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Vocab 4
propitiate v To calm or appease, to reduce the anger of, usually with an offering. The earthquake gods were wrathful, and we sought to propitiate their anger with a burnt offering.
rapacious adj Taking by force, plundering / greedy and ravenous. The rapacious hordes of invaders came from the north, destroying everything, taking everything, devouring all before them.
rout n/v 1) A complete and utter victory. Our game against East Stroudsburg hardly amounted to a game; with a score of 42-0, it was more of a total rout. 2) To put to flight, to drive off, to defeat utterly. During a time of extreme right-wing patriotism, the more liberal candidate feared he would be routed at the polls.
sanguine
adj 1)
Healthy and ruddy, red-colored, as with blood. Santa, despite his large size,
has a most sanguine appearance; his ruddy cheeks and glow of health suggest a
man who lives well. 2) Optimistic and cheerful. Danny, a man of most
sanguine temperament, always looks on the bright side no matter what happens.
sepulcher n A tomb. One of the most famous stories of the Bible is when Jesus stood before the door of the sepulcher and ordered Lazarus to rise from the dead.
supercilious adj
Arrogant and proud, haughty and conceited. Dame Edna, though she
agreed to come to our backyard picnic, maintained her supercilious
attitude--sitting aloof from others and insisting she be served from fine china.
taint
v/n
1) To
affect with something decayed or morally impure, to affect as by making impure
with some influence or substance. I'm not telling you can't date the guy, I
just don't want you to permanently taint your reputation by being seen socially
with a mob boss and convicted murderer. 2) A hint of moral or other
corruption. Though nothing was ever proved against him, there was always a
taint of criminality about the mayor's administration, and we all breathed more
easily when his term was up.
tremulous adj
Quivering, nervous, and apprehensive. Miranda stood before the
teacher on the verge of tears, her tremulous lower lip betraying her
apprehension.
valiant adj Brave, sturdy, stalwart, and courageous--like Prince Valiant in the comic strip you don't read. Cedric is our most valiant knight, plunging in to do battle with the dragon while the rest of you quivered in terror.
winsome
adj
Charming, delightful, personable--usually refers more often to a
young girl. Cindy was a winsome young lass, all smiles and giggles, ready to
befriend anyone who needed cheering up.