12th Grade Vocabulary

#1

1. abase-             to lower in rank, prestige, or esteem (humiliate, humble)

2. abstruse-         difficult to understand

3. admonish-         to reprove mildly or kindly

4. benign-             of  a kind disposition

5. boorish-             rude or ill-mannered

6. brusque-             abrupt or curt in manner or speech

7. castigate-             criticize severely

8. celibacy-             condition of being unmarried

9. censure-             expression of blame or disapproval

10.chafe-             wear away by rubbing; annoy or vex

#2

1. chaste-                 morally pure

2. circumscribe-        encircle

3. commiserate-        a feeling of sorrow or sympathy

4. compunction-        strong uneasiness because of guilt

5. condone-                forgive, overlook, or disregard

6. credulous-             disposed to believe too readily

7. decorum-             conformity to social conventions (propriety)

8. demeanor-             behavior or conduct

9. deprecate-             to express disapproval (depreciate or belittle)

10. despondent-           characterized by the loss of hope or confidence (dejection)

 #3

1. repose-             act of resting; peace of mind

2. copse-              thicket of trees or bushes

3. corporeal-         of or pertaining to the body

4. recompense-     reward; payment

5. sinuous-            characterized by turns; supple

6. injunction-         a command or order (court order prohibiting an action)

7. purport-             apparent meaning

8. dissemble-         to conceal motives or feelings

9. vivacity-             animation or spirit

10. manifold-             many kinds; having many features

#4

1. sepulcher-             a tomb

2. azure-                  blue

3. blithe-                 cheerful

4. profuse-             abundant

5. glean-               to gather or collect

6. prudence-         careful management of practical affairs

7. dregs-                residue; the last desirable portion

8. fidelity-             faithfulness; loyalty; truthfulness

9. peremptory-      precluding further debate

10. galvanize-         to arouse to action or awareness

#5  12

1. incisive-                 cutting or penetrating (trenchant)

2. corpulent-                fat or obese

3. approbation-             approval

4. solicitous-                 anxious or concerned

5. trepidation-                 state of alarm, dread, or apprehension

6. preternatural-             beyond the normal course of nature (exceptional, abnormal)

7. corroborate-                 strengthen or support (attest the truth or accuracy of)

8. sere-                             withered, dry

9. baleful-                         harmful or malignant in intent or effect

10. forte-                            something at which a person excels

#6  12th

1. specious-             seemingly fair, attractive, sound or true, but actually not so

2. pejorative-         disparaging or downgrading

3. pernicious-         tending to cause death or serious injury

4. phlegmatic-         having a calm, sluggish temperament

5.  ravenous-         extremely hungry; voracious; predatory

6. countenance-     the face

7. pastoral-             of or pertaining to the country or country life

8. wan-                     pale; as from physical or emotional distress

9. transgress-             to violate the law

10. ruminate-             meditate at length

#7

1. satire-                     a literary work that attacks human vice or folly through irony, derision, or wit

2. paragon-                 model or pattern of excellence

3. cant-                     the special vocabulary of those in a certain occupation

4. civility-                 politeness; courtesy

5. summarily-             performed speedily or without ceremony

6. profligate-             given to dissipation

7. expurgate-             to remove obscene or objectionable passages from a text

8.  vacillate-             to sway indecisively

9. misanthrope-         a person who hates or distrusts mankind

10. equanimity-         the quality of being calm and even-tempered

#8

1.impetuous-             characterized by sudden energy or emotion; impulsive

2.presumptuous-         excessively forward or confident

3.supercilious-             characterized by haughty scorn

4.paradox-                     a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true

5.discordant-                 disagreeable in sound; harsh or dissonant

6.impalpable-             not perceptible to the touch (not easily perceived by the mind)

7.abysmal-                 extreme; of or relating to an abyss

8.infamous-                 having a very bad reputation (notorious, loathsome)

9.entreat-                     to ask earnestly (beseech; implore; beg)

10.sullen-                     brooding ill humor

#9

1.      precept-             a rule or principle taken as a standard of conduct

2.      exponent-         a person who defines, expounds, speaks for, or represents

3.      apparition-         a ghostly figure

4.      allude-             to make an indirect reference to

5.      sage-                a wise person (wise (adj))

6.      expedient-         appropriate to the purpose at hand

7.      apprehension-     fear of the future

8.      advant-             the coming or arrival, especially of something awaited

9.      integrity-         rigid adherence to a code of behavior

10.  prodigious-         impressively great in size, force, or extent

#10

1)      copious-             abundant

2)      gesticulate-         to make deliberate and vigorous motions or gestures

3)      complacent-         contented to a fault; self-satisfied

4)      facile-                 easy

5)      rapture-             ecstasy

6)      insidious-             working or spreading harmfully in a subtle or stealthy manner

7)      appall-                 to fill with consternation or dismay

8)      sordid-                 filthy or dirty; foul; depressingly squalid

9)      paltry-                 petty or trifling; worthless

10)  odious-                 exciting hatred or repugnance

#11

1)deplorable-             worthy of severe reproach

2)imperturbable-         not capable of being perturbed

3)diverge-                   to tend in different direction

4)converge-                 to approach the same point from different directions

5)garrulous-                 habitually talkative

6)pervade-                  to spread throughout

7)remonstrate-             to say or plead in protest or objection

8)tumultuous-             noisy and disorderly

9)mortify-                  to cause to experience shame, humiliation, or wounded pride

10)  abject-                of the most contemptible or miserable kind

#12

1)      apathy-         lack of emotion, feeling, or interest

2)      perverse-         marked for a disposition to oppose and contradict

3)      recalcitrant-     stubbornly resistant to authority

4)      dubious-         doubtful

5)      truculent-         disposed to fight

6)      assuage-         to make less severe or burdensome (ease; satisfy; to calm)

7)listless-             marked by a lack of energy or enthusiasm

8)servile-             slavish in character or attitude (obsequious, submissive)

9)pretext-             professed purpose or excuse

10)  cynical-                 denying the sincerity of people’s motives and actions

#13

1)      fastidious- careful in all details

2)      exultation- the act of rejoicing greatly

3)      superfluous- beyond what is required or sufficient

4)      secular- not specifically related to religion

5)      atrophy- a wasting away or diminution

6)      muse- to ponder or meditate

7)      expiate- to make atonement for; (redress)

8)      derision- ridicule

9)      libel- a written, printed, or pictorial statement that is false and that damages a person

10)  inscrutable- not able to be understood

#14

1)      cloister- a monastic establishment; to seclude

2)      verbatim- word for word

3)      didactic- intended to instruct

4)      aspire- to have a great ambition or ultimate desire

5)      plutocracy- government by the wealthy

6)      staid- prudently reserved and colorless in style

7)      pedestrian- commonplace or undistinguished

8)      petulant- unreasonably irritable or ill-tempered

9)      frowsy- unkempt in appearance

10)  slovenly- untidy; slipshod

#15

1)      audacity- (fearlessness); boldness; daring

2)      mendacity- lying; (truthfulness; falseness)

3)      deferential- marked by courteous respect

4)      pedantic- (paying undue attention to book learning); ostentatious display of learning

5)      genial- having a pleasant disposition or manner

6)      voluble- fluent; talkative

7)      resplendent- filled with splendor

8)      proffer- to offer

9)      arbitrary- determined by whim or caprice; (dictatorial)

10)  victuals- food fit for human consumption; supplies

#16

1)guile-                             insidious, treacherous, cunning, craftiness

2)languish-                         to become weak or feeble; to pine

3)wanton-                         immoral, unchaste; merciless; freely extravagant

4)impede-                        to obstruct the way of

5)voluptuous-                 fall of, producing or fond of sensual pleasures

6)intemperance-             lack of moderation and self-restraint

7)dearth-                     scarcity; lack

8)oblique-                     indirect

9)recourse-                 a turning to a person or thing for aid

10)  covetous-             excessively and culpably desirous

#17

1)invoke-                     to call upon for assistance; (to appeal to)

2)ethereal-                   (impalpable); highly refined; delicate; heavenly

3)vanquish-                 defeat or conquer in battle; overcome or subdue

4)obdurate-                 stubbornly impenitent; unyielding; intractable

5)discern-                   perceive something, detect, make distinction

6)procrastination-        postpone or delay needlessly

7)ignominy-                dishonor

8)guile-                       insidious; treacherous; cunning; craftiness

9)livid-                        ashen or pallid, or with anger or illness

10) beguile-                 deceived by guile

#18

1)insipid-             lacking flavor or zest; unstimulating; vapid

2)debauchery-     extreme indulgence in sensual pleasures

3) precept-         a rule or principle imposing a particular standard of action or conduct

4)lucid-              easily understood; clean, sane, rational

5)supine-            laying on the back; indispose to act or object; lethargic

6)pretense-         a false appearance or action intended to deceive; pretext

7)rigorous-         rigid, severe; trying, harsh; strict

8)infallible-         incapable of erring; dependable

9)prodigious-     impressively great in size, force, or extent

10)schism-         separated into factions

Seniors #19

1)invoke-                       to call upon for assistance; (to appeal to)

2)ethereal-                     (impalpable); highly refined; delicate; heavenly

3)vanquish-                    defeat or conquer in battle; overcome or subdue

4)obdurate-                    stubbornly impenitent; unyielding; intractable

5)discern-                      perceive something, detect, make distinction

6)procrastination-         postpone or delay needlessly

7)ignominy-                   dishonor

8)guile-                          insidious; treacherous; cunning; craftiness

9)livid-                           ashen or pallid, or with anger or illness

10) beguile-                     deceived by guile

Senior vocabulary 20

1.state –                         dignity

2.transpire –                  exhale

3.quaint –                       old fashioned, out of date

4.semblance –               appearance, seeming

5.Beelzebub-                 “lord of the flies”  - a chief associate of Satan

6.Leviathan –                 a huge sea-monster mentioned in the Bible

7.Stygian –                    pertaining to the River Styx in Hades.

8.protagonist –              the hero in a story

9.antagonist –                the adversary of opponent of a heroic character

10.  antihero –                  a protagonist (hero) with traits opposite of those of a conventional hero (Think of The Crow or The Punisher)

Senior Vocab 21 

1. Satire –            a style of writing or speaking which uses wit to ridicule a subject, usually an institution or human flaw, with the intention to inspire reform.

2. Essay -             trial

3. toilet –             a piece of furniture, namely a dressing table, dresser

4. styptic –           an astringent cleaner

5. tome –              thick book

6. excise –            a tax levied upon commodities, such as tires, travel, and hotel rooms

7. ragout –            a highly seasoned, savory meat stew

8. trifles –             small, unimportant matters

9. termagant –      violent, quarreling, scolding woman

10. insolent –          boldly and intentionally rude

Huck Finn Vocab 22 

1.candid –                      characterized by openness and sincerity of expression

2.flapdoodle –               foolish talk or nonsense

3.yawl –                         a ships small boat

4.histrionic –                of, or relating to, actors or acting

5.lath –                           a small, narrow strip of wood

6.capering –                  frolicking

7.disposition –              one’s usual mood; temperament

8.lanky –                        tall, thin, and ungainly

9.passel –                      a large quantity or group

10. hanker –                      to have a strong, often restless, desire

11. chaw –                        a chew of tobacco

12. vale –                          a farewell

13. obsequies –                a funeral ceremony or rite

14. loafing –                     passing time at leisure; idling

#23

1)     flagrant-                outrageously evident

2)     irksome-               tending to annoy, especially in a provoking way

3)     nebulous-             confusedly hazy or vague

4)     redundant-            unnecessary repetition in expressing ideas

5)     livid-                     deathly pale; enraged or furious

6)     emanate-               to flow out

7)     emulate-               to imitate with effort to equal or surpass

8)     glower-                 to stare with sullen discontent or anger

9)     inure-                    to make used to something undesirable by prolonged subjection

10)embellish-            to make more beautiful by ornamentation

Huck Fin Vocab 24 

1.blithesome –              cheerful an merry

2.unfurled –                   spread or opened

3.sultry –                       extremely hot

4.couchant –                  lying on the stomach with head raised and legs pointed  forward

5.chevron –                   V-shaped sleeve badge indicating military rank and service

6.nombril –                   the center point on a shield

7.fess –                          a wide horizontal band forming the middle section of an escuchion

8.escuchion –                a shield or shield shaped emblem bearing a coat of arms

9.saltire –                      a cross with diagonal bars of equal length

10. tedious –                    tiresome by reason of length, slowness or dullness; boring

11. fluster –                     a state of agitation, confusion, or excitement

 #25  Frankenstein Letters – chapter 5

1)     emaciated –                      made feeble and thin

2)     assailed –                         attacked violently

3)     irrevocably –                    not cable of being put to an end

4)     satiated –                          satisfied fully

5)     capitulated –                    surrendered

6)     penury –                           extreme poverty

7)     disconsolate –                 hopelessly sad

8)     ignoble –                          not honorable; vile

9)     predilection –                  an established preference for something

10)chimerical –                     fantastic or imagined.

 #26 Frankenstein chapter 5-11

1.immoderate –            without restraint; excessive

2.complacency –          satisfaction or contentment

3.cabriolet –                  a light, two wheeled, one-horse carriage

4.conjecture—              an inference or prediction from incomplete evidence

5.adduced –                   gave as reason or proof

6.lassitude –                  weariness or fatigue

7.ephemeral –               lasting one day; short lived

8.diligence –                 exertion or energetic effort

9.alighting –                  coming to rest from the air; landing

10. obliterated –             wiped out or covered over

11. bauble –                      a trinket or small piece of jewelry

12. vacillation –               unsettled; uncertain; switching between two options

Frankenstein Vocabulary 27 

1.acme -                                     high point or summit

2.assizes –                                 commands or orders; judicial inquest

3.bedim –                                  to make dim or difficult to perceive by sight

4.chamois –                               a grayish yellow color

5.consummated –                     achieved or carried out

6.degradation –                         the state of declining to a lower condition

7.derange –                                disturbed mentally or made insane

8.extricate –                              to release from entanglement or difficulty

9.obstinate –                             stubborn or pig-headed

10. indefatigable –                       tireless

11. languid –                                 lacking energy or vitality; weak

12. precarious –                           fraught with danger; risky

13. reposed –                               rested or lay down

14. turnkey –                                keeper of keys in prison

Vocabulary 28 

1.apropos –                   by the way; unimportant

2.arrears –                     the state of being behind in obligations, usually financial

3.boudoir –                    a woman’s dressing room or bedroom

4.curates –                     clerics, especially ones who have charge of a parish

5.pathology –                the study of disease

6.implored –                 begged

7.grog –                         alcoholic liquor related to rum

8.haggard –                    having a worn or emaciated appearance

9.languid –                     sluggish in character or disposition

10. paroxysm -                 a sudden, sharp attack

11. prostration –              total exhaustion or weakness

Vocabulary 29 

1.abasement –          humbled

2.amenable –            compliant; willing

3.auspices –             kindly patronage and protection

4.debauch –             to seduce or corrupt

5.demurred –            to voice opposition or cause delay

6.diligence –             characterized by steady and earnest effort

7.entity –                  something with separate and real existence

8.equilibrium --         a state of intellectual or emotional balance

9.gaol –                    jail

10.  malodorous –       stinky

11.  miasma –              vapor that comes from a swamp

12. myriad –                indefinitely large number

13. pablum –               soft, digestible food

14. suffusion –            to spread over in the manner of fluid or light

Senior Vocab 30

 1.panegyric –           elaborate praise

2.loo –                     a card game or slang term for bathroom

3.supercilious –        having or showing excessive pride

4.vexing –                irritating

5.caprice –               a sudden change of mind without apparent motive

6.cunning –              artfully shrewd or crafty

7.fastidious –           difficult to please or satisfy

8.scrupulous –         having or showing a strict regard for what is right

9.censuring –            to find fault with

10.  efficacy –             the power to produce an intended result

11.  prognostic –         predict future events

12.  paltry –                having little or no value

Senior Vocab 31

 1.appease –                                put and end to by satisfying an appetite or desire; make calm or quiet

2.apprehension –                      expectation of misfortune or impending doom

3.comely –                                physically attractive

4.commiserate –                       sorrow or pity for another’s misfortune

5.hale –                                      strong and healthy

6.impinge –                               trespass; encroach; infringe

7.knave –                                   a tricky, dishonest man; a rogue; a rascal

8.plumage –                               literally a bird’s feathers; slangly fancy clothing

9.sidle –                                     sideways movement; to move sideways

10. squeamish –                           easily shocked; slightly sick to one’s stomach