Vocabulary #1

Theme:  An implicit or recurrent idea
The theme of the party was masquerade.
Tone: The writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience
The writer's tone in his book about political injustice was one of anger.
Mood: The effective setting of a piece of literature
The mood in the story was one of joy.
Diction: The choice and use of words and phrases in speech and writing
Jonathan Swift's diction in "A Modest Proposal" is composed of high literary terms.
Syntax: The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language
The syntax that Swift uses is very well composed
Syllogism: A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, minor premise, and a conclusion
The scientist's syllogism was that a man has two legs, all humans have two legs and therefore all humans have two legs.


Stupid: willfully ignoring or contesting new information
The stupid student always had his earbuds on during English class.
Adumbrate: To give a sketchy outline of
The computer teacher adumbrated to the principal as to why the school should upgrade to a new version of computers.
Apotheosis: The highest point in the development of something, culmination or climax
His last minute 2014 world cup winning goal is the apotheosis of Mario Goetze's soccer career.
Ascetic: characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons
I am very ascetic during the 40 days of the Catholic Lent time period
Bauble: a small, showy trinket or decoration
In antique shops, there are plenty of baubles for those interested in them.
Beguile: charm or enchant(someone), sometimes in a deceptive way
Con artists can easily beguile an unsuspecting victim
Burgeon: begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish
Sports companies such as Nike always try to be sponsors for burgeoning track athletes
Complement: a thing that completes or brings perfection
Brown wingtip dress shoes and a brown leather belt complement a navy-colored suit
Contumacious: stubbornly or willfully disobedient to authority
Undeniably guilty criminals will never choose to admit to being contumacious.
Curmudgeon: a bad-tempered or surly person
Some professional athletes are curmudgeon-ed.
Didactic: intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is didactic novel that teaches you to find your true passion
Disingenuous: not candid or secure, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does
Gangsters are the most disingenuous source of evidence to solve a crime.
Exculpate: Show or declare that(someone) is not guilty of wrongdoing
The lawyer tried his best to exculpate his innocent client, but ultimately failed.
Faux pas: an embarrassing or tactless act or remark in a social situation
The student made a faux pas while presenting by getting tongue-twisted
Fulminate: express vehement protest
The track athletes did not fulminate when their coach told them of their difficult workout.
Fustian: pompous or pretentious speech or writing
The book was full of fustian writing
Hauteur: haughtiness of matter; disdainful pride
The track athlete was very hauteur until he was beat by an unknown.
Inhibit: hinder, restraint, or prevent(an action or process)
The investigators were so good at their job they managed to inhibit a bank robbery by a very dangerous criminal gang.
Jeremiad: a long, mournful complaint or lamentation; a list of woes
The girl who was forcefully sent to science camp sent her parents a jeremiad.
Opportunist: a person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by consistent principals or plans
Cheating on tests is mainly done by opportunists.
Unconscionable: not right or reasonable
The fact that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have made it as far as they have is unconscionable.