Vocab #9

aficionado: an ardent devotee; fan, enthusiast.

browbeat: to intimidate by overbearing looks or words; bully

commensurate: having the same measure; of equal extent or duration.

diaphanous: very sheer and light; almost completely transparent or translucent.

emolument: profit, salary, or fees from office or employment; compensation for services

foray: a quick raid, usually for the purpose of taking plunder

genre: a class or category of artistic endeavor having a particular form, content, technique, or the like

homily: a sermon, usually on a Biblical topic and usually of a nondoctrinal nature.

immure: to shut in; seclude or confine.

insouciant: free from concern, worry, or anxiety; carefree; nonchalant.

matrix: something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates, takes form, or develops

obsequies: a funeral rite or ceremony.

panache: a grand or flamboyant manner; verve; style; flair

persona: a person's perceived or evident personality, as that of a well-known official, actor, or celebrity; personal image; public role.

philippic: a bitter or impassioned speech of denunciation; invective

prurient: having, inclined to have, or characterized by lascivious or lustful thoughts, desires, etc.

sacrosanct: extremely sacred or inviolable

systemic: of or pertaining to a system.

tendentious: having or showing a definite tendency, bias, or purpose

vicissitude: a change or variation occurring in the course of something.

To be or not to be don't you see?

after many takes here the closest I had gotten to a perfect recital. I know it's nymph not tis!

Vocab #8

abase: to reduce or lower, as in rank, office, reputation, or estimation; humble; degrade.

abdicate: to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, claim, responsibility, or the like, especially in a formal manner.

abomination: anything abominable; anything greatly disliked or abhorred.

brusque: abrupt in manner; blunt; rough

saboteur: a person who commits or practices sabotage.

debauchery: excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; intemperance.

proliferate: to increase in number or spread rapidly and often excessively.

anachronism: something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, especially a thing or person that belongs to an earlier time.

nomenclature: a set or system of names or terms, as those used in a particular science or art, by an individual or community, etc.

expurgate: to purge or cleanse of moral offensiveness.

bellicose: inclined or eager to fight; aggressively hostile; belligerent; pugnacious.

gauche: lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; crude; tactless

rapacious: given to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed.

paradox:a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth. 

conundrum: a riddle, the answer to which involves a pun or play on words.

anomaly: an odd, peculiar, or strange condition, situation, quality, etc.

ephemeral: lasting a very short time; short-lived; transitory

rancorous: full of or showing rancor.

churlish: difficult to work or deal with, as soil.

precipitous: extremely or impassably steep:

dashboard

its use is for me to check on mine and dr.prestons blog with other useful features
http://www.netvibes.com/privatepage/1#Tools

Pressure
The temptation of leisure

Vocab #5

obsequious: characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning

beatitude: supreme blessedness; exalted happiness.

bete noire:  a person or thing that one particularly dislikes or dreads

bode: to be an omen of; portend

dank: unpleasantly moist or humid; damp and, often, chilly

ecumenical: general; universal.

fervid: heated or vehement in spirit, enthusiasm

fetid: having an offensive odor; stinking.

gargantuan: gigantic; enormous; colossal

heyday: the stage or period of greatest vigor, strength, success, etc.; prime

incubus: a nightmare.

infrastructure: the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization.

inveigle: to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements

kudos: honor; glory; acclaim

lagniappe: an unexpected or indirect benefit.

prolix: extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious length; long and wordy.

protege: a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare.

prototype: the original or model on which something is based or formed.

sycophant: a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.

tautology: needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness

truckle: to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely

Vocab #4

accolade: any award, honor, or laudatory notice

acerbity: sourness, with roughness or astringency of taste.

attrition: a reduction or decrease in numbers, size, or strength

bromide: a person who is platitudinous and boring.

chauvinist: a person who is aggressively and blindly patriotic, especially one devoted to military glory.

chronic: continuing a long time or recurring frequently

expound: to explain; interpret.

factionalism:self-interested; partisan

immaculate: free from moral blemish or impurity; pure

imprecation: the act of imprecating; cursing.

ineluctable: incapable of being evaded; inescapable, inevitable, unavoidable, irrevocable, unpreventable, unstoppable, inexorable.

mercurial: changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic

palliate: to try to mitigate or conceal the gravity of (an offense) by excuses, apologies, etc.; extenuate.

protocol: the customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, precedence, and etiquette.

resplendent: shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid

stigmatize:to set some mark of disgrace or infamy upon

sub rosa: confidentially; secretly; privately.

vainglory: excessive elation or pride over one's own achievements, abilities, etc.; boastful vanity.

vestige: a mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence

volition: the act of willing, choosing, or resolving; exercise of willing