Vocabulary Drill

Chapter 14

abjure · reject

alacrity · cheerful readiness

anguish · pain or anxiety

apocryphal · fictional

ascribed · credited or assigned

briskly · energetically

buoyant · able to float

clairvoyant · seeing beyond what is ordinarily seen

claustrophobic · narrowly enclosed

cleaved · split

commodifying · making commercial

crevice · narrow opening

detonated · blew up

disgruntled · dissatisfied

dissent · difference of opinion

emaciated · very thin

embedding · enclosing

endure · withstand

eradicating · exterminating

estuary · where a tide meets a river current

excavating · digging out

exculpated · acquitted or absolved

factions · groups or parties

flimsy · weak or worthless

foraged · looked for food

fortuitous · fortunate or lucky

gauntlets · armored gloves

indigent · very poor

insinuation · suggestion

juvenile · young or immature

lateral · extending from side to side

lenient · indulgent

maverick · independent person

medallion · large medal

modicum · small portion

myriad · many

nascent · coming into being

non sequitur · illogical response

nondescript · dull

novice · beginner

obscured · concealed or hidden

pensively · thoughtfully

perspicacious · shrewd or clearthinking

proclivity · inclination or predisposition

propulsion · something causing forward motion

quandary · perplexing situation

rambled · moved aimlessly

reconcile · bring together or account for

reprieve · delay or relief

rigors · strict or cruel acts

sadistic · excessively cruel

sanctimoniously · in a falsely holy way

shards · fragments

shrapnel · fragments of a projectile

sovereign · ruler

stark · harsh or bare

stupefied · astonished

surreptitiously · secretly

virtue · admirable quality

wily · crafty

zealously · fervently or passionately