Friday, November 30, 2018

English 11

We'll go over the Act I questions on Monday, so make sure your answers are complete.  Your insulting letters are due next Friday, so start working on them this weekend.  Finally, you'll have a vocabulary test next Wednesday.  Here are the words:


Period 1 Vocabulary Set Two:   

nonplussed (adj):  1) describing one who’s so surprised or confused they do not knowwhat to do 
2) (informal, North America) describing one who is not bothered by an 
irritant; unperturbed 
plethora (n):  a large or excessive amount of something 
toady (n):  an obsequious person; a sycophant; one who uses flattery to curry favour with a more powerful individual 
murky (adj):  1)  a thing not fully explained or understood, especially because it has been concealed with dishonesty or immorality 
2)  (of liquid) dark, cloudy, or unclear 
3)  dark and gloomy, especially because of a thick mist 
ramification (n): a consequence of an action or event, especially when it is complex or unwelcome 
draconian (adj): (of laws/rules and their application) excessively harsh and severe 
straggle (v): 1) to move along slowly or lag behind a group 
libido (n): sex drive 
melancholic (adj)  1) feeling or expressing pensive sadness 
2) suffering from a severe form of depression 
lethargy (n): a lack of energy or enthusiasm 
sanguine (adj):  confidently optimistic; cheerful 
geriatric (adj):  elderly; relating to old age 
dwarf (v): to be so oversized that it makes other things minute (e.g. “The large cloak dwarfed the small child.”) 
liable (adj): a) having legal responsibility for someone or something b) likely 
relinquish (v): to give up; to let go 
imbibe (v): to drink, esp. alcohol 
logophile (n): a lover of words 
defenestrate (v): to throw someone out a window 
conniptions (n): a fit of rage or hysteria 
subliminal (adj): subconscious 
delusions (n): faulty or hallucinatory beliefs that are maintained despite evidence to the contrary 
latent (adj): existing, but not yet developed; hidden 
euphemism (n): a gentle word for a harsh truth (e.g. “passed away” in stead of “died”) 
ambiguous (adj): having more than one possible meaning 
linoleum (n):  a hard, washable floor covering often found in institutions (also called “lino”) 
stoicism (n) endurance of pain without display of feelings or complaint 
esoteric (adj): likely to be understood only by a few people with specialized knowledge 
dwell (v):  a) to think moodily or anxiously about something b) to live in a place 
perspicacious (adj): having a keen ability to understand something 
serendipitous (adj):  finding value by chance, value one was not seeking 
abnegation (n): the denial or rejection of something, such as doctrines or beliefs, but also the denial of self because of extreme altruism 
reminisce (v): to indulge in enjoyable memories 
sanist (n): the belief that only the sane have rights (not those experiencing mental problems) 
cynical (adj):1)  believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of sincerity or 
integrity 
2) concerned with one’s own self-interest and typically disregarding accepted or appropriate standards to get them 
zealous (adj):  having or showing enthusiasm, passion, or commitment to a cause or endeavour 
leery (adj):  being cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions 
aberration (n): a departure from what is typical, normal, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome 
insinuate (v): to suggest or hint (at something bad or reprehensible) in an indirect, unpleasant 
way; to maneuver oneself into a favorable position by subtle manipulation 
ephemeral (n):  lasting only a very brief time 
fluster (v and n):  (v)  to make someone agitated or confused 
(n) a state of agitation or confusion  (“to be in a fluster”) 


Period 2 Vocabulary Set Two: 


polemic (n): a strong written or verbal attack on someone 
cynical (adj):1)  believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of sincerity or 
               integrity 
                      2) concerned with one’s own self-interest and typically disregarding accepted  or appropriate standards to get them 
zealous (adj):  having or showing enthusiasm, passion, or commitment to a cause or endeavour 
leery (adj):  being cautious or wary due to realistic suspicions 
aberration (n): a departure from what is typical, normal, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome  
acumen (n): the ability to make good judgements and quick decisions, typically in a particular field or domain 
insinuate (v): to suggest or hint (at something bad or reprehensible) in an indirect, unpleasant 
way; to maneuver oneself into a favorable position by subtle manipulation 
ephemeral (n):  lasting only a very brief time 
fluster (v and n):  (v)  to make someone agitated or confused 
(n) a state of agitation or confusion  (“to be in a fluster”) 
melancholic (adj): 1) feeling or expressing pensive sadness 
                               2) suffering from a severe form of depression 
sanguine (adj):  confidently optimistic; cheerful 
geriatric (adj):  elderly; relating to old age 
dwarf (v): to be so oversized that it makes other things minute (e.g. “The large cloak dwarfed the 
small child.”) 
liable (adj): a) having legal responsibility for someone or something b) likely 
relinquish (v): to give up; to let go 
imbibe (v): to drink, esp. alcohol 
logophile (n): a lover of words 
defenestrate (v): to throw someone out a window 
conniptions (n): a fit of rage or hysteria 
subliminal (adj): subconscious 
delusions (n): faulty or hallucinatory beliefs that are maintained despite evidence to the contrary 
latent (adj): existing, but not yet developed; hidden 
euphemism (n): a gentle word for a harsh truth (e.g. “passed away” in stead of “died”) 
ambiguous (adj): having more than one possible meaning 
linoleum (n):  a hard, washable floor covering often found in institutions (also called “lino”) 
stoicism (n) endurance of pain without display of feelings or complaint 
esoteric (adj): likely to be understood only by a few people with specialized knowledge 
dwell (v):  a) to think moodily or anxiously about something b) to live in a place 
perspicacious (adj): having a keen ability to understand something 
serendipitous (adj):  finding value by chance, value one was not seeking 
abnegation (n): the denial or rejection of something, such as doctrines or beliefs, but also the denial of self because of extreme altruism 
reminisce (v): to indulge in enjoyable memories 
sanist (n): the belief that only the sane have rights (not those experiencing mental problems) 
lethargy (n): a lack of energy or enthusiasm  
toady (n):  an obsequious person; a sycophant; one who uses flattery to curry favour with a more powerful individual 
murky (adj):  1)  a thing not fully explained or understood, especially because it has been concealed with dishonesty or immorality 
                        2)  (of liquid) dark, cloudy, or unclear 
                        3)  dark and gloomy, especially because of a thick mist  
draconian (adj): (of laws/rules and their application) excessively harsh and severe 
nonplussed (adj):  1) describing one who’s so surprised or confused they do not knowwhat to do 
2) (informal, North America) describing one who is not bothered by an 
irritant; unperturbed 
 ramification (n): a consequence of an action or event, especially when it is complex or unwelcome 
plethora (n):  a large or excessive amount of something