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Sadlier Oxford H
WCHS Unit 8-H
Word | Definition |
---|---|
aberration | (n) a departure from what is proper, right, expected or normal; a lapse from a sound mental state |
adhoc | (adj) for this specific purpose; improvished; (adv) with respect to this |
bane | (n) the source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison |
bathos | (n) the intrusion of commonplace or trite material into a context whose tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality; the lowest phase, nadir; and anticlimax, comedown |
cantankerous | (adj) ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get along or deal with |
casuistry | (n) the determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principles; specious argument |
defacto | (adj) actually existing or in effect, although not legally required or sanctioned; (adv) in reality, actually |
depredation | (n) the act of preying upon or plundering |
empathy | (n) a sympathetic understanding of or identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of someone or something else |
harbinger | (n) a forerunner, herald; (v) to herald the approach of |
hedonism | (n) the belief that the attainment of pleasure is life's chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure |
lackluster | (adj) lacking brilliance or vitality; dull |
malcontent | (adj) discontented with or in open defiance of prevailing conditions; (n) such a person |
mellifluous | (adj) flowing sweetly or smoothly; honeyed |
nepotism | (n) undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one's relatives |
pander | (v) to cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others; (n) a person who does this |
peccadillo | (n) aminor sin or offense; a trifling fault or shortcoming |
piece de resistance | (n) the principal dish of a meal; the principal event, inceicent, or item; an outstanding accomplishment |
remand | (v) to send or order back; in law to send back to jail or to a lower court |
syndrome | (n) a group of symptoms or signs that collectively characterize or indicate a disease, disorder, abnormality, etc. |