American Literature 111

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American Literature 111

• Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary
• Level G, Unit 5
• Hannah Burwell

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acuity

• (n.) sharpness (particularly of the mind or
  senses)
• Synonyms keenness, acuteness
• Antonyms dullness, obtuseness

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delineate

• (v.) to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate
  and vivid detail to represent pictorially
• Synonyms depict, picture, render

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depraved

• (adj.) marked by evil or corruption, devoid of
  moral principles
• Synonyms perverted, degenerate, vicious, corrupt
• Antonyms moral, virtuous, upright, uncorrupted
• Similar words this semester?

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enervate

• (v.) to weaken or lesson the mental, moral, or
  physical vigor of enfeeble, hamstring
• Synonyms impair, cripple, paralyze
• Antonyms invigorate, strengthen, buttress

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esoteric

• (adj.) intended for or understood by only a few,
  private, secret
• Synonyms occult, cryptic, arcane, recondite
• Antonyms accessible, comprehensible, intelligible

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fecund

• (adj.) fruitful in offspring or vegetation
  intellectually productive
• Synonyms fertile, teeming, prolific
• Antonyms infertile, barren, unproductive

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fiat

• (n.) an arbitrary order or decree a command or
  act of will or consciousness
• Synonyms edict, dictum, ukase

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figment

• (n.) a fabrication of the mind an arbitrary
  notion
• Synonyms creation, invention, fancy

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garner

• (v.) to acquire as the result of an effort to
  gather and store away, as for future use
• Synonyms collect, accumulate, accrue
• Antonyms scatter, squander, waste, dissipate
• Similar words from previous units?

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hallow

• (v.) to set apart as holy or sacred, sanctify,
  consecrate to honor greatly, revere
• Synonyms venerate, bless
• Antonyms desecrate, defile, profane

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idiosyncrasy

• (n.) a peculiarity that serves to distinguish or
  identify
• Synonyms eccentricity, quirk, mannerism

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ignominy

• (n.) shame and disgrace
• Synonyms dishonor, humiliation, disrepute, odium
• Antonyms honor, glory, acclaim

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mundane

• (adj.) earthly, worldly, relating to practical
  and material affairs concerned with what is
  ordinary
• Synonyms prosaic, humdrum, routine, sublunary
• Antonyms heavenly, unworldly, spiritual,
  transcendental

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nuance

• (n.) a subtle or slight variation (as in color,
  meaning, or quality), delicate gradation or shade
  of difference
• Synonyms shade, nicety, refinement

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overweening

• (adj.) conceited, presumptuous excessive,
  immoderate
• Synonyms arrogant, unbridled, inflated
• Antonyms restrained, understated, modest, meek

                              
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penchant

• (n.) a strong attraction or inclination
• Synonyms proclivity, propensity, predilection
• Antonyms disinclination, aversion

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reputed

• (adj.) according to reputation or general belief
  having widespread acceptance and good reputation
  (part.) alleged
• Synonyms putative, reputable, supposed
• Antonyms proven, corroborated, authenticated

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sophistry

• (n.) reasoning that seems plausible but is
  actually unsound a fallacy
• Synonyms specious reasoning

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sumptuous

• (adj.) costly, rich, magnificent
• Synonyms lavish, munificent, opulent, splendid
• Antonyms skimpy, meager, stingy, Spartan

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ubiquitous

• (adj.) present or existing everywhere
• Synonyms omnipresent, pervasive, universal
• Antonyms restricted, limited, rare, scarce