Sunday, October 7, 2012

vocabulary: fall list #8

Per last week's conversation, please DON'T write random sentences this week.  Use the words to summarize what you know about Hamlet so far.  Feel free to collaborate.

abeyance
ambivalent
beleaguer
carte blanche
cataclysm
debauch
eclat
fastidious
gambol
imbue
inchoate
lampoon
malleable
nemesis
opt
philistine
picaresque
queasy
refractory
savoir-faire

1 comment:

  1. Abeyance-(N.) A state of temporary disuse or suspension.

    Ambivalent- (Adj.) Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

    Beleaguer- (V.) Beset with difficulties

    Carte blanche- (N.) Complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best.

    Cataclysm- (N.) A sudden violent upheaval, esp. in a political or social context

    Debauch- (V.) Destroy or debase the moral purity of; corrupt.
    (N.) A bout of excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, esp. eating and drinking

    éclat- (N.) brilliant or conspicuous success

    Fastidious- (Adj.) Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

    Gambol- (V.) Run or jump about playfully

    Imbue- (V.) Inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality: "imbued with deep piety".

    Inchoate- (Adj.) Just begun and so not fully formed or developed

    Lampoon- (V.) Publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule or sarcasm.
    (N.) A speech or text criticizing someone or something in this way

    Malleable- (Adj.) Easily influenced; pliable

    Nemesis- (N.) The inescapable or implacable agent of someone's or something's downfall

    Opt- (V.) Make a choice from a range of
    possibilities

    Philistine- (N.) A person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them

    Picaresque- (Adj.) Of or relating to an episodic style of fiction dealing with the adventures of a rough and dishonest but appealing hero

    Queasy- (Adj.) Nauseated; feeling sick

    Refractory- (Adj.) Stubborn or unmanageable

    Savoir-faire- (N.) The ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.

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