Building a Better Vocabulary

Glossary of Target Words

Target Word

and Part of Speech 'H¿QLWLRQ

LECTURE

No.

insouciant (adjective) free from concern, worry, or anxiety;

carefree; nonchalant

35

intrepid (adjective) resolutely fearless, dauntless 23

inure (verb) WREHFRPHDFFXVWRPHGWRKDUGVKLSGLI¿FXOW\

or pain; to toughen or harden; to habituate

22

invidious (adjective) creating ill will, envy; causing resentment;

unfairly or offensively discriminating

7

jargon (noun) unintelligible or meaningless speech 27

MHUHPLDG (noun) a long lamentation or complaint; a bitter

lament; a scolding speech or sermon

16

juggernaut (noun) an overwhelming or unstoppable force

that smashes everything in its path

30

laconic (adjective) using few words, terse, brief,

succinct, taciturn, concise

15

lacuna (noun) a gap or hole where something should be 20

lagniappe (noun) a small gift given by a storeowner to a

FXVWRPHUDQ\VPDOOH[WUDJLIWRUEHQH¿W

35

lilliputian (adjective) 1. very small, diminutive

2. trivial, petty

30

lingua franca (noun) a common language used by speakers

of different languages to communicate

27

luddite (noun) anyone who opposes the introduction

of technological change

17

PDFKLQDWLRQV (noun) intrigues, plots, crafty schemes,

or the act of plotting

3

PDJQXPRSXV (noun) an artist’s greatest work 30

PDODGURLW (adjective) awkward, clumsy, tactless, or bungling 7

PDODLVH (noun) DYDJXHRULQGH¿QLWHIHHOLQJ

of unease or discomfort

7

PDODSURSLVP (noun) a ridiculous and often humorous misuse

of words, particularly words that sound

similar but are different in meaning

17

PDOFRQWHQW (noun) DSHUVRQZKRLVFKURQLFDOO\GLVVDWLV¿HG 7

PDOHGLFWLRQ(noun) a curse; evil talk about someone; slander 7

PDOHIDFWRU (noun) a criminal; a person who violates the law 7