Junior Vocabulary
“The words of the world want to make
sentences.” - Gaston Bachelard
Lesson #1
abate (verb) to lessen in violence or intensity
abet (verb) to assist or encourage, especially in
wrongdoing
abhor (verb) to detest, loathe, hate strongly
acquit (verb) to find not guilty of a fault or crime
acrimony (noun) harsh temper or bitter feeling
adamant (adj.) unyielding; firm in opinion
adulation (noun) excessive praise or admiration
affable (adj.) friendly: courteous; agreeable in
manner; easy to talk to
agnostic (noun) one who believes that the existence
of God is unknown and unknowable
agrarian (adj.) having to do with farms, farmers, or
the use of land
Lesson #2
altercation (noun) a heated argument
ambivalent (adj.) to be uncertain; to be unable to
decide between two opposing points of view
amicable (adj.) friendly; peaceable
anathema (noun) a greatly disliked, hated person or
thing; a curse or a person cursed
apathy (noun) lack of interest
appease (verb) to make calm or quiet; to give in to
the demands of
arduous (adj.) difficult; requiring much effort;
strenuous
audacity (noun) insolence; rude boldness
augment (verb) to enlarge; to increase in amount or
intensity
austere (adj.) stern, severe, plain
Lesson #3
avarice (noun) excessive greed; desire for wealth
avid (adj.) eager; extremely interested
bacchanalian (adj.) wild with drunkenness
balk (verb) to stop short and refuse to continue; to
obstruct
banter (noun) teasing; good-natured joking
barrister (noun) lawyer
bask (verb) to lie in or be exposed to warmth
bastion (noun) a strong defense; a fort
bawdy (adj.) indecent; humorously obscene
befuddle (verb) to confuse; to perplex
Lesson #4
bigot (noun) one who is intolerant of another's
beliefs, opinions, or values
cajole (verb) to persuade with false promises and
flattery
candid (adj.) outspoken, blunt; informal, unposed
canine (noun or adj.) having to do with dogs
capricious (adj.) guided by whim rather than
reason; changing one's mind suddenly
castigate (verb) to criticize or punish for the purpose
of correction
caustic (adj.) biting, burning, severe; sharp or
sarcastic
chaos (noun) complete disorder
charlatan (noun) one who pretends to have more
knowledge or skill than he really has, especially in
the field of medicine
chastise (verb) to punish severely
Lesson #5
circumspect (adj.) careful. watchful; attentive to all
points
circumvent (verb) to get around; to beat or defeat
by trickery; to prevent an occurrence
clandestine (adj.) secret
clement (adj.) 1. merciful; lenient 2. mild, as weather
cliche (noun) a worn-out idea or overused
expression
coerce ( verb) to compel by force; to force a person
to do something against his will
collaborate (verb) 1. to work with another toward a
goal; 2. to cooperate with an enemy invader
comely (adj.) attractive or handsome; pleasing to
the sight
complacent (adj.) pleased with oneself or one's
deeds
concur (verb) to be of the same opinion; to agree
with
Lesson #6
condone (verb) to forgive or overlook an offense by
treating the wrongdoer as if he had done nothing
wrong
connive (verb) to cooperate secretly in a
wrongdoing
connoisseur (noun) an expert; a critical judge in
matters of culture, food or wine
contrite (adj.) showing a deep regret and sorrow,
usually for having committed some wrongdoing
copious (adj.) abundant; large in number or
quantity
crass (adj.) coarse, stupid, tasteless
credence (noun) belief or trust
culinary (adj.) having to do with the kitchen or
cooking
culmination (noun) attainment by anything of it's
highest point or degree
cult (noun) a fad-like devotion to a person, thing or
idea; a group of people with such a devotion
Lesson #7
cynical (adj.) inclined to distrust or deny the
goodness or sincerity of human motive
decorum (noun) conformity to accepted standards of
conduct; proper behavior
demagogue (noun) a leader who appeals to the
emotions and prejudices of people especially to
advance his own power
demure (adj.) quietly modest
deprecate (verb) to express disapproval of; to
depreciate one's effort
destitute (adj.) extremely poor; lacking necessities
like food and/or shelter
diffident (lacking in self-confidence; shy
dilemma (noun) a difficult choice; especially a
choice between two equally undesirable alternatives
dilettante (noun) one who studies an art or science
for mere amusement
disparity (noun) inequality; difference
Lesson #8
divulge (verb) to tell, to reveal (as a secret)
docile (adj.) easy to teach or manage
dogmatic (adj.) stating an opinion in an authoritative
or arrogant manner
dole (verb) to distribute; to give out sparingly
dolorous (adj.) mournful, sad
dour (adj.) gloomy, sullen
droll (adj.) amusing in an odd way
duplicity (noun) intentional deceit in speech or
conduct
effigy (noun) an image of a person or thing; usually
a crude image of a hated person
emaciated (adj.) extremely thin, wasted away