Vocabulary #6 – Pd. 1
1.
su·per·cil·i·ous
[soo-per-sil-ee-uh s]
–adjective
haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression.
[Origin: 1520–30; < L
2.
somnambulatory [som-nam-byuh-leyt, suh m-]
–adjective
to walk during sleep; sleepwalk.
Origin: 1825–35; < L
3.
extemporize
ik-stem-puh-rahyz]
verb
1.to sing, or play on an instrument, composing the music as one
proceeds; improvise.
2. to do or manage something in a makeshift way.
Origin: 1635-45
4.
Fervent
[fur-vuh nt]
–adjective
having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling,
enthusiasm, etc.; ardent
5.
magnanimous
[mag-nan-uh-muh s]
–adjective
1. generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty
resentfulness or vindictiveness: to be magnanimous toward one's
enemies.
2.
3.
high-minded; noble: a just and magnanimous ruler.
proceeding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind,
character, etc.: a magnanimous gesture of forgiveness.
Origin: 1575–85; < L
6.
epigram
ep-i-gram]
noun
1. any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed.
2. a short, often satirical poem dealing concisely with a single subject
and usually ending with a witty or ingenious turn of thought.
Origin: 1400-50; late Middle English < Latin
7. fractious
[frak-shuh s]
adjective
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
Origin: 1715–25
8. effeminate
[ih-fem-uh-nit; v. ih-fem-uh-neyt]
adjective
1. (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered
feminine, as softness or delicacy.
2. characterized by excessive softness, delicacy, self-indulgence, etc.:
effeminate luxury.
Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L
9. privy [priv-ee]
adjective
1. participating in the knowledge of something private or secret
(usually fol. by to ): Many persons were privy to the plot.
2. private; assigned to private uses.
3. belonging or pertaining to some particular person, esp. with
reference to a sovereign.
4. secret, concealed, hidden, or secluded.
Origin: 1175–1225; ME
10.
peremptory [puh-remp-tuh-ree, per-uh mp-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]
adjective
1. leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal; imperative: a
peremptory command.
2. imperious or dictatorial.
3. positive or assertive in speech, tone, manner, etc.
Origin: 1505–15; < L