L E S S O N 2 6 : E XC E S S

HONORS ENGLISH I VOCABULARY

AGGRANDIZE

• (trans. verb)• a. To make something seem greater; exaggerate• b. To make greater in power or influence• c. To increase the scope of; enlarge; extend

• Example: To aggrandize his position in society, Rupert claimed that he was related to one of the wealthiest families in Timberline County.

EXORBITANCE

• (noun)The condition of exceeding reasonable or proper limits; excessiveness; extravagance.

• Example: At the Apres Midi restaurant, the quality of the food did not justify the exorbitant prices.

GRANDIOSE

• (adjective) • a. Characterized by pretended or affected grandeur;

pompous.• b. Characterized by greatness of scope or intent; grand.

• Example: The wealthy business executive instructed the architect to design a grandiose mansion that would resemble a European palace.

HYPERBOLE

• (noun) An exaggerated statement often used as a figure of speech.

• Example: The expression, “I’ve told you a million times” is an example of hyperbole.

INTEMPERATE

• (adjective) Not temperate or moderate.

• Example: When it came to Chinese food, Marla had an intemperate appetite and ordered everything from soup to litchi nuts.

OBSESS

• (trans. verb)To preoccupy the mind obsessively.

• Example: Farley was so obsessed with the adventure movie that he went to see it eleven times.

OPULENCE

• (noun)• a. The state of having or displaying great wealth and

luxury.• b. A state of abundance.

• Example: The opulence of the store’s display windows impressed its customers.

PROFLIGATE

• (adjective)• a. Recklessly wasteful or extravagant• b. Completely given over to self-indulgence.

• Example: Morris depleted his large inheritance in a profligate manner.

SATIATE

• (trans. verb)• a. To gratify to excess.• b. To satisfy fully.

• Example: The enormous picnic lunch satiated even the heartiest appetites.

SUPERFLUOUS

• (adjective) Beyond what is required or sufficient; extra.

• Example: Skillful writers prune the superfluous words from their first drafts.