or the like and a bursting charge,
designed to explode before reaching the target, and to set free a shower of
missiles.
2. shell fragments.
Origin: 1800–10;
6.
effusiveih-fyoo-siv] Spell
adjective
1. unduly demonstrative; lacking reserve:
effusive greetings; an effusive person.
2. pouring out; overflowing.
Origin
1655-1665
7.
comport
[kuh m-pawrt, -pohrt]
verb
1. to bear or conduct (oneself); behave: He comported himself with dignity.
2. to be in agreement, harmony, or conformity (usually followed by with ):
His statement does not comport with the facts.
Origin: 1350–1400; Middle English
8.
catharsis
[kuh-thahr-seez]
1. the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially
through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music.
2. psychotherapy that encourages or permits the discharge of pent-up,
socially unacceptable affects.
Origin: 1795–1805; < Neo-Latin < Greek
9.
gangrene
[gang-green, gang-green]
noun
1. necrosis or death of soft tissue due to obstructed circulation, usually
followed by decomposition and putrefaction.
2. moral or spiritual corruption and decadence that pervades an individual or
group: “This church body has been afflicted with a spiritual gangrene that is
poisoning our relationship with the Lord,” the preacher expostulated.
Origin: 1535–45; < Middle French
10.
feign
[feyn]
–verb (used with object)
1. to represent fictitiously; put on an appearance of: to feign sickness.
2. to invent fictitiously or deceptively, as a story or an excuse.
3. to imitate deceptively: to feign another's voice.
4. to make believe; pretend: She's only feigning, she isn't really ill.
Origin: 1250–1300; ME