Vocabulary Drill

Chapter One

abdicated · abandoned

abhor · hate

acerbically · bitterly or sarcastically

acrimonious · unfriendly or bitter

adjacent · to next to

altercation · argument

appalling · awful or dreadful

ascent · rise

bizarre · strange

bliss · pleasure or enjoyment

brunt · weight or burden

contravene · disobey

derisive · scornful or mocking

diligently · thoroughly or industriously

diminutive · tiny

discarded · thrown away

ebullient · bright and cheerful

eclectic · varied or quirky

effervescence · sparkle

effulgent · bright or beaming

endangering · putting in danger

ennui · boredom

epiphany · sudden realization or awakening

eulogy · speech given at a funeral

euphoria · exhilaration or joy

exacerbated · intensified or made worse

excavate · dig out

execrable · terrible or disgusting

expunged · wiped out

extolling · praising

fastidious · careful or attentive

flabbergasted · stunned

fortuitous · lucky

impervious · solid or watertight

incendiaries · people who stir up trouble

indigenous · native

indomitable · unconquerable

infuse · fill or introduce

ingenious · clever or inspired

insipid · dull

intrigued · interested or absorbed

malleable · flexible or manipulable

meticulously · carefully or thoroughly

momentum · force of motion

mortifying · shameful

mustering · gathering

nocturnal · active at night

novice · beginner

obligatory · unavoidable or necessary

oblique · indirect or meandering

obstinate · stubborn

pealed · rang

permeate · penetrate

plethora · excess or large number

predicament · problem or dilemma

quaint · old-fashioned or charming

ribald · vulgar or bawdy

rotund · fat or round

ruminate · think over

rustic · old-fashioned or rural

sedate · dull

sedentary · inactive

sequestered · isolated or apart

serendipity · luck

serene · peaceful or calm

sinuous · graceful

sophomoric · immature

staid · serious or dull

superfluous · extra or unnecessary

tedious · boring or tiresome

tomes · books

tremulous · unsteady or trembling

trilled · spoke musically or warbled

turgid · stiff or stilted

unabridged · full-length

uncanny · unnatural or extraordinary

vestiges · traces or remnants

wallowing · self-pitying