Vocab Unit 8 Accel 12 - PowerPoint Presentation

Vocab Unit 8 Accel 12

Aberration (noun) Departure from what is proper, right, expected, or normal; a lapse from a sound mental state S : deviation, irregularityIn an aberration of judgment, the coach chose not to call a critical time-out.Memory Trick: make an error

Ad Hoc (Adjective/adverb) Adj : For this specific purpose; improvisedAdv: with respect to thisS: makeshiftA: permanent, long-standingAn ad hoc committee was formed immediately.We met, ad hoc , to consider the issue. Memory Trick: add to something on the spot

Bane (Noun) The source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison S : spoilerA: blessing, comfort, solaceRain, the bane of picnics, was forecast for the day we had scheduled ours.Memory Trick: Bane from Batman Dark Knight Rises Bane sounds like pain

Bathos (Noun) The intrusion of commonplace or trite material into a context whose tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality; the lowest phase; an anticlimax, comedown S : mawkishness, mush After wallowing in bathos, the writer returned to her novel in earnest.Memory Trick: Pathos appeals to emotion

Cantankerous (Adjective) Ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get along or deal with S : cranky, testy, peevish, orneryA: good-natured, sweet-tempered, genialThe cantankerous machine befuddled the team of technicians assigned to repair it.Memory Trick: sounds like cranky

Casuistry (Noun) The determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principles The use of clever but unsound reasoning, especially in relation to moral questionsS: quibblingThe professor’s ideas, once highly regarded, now appear to be nothing more than ingenious casuistry. Memory Trick: casually talk about moral dilemmas

De Facto (adjective/adverb) Adj : actually existing or in effect, although not legally required or sanctionedAdv: in reality, actuallyS: in actuality, point of factA: by right, de jure The dictator’s wife is the de facto head of state. It appears that, de facto , the information is true.Memory Trick: it is a fact

Depredation (Noun) The act of preying upon or plundering S : looting, outrageThe depredation of the invaders left scars that will take years to heal.Memory Trick: once something or someone plunders, you are deprived of what you had

Empathy (Noun) A sympathetic understanding or identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of someone or something else S : sympathy, compassionA: insensitivity, callousness, detachmentThe grandparents felt empathy for the aspirations of their grandchildren. Memory Trick: you should know this one

Harbinger (Noun/verb) Noun : a forerunner, herald Verb: to herald the approach ofS: precursor, presageA: aftermath, epilogue, sequelDaffodils in bloom are a harbinger of spring.Crocuses, too, harbinger the approach of spring. Memory Trick: bring about change/new

Hedonism (Noun) The belief that the attainment of pleasure is life’s chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure S : pleasure seeking, sensualityA: asceticism, puritanism A beach bum’s mindless hedonism may appeal to all working people at one time or another.Memory Trick: sounds like Heathen

Lackluster (adjective) Lacking brilliance or vitality; dull S : vapid, insipid, drab, flatA: brilliant, radiant, dazzlingThe weary soldier's lackluster stare haunted the photographer, who captured it with her lens.Memory Trick: lacking luster or sparkle

Malcontent (Adjective/Noun) Adj : discontented with or in open defiance of prevailing conditions Noun: such a personS: dissatisfied, disgruntled, grumblerA: satisfied, contented, complacentThe malcontent transit workers went out on strike.The angry mayor referred to the strikers as a group of vocal, lazy malcontents . Memory Trick: mal=bad. Not content

Mellifluous (adjective) Flowing sweetly or smoothly; honeyed S : euphonious A: strident, harsh, gratingThe folk singer’s mellifluous voice appealed to young and old the world over. Memory Trick: sound moves fluidlyMel odious

Nepotism (Noun) Undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one’s relatives To avoid any hint of nepotism, the owner of the team refused to hire any of his relatives.Memory Trick: nephew

Pander (Verb/noun) Verb: to cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others Noun: a person who does thisS: indulgeA: pimp, procurer The hosts proceeded to pander to every whim of their delighted guests.His brother was a pander who ran a cheap pool hall on the outskirts of town. Memory Trick: serve up food in a pan

Peccadillo (Noun) A minor sin or offense; a trifling fault or shortcoming S : lapseA: felony, mortal sin, atrocity If you will overlook my peccadillos, I will ignore yours.Memory Trick: peek into the criminal side

PiÈce de rÉsistance (Noun) The principal dish of a meal; the principal event, incident, or item; an outstanding accomplishment S : centerpieceA: preliminary The piece de resistance of the remarkable repast was the dessert, a ten-tiered cake adorned with spun sugar.“…Taylor’s pièce de résistance, a snare-drum heavy cover of Surfaris’ ‘Wipe Out.’”Memory Trick: Fancy language is center of attention. Can’t resist

Remand (verb) To send or order back; in law, to send back to jail or to a lower court S : remit, returnA: forward to, send on, releaseThe outlaw was remanded to the custody of the sheriff. Memory Trick: prefix “re” means go back or again. Go back to jail

Syndrome (noun) A group of symptoms or signs that collectively characterizes or indicates a disease, disorder, abnormality, etc. S : complex, patternWith ubiquitous computer use, carpal tunnel has become a decidedly modern syndrome.Memory Trick: syndrome sounds like symptom