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Vocab
18
levity n a quality of lightheartedness and gaiety, a lack of seriousness I know that a lesson on grammar is serious and somewhat dull, but I can't help feeling that a little shot of levity in the form or a joke or a pun would enliven an otherwise boring lesson.
pandemic n/adj a disease that is extremely widespread, almost worldwide (pan=all or everywhere) 1) The Black Death of the 1300s and the influenza pandemic of 1918 killed millions across the globe. 2) Though AIDS began as a localized problem in the 80s, it has become pandemic, threatening lives worldwide.
pathological adj characterized by symptoms like a disease It isn't just Roberta's choice to lie, her lying seems to be almost pathological; she does it even when she knows she's going to be caught.
primeval adj belonging to the first or original ages, ancient This is the forest primeval, untouched by human hands, untrod by human feet.
purge v 1. to cleanse by emptying Aristotle noted that in order to purge ourselves of unhealthy emotions such as pity and fear, we had first to experience them in the safety of the drama. 2. to eliminate entirely During the worst days of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin sought to purge the country of his enemies by executing them.
quintessence n the fifth or the highest essence of a thing, thought to be beyond the physical four essences of earth, air, fire, and water--the perfection of a thing Mozart's music is thought by many to be the very quintessence of musical genius; anyone else writing in his vein is merely imitating him.
seditious
adj tending
to be revolutionary or to undermine the established order Though the first
ammendment protects free speech, the government looks none too kindly on
seditious publications that advocate the overthrow of Congress.
stigma n a mark of shame or disgrace, usually invisible but sometimes indicated by a physical symbol Hester Prynne was judged by her community to be an adultress, and, as such, she had to wear the stigma of the "Scarlet A" for the rest of her days.
torrid adj very hot, steamy and tropical, both literally and figuratively In the torrid climates of the countries along the equator, passions burn with greater intensity than in northern climes, and men and women engage in torrid affairs of the heart.
veracity n adherence to the truth, truthfulness Because he had told the absolute truth for his entire life, not even his account of seeing a UFO gave me any cause to doubt his veracity.