Vocab List #3

accolade- any award or honor.

The play received accolades from the press.

acerbity- sourness, with roughness of taste.

She experienced acerbity when she tried nopales for the first time.

attrition- a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength.

Our gym has had a high rate of attrition because so many members have moved away.

bromide- a platitude or trite saying.

The commencement address was a bromide.

chauvinist- blind enthusiast for military glory.

Naïve Americans can be considered chauvinists when it comes to their opinion on the American military.

chronic- constant; habitual.

James was a chronic liar.

expound- to set forth or state in detail.

Charles Darwin expounded his theories on natural selection.

factionalism- affiliation with a group of people inside a political party.

Mitt Romney is a part of the Republican factionalism.

immaculate- free from spot or stain.

The man wore a shirt derived from immaculate linen.

imprecation- the act of cursing.

Someone with terrets can’t be rightly accused for imprecation.

ineluctable- incapable of being evaded.

Justin has an ineluctable destiny.

mercurial- changeable; volatile.

Human nature can be described as mercurial.

palliate- to relieve or lessen without curing; alleviate.

Vikoden is used to palliate pain.

protocol- the customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic etiquette.

The president being secure at all times is protocol for the Secret Service.

resplendent- shining brilliantly; gleaming.

The jewel was resplendent because it was just cleaned.

stigmatize- to set some mark of disgrace or infamy upon.

The crime of the father stigmatized the whole family.

sub rosa- confidentially; secretly; privately.

The document was sub rosa stolen.

vainglory- excessive elation or pride over one’s own achievements.

It is arguable that Beowulf possesses vainglory.

vestige- visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence.

A few columns were the last vestiges of a Creek temple.

volition- the act of willing, choosing, or resolving.

She left of her own volition.