Vocab #4

obsequious - adj. attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery

-          Her obsequious manner made her an agreeable and pleasant host to the guests.

beatitude - noun supreme blessedness; a state of supreme happiness

-          The degree of her joyfulness and beatitude, although a little confusing, was a pleasant surprise.

bête noir- noun a person or thing especially disliked or dreaded; bane

-          Corrupt lawyers and politicians are often seen as bête noir figures.

bode - verb to announce beforehand; predict; indicate by signs

-          The rising tensions within the group did not bode well for either of their futures.

dank - adj. unpleasantly cool and humid

-          The dank, dark cave was home to many winged bats that dwelled in dark crevices.

ecumenical - adj. general, universal; concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions

-          His ecumenical personality forbids him from leaving any issues unresolved.

fervid - adj. extremely hot; characterized by intense emotion

-          The fervid speech worked effectively and roused the crowd to action. 

fetid - adj. offensively malodorous; offensive odor

-          After many weeks of living under the bed, the rotten fruit began to give off a fetid scent.

gargantuan - adj. of great mass; huge and bulky

-          The gargantuan figure of the middle age man intimidated all whom passed under his shadow.

heyday - noun the period of greatest prosperity or productivity

-          The inauguration of the new business proved to be quite a heyday.

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

-          The accumulating debt was the incubus in the young student’s progress.

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

-          The faulty infrastructure of the organization was the cause for the many complications that sprung through the passing of the years.

inveigle - verb influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering

-          It was not exceedingly difficult to inveigle the necessary information from the suspect.

kudos - noun an expression of approval and commendation

-          Kudos to all the returning university students for completing yet another year of rigorous academics.

lagniappe - noun a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)

-          The toddler left the store delighted after she had received a lagniappe from the cashier worker.

prolix - adj. tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length

-          Although she had spent many hours attempting to perfect her essay, her thoughts were not articulated clearly and came off as prolix.

protégé - noun a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare.

-          The protégé was well under way to becoming as skillful as his instructor.

prototype - noun a standard or typical example

-          Although a tad bit primitive, the first prototype served its intended purpose.

sycophant - noun a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage

-          When one observes a sycophant they find them inclined to agreeing with absurd ideas.

tautology - noun useless repetition; (logic) a statement that is necessarily true

-          It is best to avoid using tautology on an important essay for it can greatly harm its quality and eloquence.

truckle - noun verb yield to out of weakness; to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely; try to gain favor by cringing or flattering

-          Even before the first stage of the competition had begun the competitor had already truckled.