Building a Better Vocabulary

Glossary of Target Words

Target Word

and Part of Speech 'H¿QLWLRQ

LECTURE

No.

IRPHQW (verb) WRVWLUXSLQFLWHURXVHSURYRNHLQÀDPH

encourage, or instigate

15

fortitude (noun) mental and emotional strength

LQIDFLQJGLI¿FXOW\DGYHUVLW\GDQJHU

or temptation courageously

23

fractious (adjective) unruly; hard to manage; rebellious 22

frisson (noun) an almost pleasurable sensation of fright 26

IXOPLQDWH (verb) 1. to issue a thunderous verbal attack;

to vehemently denounce

2. to explode with sudden violence;
   to detonate

15

IXOVRPH (adjective) 1. excessively or insincerely lavish

2. abundant

4

JDGÀ\(noun) 1. a persistently annoying person who

questions, critiques, and pesters

2. an insect that annoys livestock
   by biting and sucking their blood

4

JHPWOLFKNHLW (noun) an atmosphere characterized by a cheerful

mood; peace of mind, with the connotation

of fellowship and coziness

35

JHUU\PDQGHU

(noun/verb)

QRXQ

the act of dividing election districts

to give one party an unfair advantage

YHUE

to divide election districts unfairly

17

gestalt (noun) a pattern possessing qualities as a whole

that cannot be described merely as a sum

of its parts

35

glossophobia (noun) unreasonable fear of speaking in public 9

Gordian knot

(noun phrase)

an exceedingly complicated and intricate

problem or deadlock; an intractable problem

11

halcyon (adjective) tranquil, calm, and peaceful; may refer

to happy, joyful, and prosperous times

5

KDUUXPSK (verb) 1. to make a pretentious show

of clearing one’s throat

2. to offer brief critical comments

32