Vocab # 11

1. affinity- (n) a liking or sympathy for someone or something, especially because of shared characteristic

2. bilious- (adj) relating to an illness caused by too much bile, which can cause vomiting

3. cognate- (adj) describes languages and words that have the same origin, or that are related and in some way similar

4. corollary- (n) something that results from something else

5. cul-de-sac- (n) a short road which is blocked off at one end, a situation which leads nowhere

6. derring-do- (n) brave action taken without considering the danger involved

7. divination- (n) the skill or act of saying or discovering what will happen in the future

8. elixir- (n) a substance, usually a liquid, with a magical power to cure, improve or preserve

9. folderol- (n) a showy but worthless trifle, foolish nonsense

10. gamut- (n) the whole range of things that can be included in something

11. hoi polloi- (plural noun) ordinary people

12. ineffable- (adj) causing so much emotion, especially pleasure, that it cannot be described

13. lucubration- (n) laborious work, study, thought, etc.. especially at night.

14. mnemonic- (n) something such as a very short poem or a special word used to help a person remember something

15. obloquy- (n) censure, blame or abusive language aimed at a person or thing, especially by numerous persons or by the public.

16. parameter- (n) a set of facts or a fixed limit which establishes or limits how something can or must happen or be done

17. pundit- (n) a person who knows a lot about a particular subject and is therefore often asked to give an opinion about it

18. risible-(adj) not effective or useful; stupid

19. symptomatic-(adj) If something bad is symptomatic of something else, it is caused by the other thing and is proof that it exists

20.volte-face- (n) a sudden change from one set of beliefs or plan of action to the opposite