Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Fall List #4


apostate- a person who forsakes his religion, cause, party, etc.

One who apostates a lot is indecisive.

effusive- pouring out; overflowing.

Her feelings were effusive as she was watching "The Notebook."

impasse- a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock.

After failing every class, a student may be impasse from summer school.

euphoria- a state of intense happiness and self- confidence.

Being at Disneyland brings me complete euphoria since it's "The happinest place on Earth."

lugubrious- excessively mournful.

After losing a loved one, the couple were lugubrious.

bravado- swaggering display of courage.

A hero must have bravado in order to fit the traditional "hero" requirements.

consensus- general agreement.

The consesus in 2008 was that Obama would be our president.
 
dichotomy- division into two parts, kinds.
 
The dichotomy of the class made it easier to control.


constrict- to draw or press in; cause to contract or shrink; compress.
 
When an anaconda eats, they constrict their meal in their stomachs.

gothic- charactierized by gloomy or mysterious settings.


 
Gothis tales can be depressing at times due to the gloomy settings and sad tone.
 

punctilio- a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or procedure.
 
Saying "I do" is a punctilio at weddings.
 
metamorphosis- a complete change of form, structure, or substance, as transformation.


 
In order to become a butterfly, a caterpillar was go through a metamorphosis.

raconteur-a person skilled in telling stories.


 
A habitual liar may also be a raconteur after great practice.

sine qua non- an essential condition or requirement.


 
A high G.P.A. is sine qua non to getting accepted into an elite university.

quixotic- impractical.
 
For families of eight, the Smart Car is quixotic.

vendetta- any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, or contention.


 
Large fights often lead to vendettas that last a lifetime.

non sequitur- a statement containing an illogical conclusion.


 
Being illogical is just part of making non sequiturs.

mystique- an aura of mystery, or power.


 
Witches often have a mystique presence about them.
quagmire- anything soft or flabby.


 
Whales often appear quagmire due to their large bosy masses.

parlous- dangerous.
 
The men in Jackass often do parlous things.



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