Building a Better Vocabulary

Glossary of Target Words

Target Word

and Part of Speech 'H¿QLWLRQ

LECTURE

No.

SRUWPDQWHDXZRUG

(noun)

a new word that is blended together

from parts of existing words

28

prescient (adjective) SHUFHLYLQJWKHVLJQL¿FDQFH

of events before they happen

13

procrustean

(adjective)

tending to produce conformity by arbitrary,

ruthless, or violent means

1

SURÀLJDWH (noun) someone who is given to wildly extravagant

and grossly self-indulgent behavior

36

3URPHWKHDQ

(adjective)

daringly original or creative; boldly inventive 11

propitiate (verb) to appease; to make favorably inclined;

to regain the favor of someone

5

prosaic (adjective) 1. dull, lacking in imagination, matter-of-fact

2. commonplace, everyday, ordinary

10

protean (adjective) able to take many forms or do many different

things; versatile

21

puerile (adjective) juvenile, childishly silly, foolish 8

SXVLOODQLPRXV

(adjective)

cowardly; lacking courage

or resolution; fainthearted

23

TXDUN (noun) an elementary subatomic particle proposed

as the fundamental unit of matter

36

TXHUXORXV (adjective) full of complaints; complaining

in an annoyed way

4

TXLHVFHQW(adjective) tranquilly at rest, inactive, still, quiet,

or motionless

5

TXLVOLQJ (noun) a traitor who aids an invading and/or

occupying enemy force, often serving later

in the puppet government

17

TXL[RWLF (adjective) romantically impractical or impulsive 17

TXRWLGLDQ (adjective) daily, customary, ordinary, usual 10

rapacious (adjective) aggressively and excessively greedy

or grasping; predatory

5

recondite (adjective) GLI¿FXOWWRXQGHUVWDQG 18

salubrious (adjective) conducive or favorable to health

or well-being; wholesome

29

salutary (adjective) SURGXFLQJDEHQH¿FLDOHIIHFWUHPHGLDO 29