Friday, September 19, 2014

VOCAB #4

obsequious
adj. attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
ex: The presidential candidate was obsequious in his campaign.
beatitude
noun one of the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount; in Latin each saying begins with `beatus' (blessed); a state of supreme happiness
ex: The squirrel was is beatitude when he was surrounded by acorns.
Bête noire
Noun a person or thing strongly detested or avoided
ex: The weird kid in math class was a béte noire and nobody wanted to sit next to him

bode
verb indicate by signs
ex: The third base coach boded to the batter, secretly telling him to bunt.
dank
adj. unpleasantly cool and humid
ex: The wedding was a disaster thanks to the dank weather.
ecumenical
adj. of worldwide scope or applicability; concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions
ex: The new film gave a ecumenical approach to the tragic 9/11 terrorist event.
fervid
adj. extremely hot; characterized by intense emotion
ex: The conductor fervidly boded to the orchestra.
fetid
adj. offensively malodorous; having a strong, offensive smell
ex: The locker room radiated a fetid odor after the football team were done changing.
gargantuan
adj. of great mass; huge and bulky
ex: The gargantuan gargoyle gargled green grapes while grinding gears in his garage.
heyday
noun the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
ex: 
incubus
noun a male demon believed to lie on sleeping persons and to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; someone who depresses or worries others; a situation resembling a terrifying dream
infrastructure
noun the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area; the basic structure or features of a system or organization
inveigle
verb influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
kudos
noun an expression of approval and commendation
lagniappe
noun a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)
prolix
adj. tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length
protege
noun a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career
prototype
noun a standard or typical example
sycophant
noun a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
tautology
noun useless repetition; (logic) a statement that is necessarily true
truckle
noun a low bed to be slid under a higher bed; verb yield to out of weakness; try to gain favor by cringing or flattering