Unit 1 Vocabulary

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Unit 1 Vocabulary
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Unit 1, VCB Words 1-5
Adjunct Something added to something else as helpful or useful
Bellwether The male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse
Caterwaul To howl or screech like a cat
Chimerical Absurd
Effete Worn-out or exhausted out-of-date
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Adjunct (N.)

• Something added to something else as helpful or
  useful but not essential an assistant or helper

Synonyms Associate, addition, accessory
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Bellwether (N.)

• The male sheep that leads the flock to the
  slaughterhouse a leader, as in a desperate or
  violent undertaking an indicator of trends

Synonyms ringleader, initiator,
barometer Antonyms follower, imitator, emulator
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Caterwaul (V.)

• To howl or screech like a cat to quarrel

Synonyms (v.) whine (n.) wail, screech
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Chimerical (Adj.)

• Absurd wildly fantastic impossible

Synonyms fanciful, visionary, quixotic,
pie-in-the-sky Antonyms realistic,
down-to-earth, practicable
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Effete (Adj.)

• Lacking in wholesome vigor or energy worn-out or
  exhausted sterile or unable to produce
  out-of-date

Synonyms decadent, enfeebled, outmoded Antonyms
thriving, burgeoning, vigorous, dynamic
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Fait accompli (N.)

• An accomplished and presumably irreversible deed,
  fact, or action

Synonyms accomplished fact
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Hidebound (ADJ.)

• Narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions
  or prejudices stubbornly and unthinkingly
  conservative

Synonyms intolerant, inflexible Antonyms
open-minded, tolerant, liberal, progressive
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Hierarchy (N.)

• Any system of things or people arranged or
  graded one above another in order of rank,
  wealth, class, etc.

Synonyms chain of command, pecking order
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Liturgy (N.)

• A religious service or rite the form of a ritual
  or other act of public worship

Synonyms ceremony, observance
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Mirage (N.)

• Something illusory, without substance or without
  basis in reality an illusion

Synonyms optical illusion
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Morass (N.)

• A patch of low, soft, wet ground a swamp a
  confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as
  in quicksand

Synonyms Bog, quagmire Antonyms Solid ground,
bedrock, terra firm
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Noisome (Adj.)

• Offensive or disgusting foul-smelling harmful
  or injurious

Synonyms fetid, noxious, vile,
loathsome Antonyms wholesome, pleasant,
sweet-smelling
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Oblivious (Adj.)

• Forgetful unaware

Synonyms insensible Antonyms aware, mindful,
cognizant, alert
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Poltroon (N.)

• A base coward

Synonyms craven, dastard, chicken Antonyms
hero, stalwart, gallant
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Proselyte (N.)

• A convert a disciple

Synonyms novice, neophyte Antonyms master,
teacher, guide, guru
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Quasi (Adj.)

• Resembling but not actually being seemingly but
  not actually or completely

Synonyms kind of, semi-, as if Antonyms
totally, completely, actually, in fact
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Raillery (N.)

• Good-humored ridicule teasing

Synonyms banter, persiflage
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Ribald (Adj.)

• Irreverently mocking coarse, vulgar, or indecent
  in language

Synonyms bawdy, risque Antonyms seemly,
proper, decorous
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Supine (Adj.)
Lying flat on ones back listless or lethargic
apathetic or passive

• Synonyms Prone, prostrate, inert Antonyms
  Upright, erect, perpendicular, vertical

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Vignette (N.)

• A short description or sketch a picture or
  illustration with edges that gradually shade off
  a decorative design on the title page of a book
  or at the beginning or end of a chapter

Synonyms thumbnail sketch, anecdote Antonyms
epic, full-length treatment