Sunday, September 23, 2012

Vocabulary # 7

aberration - (noun) an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image; a disorder in one's mental state; a state or condition markedly different from the norm 
ad hoc- (adverb) for the special purpose or end presently under consideration 
bane - (noun) something causes misery or death 
bathos - (noun) triteness or triviality of style; a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one; insincere pathos 
cantankerous - (adj.) having a difficult and contrary disposition; stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate 
casuistry - (noun) moral philosophy based on the application of general ethical principles to resolve moral dilemmas; argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading 
de facto - (noun) in fact; in reality 
depredation - (noun) an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding; (usually plural) a destructive action 
empathy - (noun) understanding and entering into another's feelings 
harbinger - (noun) an indication of the approach of something or someone; verb foreshadow or presage 
hedonism - (noun) an ethical system that evaluates the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good; the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle 
lackluster - (adj.) lacking luster or shine; lacking brilliance or vitality 
malcontent - (adj.) discontented as toward authority; noun a person who is discontented or disgusted 
mellifluous - (adj.) pleasing to the ear 
nepotism - (noun) favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs 
pander - (noun) someone who procures customers for whores (in England they call a pimp a ponce); verb arrange for sexual partners for others; yield (to); give satisfaction to 
peccadillo - (noun) a petty misdeed piece de 
resistance - (noun) the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction.  
remand - (noun) the act of sending an accused person back into custody to await trial (or the continuation of the trial); verb refer (a matter or legal case) to another committee or authority or court for decision; lock up or confine, in or as in a jail 
syndrome - (noun) a complex of concurrent things; a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease


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