Building a Better Vocabulary

Glossary of Target Words

Target Word

and Part of Speech 'H¿QLWLRQ

LECTURE

No.

specious (adjective) having the ring of truth or plausibility

but actually fallacious

3

splenetic (adjective) bad-tempered, irritable, or spiteful 22

VSRRQHULVP (noun) the transposition of the (usually)

initial sounds of two or more words,

often creating a humorous effect

28

spurious (adjective) not genuine, authentic, or true; false 3

stoic (adjective) seemingly indifferent to or unaffected by joy,

grief, pleasure, or pain

22

stolid (adjective) having or expressing little or no sensibility;

unemotional

22

stultify (verb) 1. to cause to lose interest;

to cause to feel dull and not alert

2. to render useless or ineffectual

26

supercilious

(adjective)

feeling or showing haughty disdain;

displaying arrogant pride, even scorn

12

supercilious

(adjective)

having a holier-than-thou attitude 24

susurration (noun) an indistinct whispering or rustling sound;

a murmur

32

VZRUGRI'DPRFOHV

(noun phrase)

a constant and imminent peril;

an impending disaster

11

sycophant (noun) DVHUYLOHVHOIVHHNLQJÀDWWHUHU 12

WHPHULW\ (noun) reckless boldness; rashness;

foolhardy disregard of danger

23

tendentious

(adjective)

marked by or favoring a particular point

RIYLHZVKRZLQJDGH¿QLWHWHQGHQF\

bias, or purpose; partisan

32

WLPRURXV (adjective) fearful or timid 23

tintinnabulation

(noun)

a ringing, tinkling, or jingling sound,

particularly the sound of bells

32

WRRWKVRPH (adjective) delicious; sexually attractive 6

WRSRQ\P (noun) 1. a place-name

2. a word named after a place

28

torpid (adjective) slow, sluggish, lethargic, dull, benumbed 19