Week 1
acquittal – (noun) a setting free by judgment of a court; a
release from a duty, obligation, etc.
assert – (verb) to express or state positively; to defend or
claim (one’s rights, for example)
condescend – (verb) to stop to do something you think is
unworthy of you
contemptuous – (adj.) showing or feeling scorn
elite – (adj.) of or suitable for a select group; (noun) a group
or part of a group regarded as the best, most skilled, most
powerful, etc.
evolve – (verb) to develop gradually by process of growth
and change
fortitude – (noun) patient courage in facing pain or danger;
moral strength; endurance
inarticulate – (adj.) unable to speak understandably or
effectively or to use words; unable to say what one thinks
mentor – (noun) a wise and trusted teacher; a counselor
notoriety – (noun) fame, usually in an unfavorable sense
Week 2
analogy – (noun) a likeness between different things; a
similarity; a comparison
antiquity – (noun) ancient times; a thing or people of ancient
times; the quality of being ancient
electorate – (noun) all persons having the right to vote
ethical – (adj.) pertaining to right and wrong; conforming to
certain rules or standards; moral
excerpt – (noun) a selected passage or scene from a literary
work or piece of music; an extract; (verb) to take out or select
passages; to quote
heresy – (noun) a belief different from accepted doctrine
paternal – (adj.) inherited from or related through one’s
father; fatherly
pauper – (noun) a person who is very poor, especially one
dependent upon public charity
posthumous – (adj.) coming after death
prophetic – (adj.) relating to someone or something that
foretells events
Week 3
amiable – (adj.) friendly; agreeable; good-natured
bayou – (noun) a marshy inlet or outlet of a river or lake,
especially in parts of the southern United States
grimace – (verb) to make a face showing pain, annoyance,
and the like
indomitable – (adj.) unconquerable; unyielding; not easily
overcome
malleable – (adj.) capable of being shaped by hammering or
pressing; having the capacity to be changed easily
melodramatic – (adj.) overly dramatic, emotional, or
sentimental; sensational
succumb – (verb) to die; to yield or give in to an
overpowering force or desire
vibrant – (adj.) vibrating rapidly; energetic, vigorous;
produced by vibration (as in sound); stimulating
visage – (noun) a face or a facial expression; appearance
whimsical – (adj.) full of curious ideas or notions; oddly out
of the ordinary; unpredictable
Week 4
apprehensive – (adj.) uneasy; fearful about the future
callous – (adj.) lacking mercy; insensitive; thick and
hardened; having calluses
commendable – (adj.) praiseworthy; deserving approval or
credit
indignant – (adj.) angered by the unfairness or meanness of
something
ineffectual – (adj.) unable to bring about a desired result;
inadequate
judicious – (adj.) sensible; wise and careful; discreet;
prudent
mystic – (adj.) mysterious; (noun) a person who believes
that truth or God can best be known through spiritual insight
or experience
paraphrase – (verb) to state a meaning in other words
personification – (noun) a figure of speech in which
something nonhuman is given human qualities; a person or
thing that perfectly represents an idea or quality
verbatim – (adv.) in the exact words; (adj.) following the
original exactly
Week 5
affiliate – (noun) an associated person or organization; a
member; (verb) to join or unite with a larger body
encumber – (verb) to hinder; to obstruct; to burden
exalted – (adj.) overjoyed with excitement; raised in status or
rank; elevated in style or tone
invariably – (adv.) continually; perpetually; constantly;
always
plausible – (adj.) appearing to be true; reasonable; seeming
to be logical or correct
pompous – (adj.) overly dignified; self-important;
characterized by exaggerated stateliness, as in speech or
manner
portly – (adj.) comfortably fat or stout; large and heavy in a
stately and dignified way
proximity – (noun) nearness; closeness; a neighboring area
rejuvenate – (verb) to make young or vigorous again; to give
youthful qualities to
unprecedented – (adj.) never done or known before; without
previous example
Week 6
atrocious – (adj.) exceedingly bad; wicked or cruel;
abominable
compassion – (noun) pity for someone else’s suffering,
along with a desire to help
composure – (noun) self-possession; tranquility
deteriorate – (verb) to become worse or less valuable; to
diminish
discern – (verb) to detect with one of the senses, to notice;
to recognize as different or to identify as separate; to come to
know mentally, to judge
insipid – (adj.) flavorless; dull or unexciting; lifeless
lament – (verb) to feel deep sorrow; to express sorrow or
mourning for; to grieve; (noun) an expression of grief; a song
or poem expressing grief
loathe – (verb) to feel intense dislike or hatred; to detest
painstaking – (adj.) very careful; diligent; requiring great
care; meticulous
repress – (verb) to restrain; to keep or put down
Week 7
aesthetic – (adj.) artistic; having to do with art or beauty;
sensitive to art and beauty
charisma – (noun) a special quality of leadership or a special
charm that captures the public imagination and inspires
devotion
cliché – (noun) an overused idea or expression; a trite
saying
conceive – (verb) to imagine or develop as an idea; to
understand or grasp; to become pregnant with
emphatically – (adv.) forcefully; assertively
martial – (adj.) military; suggesting war; warlike
paradox – (noun) a statement that may be true but that
seems to say contradictory things
prolific – (adj.) producing a great deal of something;
producing many young or much fruit
recipient – (noun) a person who receives something
wan – (adj.) sickly pale or faint; colorless
Week 8
aura – (noun) a distinctive quality surrounding a person or
thing; an invisible, enveloping glow
fabricate – (verb) to build or manufacture; to make up or
invent (as a story or an excuse) impediment – (noun) a
speech disorder; an obstruction of some kind
mediocre – (adj.) only average or ordinary; medium; neither
bad nor good
opportune – (adj.) right for the purpose; advantageously
timed
qualm – (noun) an uneasiness, misgiving, or doubt; a slight
feeling of sickness or nausea
reactionary – (adj.) advocating a return to an earlier social,
political, or economic policy or condition; (noun) one who
advocates a return to an earlier policy or condition
stamina (noun) – vigor; strength; endurance
zealous – (adj.) intensely devoted; eager; enthusiastic
zephyr – (noun) a gentle wind; a mild breeze
Week 9
axiom – (noun) a statement assumed to be true; a selfevident truth; an established principle
compatible – (adj.) able to get along; agreeing; in agreement
with; harmonious
compliance – (noun) the act of adapting to or giving in; a
tendency to yield; conformity with official requirements
inanimate – (adj.) dull; spiritless; lifeless
indestructible – (adj.) not capable of being destroyed
innate – (adj.) inborn; natural; inherent
mutable – (adj.) capable of change; inconstant
perception – (noun) an observation, a concept, or an
awareness gained by use of the senses; an understanding or
impression of something; appreciation, discernment
prevalent – (adj.) widespread; in general use; having general
acceptance
recourse – (noun) a person or thing looked to for help,
safety, and so on; a turning for help, safety, and the like, to a
person or thing
Week 10
encompass – (verb) to contain or include; to surround
implacable – (adj.) relentless; not capable of being calmed
or appeased
incentive – (noun) motivation; encouragement; (adj.)
motivating; encouraging
militant – (adj.) aggressive in support of a belief or cause;
(noun) an individual prepared to fight for a cause; an activist
pivotal – (on which something turns or depends; crucial;
vitally important
postulate – (noun) an assumption; a fundamental truth or
doctrine; (verb) to assume without proof
retribution – (noun) something given to make up for a wrong
done; punishment
stringent – (adj.) tight in finances or credit; strict; severe
transcend – (verb) to surpass the limits of; to exceed
transitory – (adj.) passing quickly; lasting only a short time;
temporary