Vocabulary 5

Quiz Friday, 1/5/07

acuity – (n.) sharpness; acuteness; keenness, and distinctness of perception or vision

delineate – (v.) to trace the outline of; sketch or trace in outline; represent pictorially

depraved – (adj.) marked by moral corruption or perversion as shown by a capacity for extreme and wanton physical cruelty

enervate – (v.) to deprive of force or strength; destroy the vigor of; weaken

esoteric – (adj.) understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest; recondite

fecund – (adj.) 1. capable of producing offspring or vegetation; fruitful. (2) marked by intellectual productivity

fiat – (n.) an authoritative decree, sanction, or order

figment – (n.) a mere product of mental invention; a fantastic notion

garner – (v.) to gather, collect, or hoard; (n.) a store or supply of anything

hallow – (v.) to sanctify; to honor as holy; consider sacred; venerate

idiosyncrasy – (n.) a peculiarity of physical or mental constitution or temperament

ignominy – (n.) disgrace; dishonor; public contempt; shameful or dishonorable quality or conduct or an instance of this

mundane – (adj.) of or pertaining to this world or earth as contrasted with heaven; worldly; earthly

nuance – (n.) a subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response, etc.; a very slight difference or variation in color or tone.

overweening – (adj.) presumptuously conceited, overconfident, or proud; exaggerated, excessive, or arrogant

penchant – (n.) a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something

reputed – (adj.) proved to be false or erroneous, as an opinion or charge; proved (a person) to be in error.

sophistry – (n. pl.) a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning

sumptuous – (adj.) entailing great expense, as from choice materials, fine work, etc.; costly; luxuriously fine or large; lavish; splendid

ubiquitous – (adj.) existing or being everywhere, esp. at the same time; omnipresent