Building a Better Vocabulary

Target Word

and Part of Speech 'H¿QLWLRQ

LECTURE

No.

sangfroid (noun) coolness and composure,

especially in trying circumstances

35

saturnalia (noun) a celebration marked by unrestrained

revelry and, often, promiscuity

and excessive drinking

11

saturnine (adjective) melancholy, sluggish, gloomy 11

scabrous (adjective) 1. scabby, blotchy, and scaly

2. rough to the touch


3. indecent, shocking, scandalous

4

schadenfreude (noun) satisfaction, pleasure, or malicious joy
at someone else’s misfortune

34

VFKLVP (noun) a division among the members

of a group into opposing factions

because of a disagreement

20

sedulous (adjective) diligent in application or in the pursuit of

something; persevering; constant in effort

19

VHVTXLSHGDOLDQ

(adjective)

1. given to the overuse of long words


2. long and ponderous, polysyllabic

27

shibboleth (noun) a test word, phrase, or custom used

to distinguish one group from another

27

Sisyphean (adjective) endlessly laborious and futile 11

skulduggery (noun) devious, deceitful behavior;

underhanded dealings

3

VREULTXHW (noun) a nickname, usually a humorous

or affectionate one

27

sockdolager (noun) 1. DVWURQJGHFLVLYH¿QDOEORZD¿QLVKHU

2. something or someone outstanding
   or exceptional

36

VROLSVLVP (noun) 1. the philosophy that one has no valid

reason for believing that anything

exists except oneself

2. an extreme preoccupation with one’s own
   feelings and thoughts

21

VRPQLORTX\ (noun) sleep talking 27

sophist (noun) one skilled in elaborate

and devious argumentation

3