Senior British Literature: Vocabulary Unit 7
Mrs. Alana Haughaboo
Definitions
allay
(v.) to calm a strong emotion such as anger, or diminish and set at rest somebody's fears
or suspicions; to relieve or reduce the severity of pain or a painful emotion
SYNONYMS: reduce, alleviate, moderate
ANTONYMS: aggravate, exacerbate, intensify
bestial
(adj.) lacking human feelings of pity or remorse; lacking intellect, reason, or culture
SYNONYMS: animal, depraved, loathsome, beastly, brutal
ANTONYMS: human, humane, clement, virtuous, upright
convivial
(adj.) enjoyable because of its friendliness; fond of the company of others
SYNONYMS: fun-loving, jovial, merry, festive
ANTONYMS: dour, grim, sullen, unsociable
coterie
(n.) a circle of acquaintances, a small exclusive group of people who share the same
interests
SYNONYMS: clique, set
counterpart
(n.) a somebody or something that resembles another or functions similarly in a
different system or group; either of two parts that fit together or are complementary
SYNONYM: match, corresponding item
demur
(v.) to delay or try to avoid doing something because of personal reservations or
objections; to object mildly to something that you do not want to do but have been
asked to do (n.) an objection
SYNONYMS: (v.) protest, object to
ANTONYMS: (v.) assent to, consent to, accept, agree to
effrontery
(n.) behavior or an attitude that is so bold or arrogant as to be insulting
SYNONYMS: gall, chutzpah, nerve, impertinence, cheek
ANTONYMS: shyness, diffidence, timidity
embellish
(v.) to increase the beauty of something by adding ornaments or decorations; to make an
account or description more interesting by inventing or exaggerating details
SYNONYMS: ornament, garish
ANTONYMS: strip, mar, disfigure
ephemeral
(adj.) lasting for only a short period of time and leaving no permanent trace
SYNONYMS: short-lived, fleeting, transient, evanescent, transitory
ANTONYMS: durable, long-lasting, perpetual, permanent
felicitous
(adj.) appropriate or highly suitable; happy or fortunate
SYNONYMS: fortunate, well-put, apt, appropriate
ANTONYMS: inappropriate, inept, graceless, unhappy
furtive
(adj.) done in a way that is intended to escape notice; presenting the appearance, or
giving the impression, of somebody who has something to hide
SYNONYMS: clandestine, covert, surreptitious
ANTONYMS: forthright, aboveboard, open
garish
(adj.) crudely showy; excessively ornate or elaborate; wearing clothing or makeup that
is extremely brightly colored
SYNONYMS: gaudy, flashy, tawdry
ANTONYMS: subdued, muted, understated, quiet
illusory
(adj.) produced by, based on, or consisting of an illusion; lacking in or not based in
reality
SYNONYMS: specious, spurious, fanciful, imaginary, misleading, deceptive
ANTONYMS: actual, real, factual, objective
indigent
(adj.) lacking the necessities of life, e.g. food, clothing, and shelter
SYNONYMS: penniless, poverty-stricken, destitute, needy, impoverished
ANTONYMS: wealthy, affluent, prosperous
inordinate
(adj.) beyond reasonable limits in amount or degree; showing a lack of restraint or
control
SYNONYMS: exorbitant, extravagant, excessive
ANTONYMS: moderate, reasonable, equitable
jettison
(v.) to discard or abandon something such as an idea or project; to throw something
from a ship, aircraft, or vehicle
SYNONYMS: cast off, discard, dump, junk, abandon
ANTONYMS: conserve, retain, hold on to, keep
misanthrope
(n.) somebody who hates humanity, or who dislikes and distrusts other people and tends
to avoid them
SYNONYM: people-hater
pertinacious
(adj.) very persistent; holding firmly to course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get
rid of, refusing to be put off or denied
SYNONYMS: stubborn, dogged, determined
picayune
(adj.) tending to fuss about unimportant things and to be childishly spiteful
SYNONYMS: inconsequential, piddling, trifling, paltry, small-minded
ANTONYMS: important, significant, huge, gigantic
raiment
(n.) that with or in which a person is arrayed or attired; clothing, garments
SYNONYMS: apparel, attire, fashion