UNFAMILIAR WORDS WITH MEANING

amuse- to make someone’s laugh or smile

ample-more than enough

analyze-to look at something carefully so that you can understand it

anatomy-the structure of a person or animal’s body

announce-to say something officially or publicly

bacteriophage-science term an agent which is supposed to be a living thing that

destroys bacteria

blaspheme-to say offensive thing about God or a religion

boisterious-to behave in rough and noisy way

bouquet-a bounch of flowers

buffalo-a type of ox with heavy horns

cadet-a student at a military or naval school

calamity-a misfortune or disaster

calf-a young cow,seal,and elephant

claw-a hard curve nail on the foot of an animal or a bird

coach-a teacher of a sport or skill

deception-a trick that makes people believe something that is not true

demolish-to knock from something an break it up

desire-a strong wish or need for something or someone

depth-the state or degree of being deep

diagnosis-the art or act of discriminating between disease and of distinguished them by
their characteristic symptoms

earthquake-a violent shaking of the Earth cause by a movement of rock plates at the
Earth’s surface

eclipse-the dimming or elimination of light reaching an observer from heavenly body

elaborate-developed in detail with care or painstaking

edge-to move very slowly and carefully

edible-able to eaten

fondle-to handle or touch lovingly

foliage-any growth of leaves

forerunner-a precursor

foresee-to see beforehand

forego-to abandon

gorse-a prickly evergreen shrub with bright yellow flowers

gaffe -a socially awkward or tactless act

gallant -unflinching in battle or action

galvanize -to stimulate to action

gamut -a complete extent or range: "a face that expressed a gamut of emotions"

habitat -the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or occurs

habitual -commonly used or practiced; usual

habitue -a regular patron

 hackneyed -repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse

haggard -showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or sufferin

jaded -dulled by surfeit

jargon -specialized technical terminology characteristic of a particular subject

jaunt -a journey taken for pleasure

jaunty -having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air

jeer -laugh at with contempt and derision

jubilant -full of high-spirited delight

judicious -marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical

matters

juggernaut -a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way

juncture -a crisis situation or point in time when a critical decision must be made

junket -a trip taken by an official at public expense

K
keen -having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

ken -range of what one can know or understand

kindle -cause to start burning

kinetic -characterized by motion

kinship -(anthropology) relatedness or connection by blood or marriage or adoption

labile -(chemistry, physics, biology) readily undergoing change or breakdown

lachrymose -showing sorrow

lackadaisical -idle or indolent especially in a dreamy way

lackluster -lacking brilliance or vitality

laconic -brief and to the point; effectively cut short

macabre -shockingly repellent; inspiring horror

machination -a crafty and involved plot to achieve your (usually sinister) ends

maculate -spot, stain, or pollute

maelstrom -a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)

magnanimous -noble and generous in spirit

nadir -an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything

naive -marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly

experience

naivete -lack of sophistication or worldliness

narcissist -someone in love with themselves

narrative -consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story

oasis -a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary

obdurate -showing unfeeling resistance to tender feelings

obedient -dutifully complying with the commands or instructions of those in authority

obeisance -bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or

shame or greeting

obfuscate -make obscure or unclear

P

pacifist -someone opposed to violence as a means of settling disputes

palliative -moderating pain or sorrow by making it easier to bear

palpable -can be felt by palpation

panacea -hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists

pandemic -an epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a

region or even throughout the world

quack -the harsh sound of a duck

quadrilateral -a four-sided polygon

quadruped -an animal especially a mammal having four limbs specialized for walking

quaff -to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught

quagmire -a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot

raconteur -a person skilled in telling anecdotes

radical -a person who has radical ideas or opinions

rambunctious -noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline

ramification -a development that complicates a situation

rampant -unrestrained and violent

sacrilegious -grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred

sacrosanct -must be kept sacred

sagacious -acutely insightful and wise

salubrious -promoting health; healthful

sardonic -disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking

tacit -implied by or inferred from actions or statements

taciturn -habitually reserved and uncommunicative

tactful -having or showing a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with
others

tactile -of or relating to or proceeding from the sense of touch

taint -contaminate with a disease or microorganism

ubiquitous -being present everywhere at once

ulterior -lying beyond what is openly revealed or avowed (especially being kept in the
background or deliberately concealed)

ultimatum -a final peremptory demand

umbrage -a feeling of anger caused by being offended

unabashed -not embarrassed

vacate -leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily

vacillate -be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or

courses of action
vacuous -devoid of intelligence

vagary- an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a

person's behavior, etc.)

vagrant -a wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support

wade -walk (through relatively shallow water)

waffle -pancake batter baked in a waffle iron

waft -be driven or carried along, as by the air

waggish -witty or joking

waif -a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned

xenophobia -a fear of foreigners or strangers

yahoo -a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture

yearn -desire strongly or persistently

yearning -prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

yelp -a sharp high-pitched cry (especially by a dog)

yen -the basic unit of money in Japan; equal to 100 sen

zany -ludicrous, foolish

zeal -a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)

zealot -a fervent and even militant proponent of something

zealous -marked by active interest and enthusiasm

zephyr -a slight wind (usually refreshing)