LEARN NC

Glossary

abridge v.
To shorten; in a legal sense, to cut short or limit.
abrogate v.
To repeal or cancel.
accrue v.
Build up; accumulate.
adjudge v.
To determine or decide.
adornment n.
Ornaments and jewelry, or the practice of decorating with them.
advent n.
The arrival of a notable thing or person.
advocate n.
One who supports or defends a cause.
affidavit n.
A written statement used as evidence in court.
aggrandize v.
To make greater; to exaggerate the greatness of someone or something.
agitate v.
To discuss, debate, or push forward.
ague n.
A malarial fever, marked by successive fits, consisting of a cold, hot, and sweating stage.
akimbo adv.
with hands on hips and elbows turned outward.
ambrosial adj.
Immortal, divine.
ameliorate v.
to reform
anguish adj.
Suffering or pain.
antiquity n.
The ancient past.
apprehend v.
Arrest a person.
ascend n.
To rise up.
assail v.
To violently attack; to assault.
assay v.
To put to a test.
assiduous n.
Unremitting, persistent, constant
augment v.
To make larger; to increase.
avail v.
Satisfy; suffice; have value or use.
azure n.
A deep intense blue.
barbarity n.
Cruel, brutal or savage actions.
benevolent adj.
Marked by goodwill and kindness.
berth n.
A sleeping rooms on a ship.
blanch v.
To become pale.
borne v.
Past tense of bear, to carry.
braggart n.
A person who boasts about their achievements.
calker n.
Person who caulks or seals buildings or ships.
cambric n.
A fine white linen cloth.
capacious adj.
Having a lot of space inside.
caprice n.
A sudden, unpredictable action or change of mind.
carder n.
Person who cards or separates the fibers of raw wool to prepare it for spinning.
chaise n.
A horse-drawn carriage for one or two people, typically with an open top and two wheels.
cistern n.
A tank for holding water.
clothier n.
Person who makes or sells clothing or cloth.
collier n.
Coal miner.
colporteur n.
A seller of books and newspapers.
Commence v.
To begin, to start.
complacent n.
Feeling satisfied or showing smugness.
composition maker n.
Person who makes compost or fertilizer.
conception n.
The way in which something is perceived or understood.
concoct n.
To make up, devise, or fabricate a plan.
confectioner n.
Person who makes and sells candy.
consummation n.
An act of completing or accomplishing something.
consumption n.
Wasting of the body by disease, especially tuberculosis.
contiguous adj.
Sharing a common border or edge; touching.
credence n.
Belief; the act of accepting something as true.
cruet n.
A small container used to serve condiments such as oil, vinegar, salt, or pepper.
cusp n.
A point between two situations or states.
daguerrotypist n.
Person who makes daguerrotypes, an early form of photograph.
delegate v.
To appoint or send a person to act as a representative.
demagogue n.
A leader who appeals to the mob or to emotions rather than leading by reason and principle.
demure adj.
Calm and serious; reserved.
denunciation n.
The act of denouncing someone or something; a public condemnation.
depravity n.
Moral corruption.
dereliction n.
The act of neglecting or abandoning something.
deride v.
To mock or laugh at.
desecrate v.
to diminish something by taking away its sacred character or properties.
desolate adj.
Lonely; gloomy; barren.
despond v.
Losing confidence.
detriment n.
A cause of harm.
devolve v.
To cause (a duty or responsibility) to fall upon a person.
die-sinker n.
Person who makes dies, or forms for cutting or stamping metal.
dilapidated adj.
Decayed or fallen into ruin, especially because of neglect or misuse.
discern v.
To perceive or recognize.
disposition n.
One's usual mood or temperament.
dissipation n.
The act of spending wastefully or squandering one's talents, fortune, etc.
dominion n.
Territory or area under control; property under one's control.
draftsman n.
Person who draws up plans, e.g. for buildings.
drover n.
Person who drives livestock (to market).
drudge n.
A person employed in distasteful or hard work.
dyer n.
Person who dies cloth.
earnest adj.
Serious and sincere.
ebony n.
Black or very dark brown timber.
effusions n.
A pouring out, spilling, or shedding, usually relating to blood.
endemic adj.
Native to or confined to a certain region.
enervate v.
To weaken mentally or morally
enjoin v.
1. To forbid or prohibit. 2. To direct or prescribe an action.
enmity n.
Deep-seated hostility; hatred.
ensue v.
To happen afterward, usually as a direct result.
entail n.
to impose upon someone; to make a person permanently in some type of emotional or physical state.
entrepreneurship n.
The quality of someone who starts a business and takes the risk of profit or loss.
epoch n.
A period of time that is marked by notable events.
equivocation n.
Uncertainty, especially in the use of words; having more than one meaning.
escutcheon n.
A shield bearing a coat of arms.
ever and anon adv.
Every so often; occasionally.
exaction n.
An action of demanding or obtaining something from someone.
execration n.
A curse.
executor n.
The person who is in charge of administrating the terms of a deceased person's will.
exertion n.
Physical work or effort.
expatriation v.
Banishing a person for his or her country.
exult n.
To be elated or glad; to rejoice.
exultation n.
Elation or jubilation, usually as the result of success.
fain adj.
Glad or well-pleased.
fathom n.
A unit of length equal to 6 feet, used especially for measuring the depth of water. As a verb, to understand.
feeble adj.
Weak or unhealthy.
fetter n.
A chain attached to the foot of a person or animal.
fidelity n.
Faithfulness to duties or obligations; loyalty.
fiend n.
A wicked person; a devil.
flog n.
beat someone with a whip or stick as punishment
fop n.
A foolish person; a fool
forbear v.
To refrain from. Also, to give up or part with, as a plant with its fruit.
forbearance n.
Self-control; restraint and tolerance.
foreboding n.
A strong sense that there will be misfortune or evil in the future.
foundryman n.
Person who works in a foundry casting metal.
frailty n.
The condition of being weak.
freight n.
The charges paid for transporting cargo.
fretful adj.
Feelings of distress.
frugal n.
Cautious with money.
fruition n.
The realization or success of a plan or project. To come to fruition means to be completed or to achieve success.
furtherance n.
Furthered or helped forward.
gaudy adj.
extravagantly bright or colorful; tasteless
gewgaw n.
A showy but useless thing; a fancy toy or ornament.
gilder n.
Person who gilds materials, covering or decorating them with thin sheets of gold.
grapple v.
To engage in a great struggle or fight.
gratify v.
To satisfy.
haslet n.
The internal organs of an animal.
hecatomb n.
A large number of animals offered as a sacrifice to a deity or god.
heed v.
Pay attention to or take notice of something or someone.
hitherto adv.
Until now.
hosier n.
Person who makes hosiery (stockings or socks).
huckster n.
A person who sells small items door to door.
Impeach v.
To accuse of misconduct. Impeachment is the act of impeaching.
imperative adj.
Absolutely necessary.
impunity n.
Free from punishment.
in subjection adj.
Under the control of some authority.
incendiary adj.
Literally, causing or likely to cause a fire. Often used figuratively to describe something likely to cause public outrage or violence ("incendiary remarks").
incessant adj.
Unending; ceaseless.
indictable n.
an act committed by a person which requires that they be tried in court by a jury.
indictment n.
A formal document in which a person is accused of a crime or a wrongdoing.
indignation n.
anger as a response to unfair treatment
indolence n.
A state of rest or ease.
induce v.
To persuade or influence.
indulgence n.
Something given as a luxury to satisfy the desires.
ineffable n.
To great or extreme to be expressed.
infirmity n.
Physical weakness or illness.
insolvent adj.
Unable to pay one's debts; bankrupt.
instigate v.
To bring about, to make happen.
Invalid n.
A person who is weak or sick.
irremediable adj.
Impossible to fix or mend.
jaded adv.
Worn out or exhausted.
japanner n.
Person who does japan work, covering metal items with a black, enamel-like finish.
jargon n.
A primitive or unsophisticated language or type of speech.
jurisdiction n.
Authority or control.
languor v.
Disease, sickness, illness.
lassitude n.
A state of physical or mental weakness.
lenient adj.
Merciful or tolerant.
liable adj.
Legally obligated.
livery stable n.
A stable where horses are kept or let out for rent.
loiter v.
To be idle; to waste time.
lustrum n.
A period of five years.
magistrate n.
A civil officer who administers the law within a limited jurisdiction.
malaria n.
A contagious disease transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito and characterized by chills and fever.
malevolent adj.
wishing evil or harm to another person; addicted to ill will.
mantua n.
A loose gown.
manumit v.
To release a person for slavery; to set free.
mariner n.
Seaman or sailor.
meander v.
To follow a winding and turning course; to move about at random following no specific course or path.
menial adj.
Work preformed by a servant.
meritorious adj.
Exceeding expectations; deserving of praise or reward.
miller n.
Person who operates a mill, usually a grain mill.
milliner n.
Person who makes or sells women's hats.
millrace n.
The rapid current of water that causes a mill wheel to turn, or the channel for the water.
misanthrope n.
A person who distrusts and avoids human beings.
miscreant n.
A person who behaves badly or breaks the law.
mitigate v.
To decrease or lessen; to make less severe
molestation n.
The harassing of a person; intentional interference with someone.
moulder n.
Person who makes wooden molding (trim) for buildings.
muslin n.
A strong, plain, lightweight cotton fabric.
notorious adj.
Widely known, usually for some negative quality or deed.
odious adj.
Deserving or causing hatred.
oligarchy n.
Rule by a small group of people or a few families, usually a wealthy elite.
orotund adj.
A clear, resonate voice, suited for public speaking.
Orthography n.
The study of spelling and how letters combine to form words.
ostler n.
A person who looks after the horses of guests at an inn.
paper-hanger n.
Person who hangs wallpaper.
parapet n.
A wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure.
peculiar adj.
Unique; special.
peddler n.
A person who travels from place to place and sells goods.
per annum adv.
Every year.
perchance adv.
By some chance; perhaps.
perfidy n.
A betrayal of trust.
peril n.
Serious and imminent danger.
perseverance n.
Steady determination and persistence.
physic n.
Medicine.
pianoforte n.
Original or formal term for a piano.
piazza n.
A passageway that is open-sided and has a roof; or a porch or veranda.
picturesque adj.
Pleasing or striking in appearance; having the qualities of a picture.
pious adj.
Showing reverence for a deity or religion.
ply v.
To sail over regularly.
polarize v.
To divide sharply into two opinions or beliefs.
posit v.
To assume something as fact or to use an idea as the basis of an argument.
presentiment n.
A premonition or feeling that something will happen.
pretense n.
Unjustified claim; a charade or deceit.
proclamation n.
A formal public announcement or statement.
profligate n.
A person who is recklessly wasteful or self-indulgent.
proprietor n.
An owner; person who has the legal title to something.
provocation n.
Something that provokes irritation or anger.
prudence n.
Caution; forethought.
pursuant adv.
In accordance with; following (or "pursuing") a set of rules or guidelines.
putrefaction n.
Spoilage.
putty n.
a soft paste that hardens after a few hours. It is used to put glass into wooden frames.
rapture n.
A feeling of intense pleasure or joy.
recompense n.
Payment made to compensate for damage or loss.
refectory n.
The dining room of a school or church.
regale n.
Entertain or amuse someone with conversation.
remuneration n.
Payment.
requisite adj.
Necessary.
reverberate v.
To send back, return, or echo.
revile v.
To criticize harshly.
rood n.
A unit of measurement of area, equal to a quarter of an acre.
roused v.
awakened
sanctified n.
Having saintly characteristics.
sanction v.
(v.) To authorize or allow. (n.) Approval.
sanguine adj.
Hopeful; optimistic.
savanna n.
A flat grassland that may or may not contain scattered clumps of trees.
seize v.
To take possession of something or someone.
sentiments n.
Feelings; qualities.
sexton n.
Person who looks after a church.
shoepeg n.
A pin used to fasten the upper of a shoe to the sole.
singly adv.
As a single thing.
spectacled adj.
Wearing eye-glasses.
stevedore n.
Person who works on a dock, loading and unloading cargo from ships.
stout v.
To act in a stubborn manner
subdued adj.
Moderated; toned down; reduced in intensity.
sublime adj.
Of such beauty as to inspire great admiration.
subservient adj.
Subordinate; belonging to a lower rank.
subtile adj.
Thin; not dense.
succor n.
Help or assistance. Formerly also meant shelter or protection.
suffice n.
To be adequate or sufficient enough.
sundry n.
Various items not important enough to be mentioned individually.
superadd v.
To add something to what has already been added; to add again.
superintendence n.
Oversight or supervision.
supersede v.
To take the place or position of.
surmount v.
Overcome.
teamster n.
Originally a person who drove a team of horses; now anyone who carries goods for a living (such as in a truck).
tenet n.
A belief, opinion, or principle held to be true by an organization or person.
testator n.
A person who died and left a will.
tonic n.
A liquid or powder with medicinal qualities.
tribunal n.
A court of law.
trifling adj.
Worthless.
tumult n.
Disturbance or agitation.
turbulent adj.
Violently disturbed or agitated, as by storms; rough, stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, violent, wild.
turner n.
Person who turns wood (e.g. for chair and table legs).
turpentine n.
A thin volatile essential oil obtained by steam distillation or other means from the wood or exudates (material that has oozed out) of certain pine trees and used as a paint thinner, solvent, and medicinally as a liniment.
Tyrant n.
A cruel and oppressive ruler; a ruler who ignores the right's of citizens.
ubiquitous adj.
Present, or appearing everywhere.
uncouth adj.
Lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.
unmitigated adj.
Severe or harsh; not modified or toned down.
usurp v.
To take wrongly, illegally, or by force.
usurped adv.
to illegal take away power from a person in a position of authority.
vacillate v.
To waver between opinions; to be indecisive.
venerable adj.
Respected; admired.
venerate v.
To hold in high esteem; to respect or revere.
vested n.
To place in possession of a person.
vexation n.
Things that annoy or irritate.
vigilance n.
Watchfulness.
vigor n.
Strong physical health.
visage n.
The face or head of a person.
vortex n.
A strong eddy or whirlpool that could sink a ship.
yoke n.
Figurative term denoting servitude or oppression. (Originally, a device that joined two work animals together for the purpose of drawing a plow.)