Vocabulary Vocabulary Level FLevel FUnit 6Unit 6

anomalous – adj. abnormal, irregular

Having six fingers on one hand is anomalous for humans, yet more common than you might think.

aspersion – n. a damaging or derogatory statement

The aspersions that Michael Moore has cast on the healthcare industry and our government have made people doubt our society’s motives for caring for the sick.

bizarre – adj. extremely strange

People are often stopped in their tracks by bizarre sights or events.

brusque – adj. blunt, with no formalities (syn. ungracious)

Donald Trump has no problem letting employees go, telling them in his brusque style, “You’re

fired!”

cajole – v. to persuade through flattery or artifice (syn. wheedle,

sweet-talk)

castigate – v. to punish severely; to criticize severely

contrive – v. to invent; devise, concoct

When my sister read my diary, I contrived a plan to get back at

her.

demagogue – n. a person who stirs up public feelings especially of discontent (they use common prejudices and false claims to raise

fear)

That politician is just a demagogue who preys upon people’s fears and prejudices.

In All Quiet on the Western Front, Paul was upset because he heard that the French were spreading the propaganda that the Germans will eat their babies.

disabuse – v. to set right in ideas or thinking

ennui – n. boredom, listlessness

We often use the hyperbole “die of boredom,” but a person cannot actually meet his demise

due to a sense of ennui!

fetter – n. a chain or shackle; anything that confines or restrains; v.

to render helpless or impotent

The mistreated dog had lived fettered to the side of the house for so long that the fetter had

begun to grow into its leg.

heinous – adj. very wicked, offensive, hateful

The dictator was tried for heinous acts against humanity.

immutable – adj. not subject to change, constant

Laws that were put in place centuries ago, while at the time seemed immutable, may need amending or removing from the law books in order for an ever-changing society to evolve.

insurgent – n. one who rebels against authority; adj. surging or rushing in or on

We hear on the nightly news all the time about the insurgent forces that fight against their governments.

megalomania – n. a delusion marked by a feeling of power, wealth, talent, etc.

far in excess of reality

A lot of fast-rising celebrities suffer from megalomania because they become rich and famous very quickly;

unfortunately, these same people often fall prey to the trappings of success and go broke when their fifteen minutes

of fame is up.

sinecure – n. an easy job

If a relative runs the company, perhaps you expect a sinecure, rather than working your way

up to the top?

surreptitious – adj. stealthy, secret, made or accomplished by fraud

I had to come up with some surreptitious excuses to get out of the house and go Christmas shopping so my father wouldn’t know I was buying his gift.

transgress – v. to go beyond limit or boundary; to violate a law

I asked my friend to forgive my transgression when I broke her confidence

by revealing her secret.

transmute – v. to change from one form to another

Small children enjoy watching water transmute from ice into a puddle.

vicarious – adj. experienced by one person in place of another

Because I was too far along in my pregnancy to travel, I experienced the Senior Class Trip vicariously through phone

calls, text messages, and photos sent by my students and co-advisor.