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Vocab 24
multifarious adj Having many different facets, diverse. Leonardo da Vinci, far from being "merely" an painter, was a man of such multifarious interests--including architecture, music, and anatomy--that we still think of him when we say "Renaissance Man."
obloquy n 1) Abusively detractive language. Having had enough of the public's obloquy, the President retreated to the oval office where he could not hear their cries of condemnation. 2) The condition of disgrace resulting from such language. Having been ruined by the stories that circulated about him and the babysitter, Mr. Reynolds lived in utter obloquy, shunning the public and their talk. (Note the presence of the root "loq" = "word").
polyglot n (From "poly"= many + "glot" = tongue) A person who speaks many languages. Senor Rodriguez is a true polyglot; in addition to Spanish he speaks Arabic, Russian, German, English, and Cantonese.
prolix adj Tending to speak on at length, to use many words. (Noun is "prolixity). Ned is so prolix that if you ask him the time he'll tell you how to make a watch.
rapport n A warm and trusting emotional bond, an attachment. Psychiatrists, in order to treat their patients successfully, must first establish a trusting rapport in which the patient feels comfortable opening up.
redoubtable adj 1) Arousing fear or awe, formidable. The redoubtable fortress on the hill seemed impossible to attack; it was 100 feet high with walls 15 feet thick. 2) Worthy of respect or honor. The old man seemed sluggish and dim, but his redoubtable reputation as one of the great generals of WWII still made us stand in awe of him.
sequel n A work, such as a book or a movie, that follows the original and continues the original story. We think that Hollywood invented the sequel with Rocky II, Rocky III, etc., but Sophocles did it first with Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone as follow-ups to Oedipus the King.
sonorous adj Deep and rich sounding, as a voice or a bell. We're not hiring you to do voice-overs; you have a scratchy and whiny voice, and we need a deep sonorous tone such as James Earl Jones possesses.
spurious adj Lacking authenticity or validity in essence or origin; not genuine; false. Isaac claimed to have found a lost text written by William Shakespeare, but on close examination it proved to be spurious. William had written it in study hall using a ballpoint pen on notebook paper.
tractable
adj Easily
managed, docile and easily tamed or led. 1) The budding artist tried
sculpting granite, but found it was the most difficult substance he had ever
worked with; clay proved to be a far more tractable medium for a beginner. 2)
The willful child was difficult, temperamental, and peevish--not at all
cooperative and tractable like his older brother.