This document contains vocabulary lessons and terms for an Honors English 12 class taught by Ms. Barletta. It provides 15 terms each from Lessons 1-3 and definitions or hints for each. It notes that the vocabulary test for Lessons 1-4 will take place on Tuesday, September 29th.

1. English 12
Honors
Vocabulary
Lessons 1-4
Ms. Barletta
barlettac@dkja.org
September 20, 2010
TEST DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER
29TH

2. Vocabulary Lesson 4
 1. efficacious (adj.): effective; producing the
desired outcome
HINT: effect
 2. catharsis (n.): a release of emotional tension
 3. inundate (v.): to overwhelm; to fill beyond
capacity
HINT: You might be inundated with dates.
 4. revere (v.): to regard with respect, awe, or
adoration
 5. internecine (adj.): mutually destructive

3. Vocabulary Lesson 4
 6. risible (adj.): relating to laughter; laughable
 7. sybaritic (adj.): marked by luxury or
pleasure
 8. crepuscular (adj.): pertaining to twilight
 9. kudos (n.): acclaim or praise
 10. estrange (v.): to alienate
HINT: to make strange

4. Vocabulary Lesson 4
 11. intrinsic (adj.): of or relating to a thing’s basic
nature; inherent
HINT:
 12. maxim (n.): an established principle; a truth or
rule of conduct
HINT: Axiom
 13. putrid (adj.): rotten and foul smelling
HINT: PU
 14. servile (adj.): submissive; slavish
HINT: servant
 15. apocryphal (adj.): of questionable authenticity,
but widely believed
HINT:

5. Vocabulary Lesson 3
 1. scapegoat (n.) one who bears the blame
for others
HINT: The other goats need an escape!
 2. peremptory (adj.): not allowing refusal or
delay; imperative
 3. atelier (n.): an artist’s or a designer’s
workshop
Hint: Art Lair
 4. axiom (n.): a universal truth; an established
law
 5. dulcet (adj.): melodious; pleasing to the ear

6. Vocabulary Lesson 3
 6. usurp(v.): to take over; seize power
 7. patronizing (adj.): treating with
condescension; acting superior
 8. iniquity (n.): an evil or wicked act
 9. archaic (adj.): no longer current or
applicable
 10. vacillate (v.): to waver; to sway
indecisively

7. Vocabulary Lesson 3
 11. perspicacious (adj.): keen; mentally sharp
HINT: Perceptive
 12. abstemious (adj.): using or consuming
sparingly
HINT: Absent
 13. talisman (n.): a magic charm or
superstitious object
 14. expurgate (v.): to remove vulgar or
objectionable material
HINT: Purge
 15. pellucid (adj.): transparent; clear
HINT: Lucid

8. Vocabulary Lesson 2
 1. metamorphosis (n.): a transformation or
dramatic change
HINT: morph-=to change
 2. donnybrook (n.): a fight; an uproar
HINT: Donny and Brooke got into a fight.
 3. nonchalant (adj.): unconcerned; indifferent
HINT:
 4. vestige (n): a trace or evidence of
something that once existed
HINT: A vest with fringes is a vestige of the
1970’s.
 5. interlocutor (n.): someone who participates
in a conversation
HINT: Inter=between; loc=speech; -or=one who

9. Vocabulary Lesson 2
 6. procrustean (adj.): strictly disregarding individual
differences or circumstances
HINT:
 7. stygian (adj.): dark and forbidding
HINT: Someone who is stingy with money, might live in a
stygian house to keep the electricity bill low.
 8. sophistry (n.): a deliberately deceptive or
misleading argument
HINT:
 9. carte blanche (n.): boundless authority
HINT: From the French phrase meaning blank paper;
(think blank check-you can write in any amount that
you choose)
 10. incantation (n.): a chant; a recited magical spell
HINT: CHANT

10. Vocabulary Lesson 2
 11. cosmopolitan (adj.): worldly; sophisticated
HINT: Metropolitan (city)
 12. rife (adj.): abundant; prevalent
The rifle was rife with bullets.
 13. nomenclature (n.): technical names or naming
system in an art or science
HINT:
 14. brigand (n.): a robber or bandit
HINT:
 15. contemptuous (adj.): haughty; scornful
HINT: Contempt

11. Vocabulary Lesson 1
 1. camaraderie (n.): rapport and goodwill
HINT: COMRADE
 2. frangible (adj.): fragile; easy to break
 3. litany (n.): any long, repetitive, or dull recital
HINT: LITERATURE
 4. moratorium (n.): a suspension of activity; an
authorized delay
HINT: LOOKS LIKE MORTUARY
 5. zealous (adj.): fervent; fanatical
 6. desiccate (v.): to dry out; to remove moisture
 7. wrenching (adj.) causing mental or physical
pain
 8. replete (adj.) full; abundant

12. Vocabulary Lesson 1
 9. interminable (adj.): tiresome and long;
seemingly endless
 10. arable (adj.): suitable for cultivation of
land
 11. lugubrious (adj.): mournful; gloomy
 12. truncate (v.): to shorten
 13. ubiquitous (adj.) occurring or seeming
to occur everywhere; omnipresent
 14. vernacular (n.): everyday language
 15. equanimity (n.): composure; calmness