Vocabulary 4

Quiz Friday, 12/15/06

atrophy – (n.) a wasting away of the body or of an organ or part, as from defective nutrition or nerve damage; degeneration, decline, or decrease, as from disuse. (v.) to affect with or undergo atrophy

bastion – (n.) a fortified place; anything seen as preserving or protecting some quality, condition, etc.

concord – (n.) agreement between persons, groups, nations, etc.; concurrence in attitudes, feelings, etc.; unanimity; accord

consummate – (v.) to bring to a state of perfection; fulfill, complete. (adj.) complete or perfect; supremely skilled; superb

disarray – (v.) to put out of array or order; throw into disorder. (n.) disorder; confusion

exigency – (n. pl.) urgency; a case or situation that demands prompt action or remedy; emergency

flotsam – (n.) material or refuse floating on water; useless or unimportant items; odds and ends

frenetic – (adj.) frantic; frenzied

glean – (v.) to collect or gather anything little by little or slowly

grouse – (n.) any of various game birds that are ground-dwelling and reddish-brown in color; a complaint. (v.) complain, grumble

incarcerate – (v.) to subject to confinement, put in prison

incumbent – (n.) one that occupies a particular position or place. (adj.) having the status of an incumbent

jocular – (adj.) given to jesting : habitually jolly

ludicrous – (adj.) amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity, incongruity, exaggeration, or eccentricity

mordant – (adj.) biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style; (n.) a corroding substance used in etching

nettle – (v.) to arouse to sharp but transitory annoyance or anger; (n.) any of various prickly or stinging plants

pecuniary – (adj.) of or relating to money; consisting of or measured in money

pusillanimous – (adj.) l cowardly, lacking courage and resolution : marked by contemptible timidity

recumbent – (adj.) leaning, resting, lying down, representing a person lying down

stratagem – (n.) a cleverly contrived trick or scheme for gaining an end