Vocabulary log

1-Disabuse- adj.- to free a person from falsehood or error.

"We had to disabuse her of the notion that she was invited."

2-Dogged- adj.- stubborn or determined.

"Her dogged pursuit of the degree eventually paid off."

3-Eclectic- adj.- selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources.

"Many modern decorators prefer an eclectic style." (n: eclecticism)

4-Endemic- adj.- prevalent in or native to a certain region, locality, or people.

"The disease was endemic to the region."

5-Enigma- n.- puzzle; mystery.

"Math is an enigma to me." (adj: enigmatic).

6- equivocal- adj.- ambiguous; unclear; subject to more than one interpretation -- often intentionally .

"Republicans complained that Bill Clinton's answers were equivocal." (v. equivocate).

7- Esoteric- adj.- intended for or understood by only a few.

"The esoteric discussion confused some people." (n: esoterica).

8- exacerbate- v.- to increase the bitterness or violence of; to aggravate.

"The decision to fortify the border exacerbated tensions."

9- exculpate- v.- to demonstrate or prove to be blameless.

"The evidence tended to exculpate the defendant."(adj: exculpatory).

10- exorbitant- adj.- exceeding customary or normal limits, esp. in quantity or price.

"The cab fare was exorbitant."

11- Extant- adj.- in existence, still existing.

" The only extant representative of that species."

12- Fathom- n., v.- a measure of length (six feet) used in nautical settings. to penetrate to the depths of something in order to understand it.

"I couldn't fathom her reasoning on that issue."

13- Feign- v. to give false appearance or impression.

"He feigned illness to avoid going to school." (adj: feigned)

14- floundering- adj.- struggling.

"We tried to save the floundering business."

15- Gossamer- n., adj- fine cobweb on foliage; fine gauzy fabric; very fine.

"She wore a gossamer robe."

16- headlong - adj., adv.- headfirst; impulsive; hasty. impulsively; hastily; without forethought.

"They rushed headlong into marriage."

17- Imply- v.- to suggest indirectly; to entail.

"She implied she didn't believe his story." (n: implication).

18- Improvidence- n.- an absence of foresight; a failure to provide for future needs or events.

"Their improvidence resulted in the loss of their home."

19- Inchoate- adj.- in an initial or early stage; incomplete; disorganized.

"The act of writing forces one to clarify inchoate thoughts."

20- Insular - adj.- of or pertaining to an island, thus, excessively exclusive.

"Newcomers found it difficult to make friends in the insular community."