2016 Vocabulary #15 – Period 3
1.
ubiquitous [yoo-bik-wi-tuh s]
–adjective
existing or being everywhere, esp. at the same time; omnipresent:
ubiquitous fog; ubiquitous little ants.
Origin: 1830–40;
2.
abrogate
[ab-ruh-geyt]
–verb
1. to abolish by formal or official means; annul by an authoritative act;
repeal: to abrogate a law.
2. to put aside; put an end to.
Origin: 1520–30; < L
3.
harangue
[huh-rang]
–noun
1. a scolding or a long or intense verbal attack; diatribe.
2.
a long, passionate, and vehement speech, esp. one delivered before a
public gathering.
3.
any long, pompous speech or writing of a tediously hortatory or didactic
nature; sermonizing lecture or discourse.
–verb
4. to address or deliver in a harangue.
Origin: 1530–40; (n.) < MF
4.
bilk [bilk]
–verb
1. to defraud; cheat: He bilked the government of almost a million dollars.
2.
to evade payment of (a debt).
3.
to frustrate: a career bilked by poor health.
4. to escape from; elude: to bilk one's pursuers.
–noun
5. a cheat; swindler.
6. a trick; fraud; deceit.
Origin: 1625–35
5.
obdurate
[ob-doo-rit, -dyoo-]
–adjective
1.
unmoved by persuasion, pity, or tender feelings; stubborn; unyielding.
2.
stubbornly resistant to moral influence; persistently impenitent: an
obdurate sinner.
Origin: 1400–50; late ME obdurat < L
6.
mien
meen]
noun
1.air, bearing, or demeanor, as showing character, feeling, etc.: a man of
noble mien.
Origin: 1505-1515
7.
irascible
[i-ras-uh-buh l]
–adjective
1. easily provoked to anger; very irritable: an irascible old man.
2. characterized or produced by anger: an irascible response.
Origin: 1350–1400; ME
8.
innocuous
[i-nok-yoo-uh s]
–adjective
1. not harmful or injurious; harmless: an innocuous home remedy.
2.
not likely to irritate or offend; inoffensive; an innocuous remark.
3.
not interesting, stimulating, or significant; pallid; insipid: an innocuous
novel.
Origin: 1590–1600; < L
9.
dismal
[diz-muh l]
–adjective
1. causing gloom or dejection; gloomy; dreary; cheerless; melancholy:
dismal weather.
2.
characterized by ineptness or lack of skill, competence, effectiveness,
imagination, or interest; pitiful: Our team played a dismal game.
Origin: 1275–1325; ME
10.
histrionic [his-tree-on-ik]
adjective
deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional; overly dramatic, in
behavior or speech
Origin: 1640–50; < Late Latin