01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
Vocab 27
anathema n A formal ecclesiastical (church) ban or excommunication, any strong denunciation or curse. For his terrible blasphemy against God, for which he stood proud and unrepentant, the church pronounce anathema against him and banned him from the order.
bowdlerize v To expurgate or censor a book prudishly. When Thomas Bowdler published the "Family Shakespeare" by cutting out what he considered the dirty parts, the term "to bowdlerize" forever became associated with this unfortunate bluenose.
bravado n A false show of bravery. The little man, swaggering about with loud bravado, failed to impress the weightlifters and sumo wrestlers with his "bravery."
chronic adj Continuing over time, especially pain or disease. Not acute. I'm afraid, Alfred, that psoriasis is a chronic condition; no salve or pill is going to cure it overnight.
complacent adj Smugly self-satisfied. After years of effortless success, Alfonso had grown complacent. Imagine his shock when faced with the challenges of a rigorous curriculum in college.
conciliatory adj Trying to regain goodwill or favor by pleasant behavior. In a conciliatory gesture, Arlene baked a cake for her friend, hoping to get forgiveness for insulting her the day before.
credo n A creed or a central belief. It is the credo of the United States Constitution that "all men are created equal" in the eyes of the law.
evanescent adj Fleeting or temporary. We should try to enjoy as much happiness as comes our way, for it is sadly evanescent, and the joy of this morning will give way to the harsher realities of the day.
exculpate v To free from blame or guilt. (ex = out + culp = blame). Adele was looking at a long prison sentence, but the DNA test was able to totally exculpate her, and she was freed the very same afternoon.
factitious
adj 1)
Produced artificially rather than by a natural process. Amy's
"Southern" accent was entirely factitious, the result of 2 years in an
Alabama junior college, not a lifetime below the Mason-Dixon line. 2)
Lacking authenticity or genuineness; sham: Speculators responsible for the
factitious value of some stocks drove up the paper price of the "dot.com"
stocks until they were poised for collapse.