UNIT FIVE

Vocabulary G

Sumptuousextremely, rich, luxurious, or magnificent.

The sumptuous spread of food made my mouth water.

Garner

To acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away, as for future We will use our garnered information to write the Gatsby essays.

Hallow

To set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify, consecrate; to honor greatly, revereThe ancient Aztecs hallowed their great temples.

Idiosyncrasy (n.)A PECULIARITY THAT SERVES TO DISTINGUISH OR IDENTIFY

EX. EACH CHARACTER OF THE STONE DIARIES HAS AN IDIOSYNCRASY THAT DISTINGUISHES THEM THROUGHOUT THE TEXT.

Ignominy (n.)

Shame and disgraceEx. Sara’s parents

believed that getting married right out of high school was a huge ignominy, but the two were as happy as could be.

(adj.) present or existing everywhere

Ubiquitous

John used bottles of chemicals to get rid of the ubiquitous ants that had invaded his kitchen.

Mundane

(Adj.) Earthly, worldly, relating to practical and material affairs; concerned with what is ordinary

Mundane tasks such as brushing ones teeth become repetitive each day.

Nuance

(Noun) A subtle or slight variation (color, meaning, quality) delicate gradation or shade of difference

The artists paid close attention to every nuance in the color spectrum.

Fiat (n.) an arbitrary order or decree; a command

or an act of will or consciousness

The judge instituted new fiats for the criminal and regulations that he needs to follow.

Figment

(n.) a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion

When people are in the desert, they sometimes imagine and have figments that water is near.

Esotericintended for or understood by only a

select few, private, secret

THE INSIDE JOKE IN THE GIRL’S ESSAY ONLY MADE A FEW OF THE STUDENTS

LAUGH, IT WAS VERY ESOTERIC.

FecundFruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive The fecund vineyards in France are among the most

expensive and nice vineyards of the world.

Sophistry

(n.) reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound; a fallacy

Dr. House wishes his team would come up with diseases that are sophistry and would therefore help the patient.

reputed

according to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance and good reputation; alleged

His reputed skills for picking locks, breaking codes, and obtaining secret information made him a very good spy.

Penchant (n.)Despite Mercy’s obesity, Cuyler felt a sincere penchant towards her.

A strong attraction or inclination

Overweening

(adj.)Hamilton’s overweening defamation of Burr led to their controversial duel and Hamilton’s subsequent death. conceited,

presumptuous; excessive, immoderate

Depraved (adj.) marked by evil and corruption, devoid of moral principles

THE DEPRAVED CHILDREN DRESSED AS NAZI SOLDIERS FOR HALLOWEEN.

Enervate (v.) to weaken or lessen the mental, moral or physical vigor of; enfeeble, hamstring

Yep.

Acuity Def: (n.) sharpness (particularly of the mind or senses)

Syn: keenness, acuteness

Ant: dullness, obtuseness

The great horned owl’s acuity of eyesight gives it the best vision of any animal on earth.

DelineateDef: to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail; to present pictorially

Syn: depict, picture, render

Milton vividly delineates the battles between Heaven and Hell in his epic, Paradise Lost.