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Vocab 14

coalition             n            a group of people united for a common purpose A coalition of economists has gathered together to advise against the President's current economic policies.

curt                    adj          brief and abrupt, rude in manner I had hoped for an explanation of why my mother wouldn't attend my wedding, but all I got was the curt response, "Not coming."

insidious            adj           dangerous yet enticing, cumulative and unnoticed in its harmful effects Television is an insidious poisoner of children's minds; it seems like harmless entertainment, but they are permanently changed by its effects.

manifest            adj/v/n      1) Obvious and easily observed In the 1800's, it was our manifest destiny to expand the USA westward to the Pacific. 2) To become obvious or easily seen Though you seem to have contracted malaria, the symptoms of the disease have not yet begun to manifest themselves  3) A list of cargo in a plane or ship We had to examine the manifest of the ship before we could allow the dock workers to unload it.

plausible             adj           easily believed, believable Your excuse that you were late to work because of the snowstorm would be much more plausible in January than in June.

pristine              adj            perfect, unspoiled and untouched by human hands--in its primitive and original condition Enjoy miles of pristine beaches at our island resort--not a condominium or a snack stand to be seen anywhere.

propriety            n               that which is proper and correct--especially as regards human interaction and manners She seemed very happy to have finalized her divorce, but I didn't know if a congratulations card would have the right tone of propriety about it.

rigorous            adj            very difficult and demanding, like a workout or academic course I thought being a Physical Education major would be an easy A, but I wasn't prepared for the rigorous coursework--both in the gym and in the classroom.

sovereign            n/adj        1) One who is a supreme ruler like a king or emperor We bowed low before the sovereign, as was our duty. 2) Having supreme power, not governed by any higher authority Though Vatican City is the smallest nation on earth, it is still a sovereign power and is not ruled by the country of Italy in which it exists.

squalid                adj            extremely dirty, filthy, and nasty The peasantry of medieval Europe lived in horribly squalid conditions; they lived in the same buildings as their animals, and even the basic elements of hygiene were unknown to them.