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abjure(v.)toreject,renounce(Toprovehishonesty,thepresidentabjuredtheevilpoliciesofhiswickedpredecessor.)abrogate(v.)toabolish,usuallybyauthority(TheBillofRightsassuresthatthegovernmentcannotabrogateourrighttoafreepress.)acerbic(adj.)biting,bitterintoneortaste(Jillbecameextremelyacerbicandbegantocruellymakefunofallherfriends.)acrimony(n.)bitterness,discord(Thoughtheyvowedthatnogirlwouldevercomebetweenthem,BiffandTrevorcouldnotkeepacrimonyfromoverwhelmingtheirfriendshipaftertheybothfellinlovewiththelovelyTeresa.)acumen(n.)keeninsight(Becauseofhismathematicalacumen,Larrywasabletofigureoutinminutesproblemsthattookotherstudentshours.)adumbrate(v.)tosketchoutinavagueway(Thecoachadumbratedagameplan,butnoneoftheplayersknewpreciselywhattodo.)alacrity(n.)eagerness,speed(Forsomereason,Chucklovedtohelphismotherwheneverhecould,sowhenhismotheraskedhimtosetthetable,hedidsowithalacrity.)anathema(n.)acursed,detestedperson(Ineverwanttoseethatmurderer.Heisananathematome.)antipathy(n.)astrongdislike,repugnance(Iknowyouloveme,butbecauseyouarealiarandathief,Ifeelnothingbutantipathyforyou.)approbation(n.)praise(Thecrowdwelcomedtheheroeswithapprobation.)arrogate(v.)totakewithoutjustification(Thekingarrogatedtherighttoorderexecutionstohimselfexclusively.)ascetic(adj.)practicingrestraintasameansofself-discipline,usuallyreligious(Thepriestlivesanasceticlifedevoidoftelevision,savoryfoods,andotherpleasures.)aspersion(n.)acurse,expressionofill-will(Therivalpoliticiansrepeatedlycastaspersionsoneachothers’integrity.)assiduous(adj.)hard-working,diligent(Theconstructionworkerserectedtheskyscraperduringtwoyearsofassiduouslabor.)Bblandish(v.)tocoaxbyusingflattery(Rachel’sassistanttriedtoblandishherintoacceptingthedeal.)boon(n.)agiftorblessing(Thegoodweatherhasbeenaboonformanybusinesseslocatednearthebeach.)brusque(adj.)short,abrupt,dismissive(Thecaptain’sbrusquemanneroffendedthepassengers.)buffet1.(v.)tostrikewithforce(Thestrongwindsbuffetedtheships,threateningtocapsizethem.)2.(n.)anarrangementoffoodsetoutonatable(Ratherthansittingaroundatable,thegueststookfoodfromourbuffetandatestandingup.)burnish(v.)topolish,shine(Hismotheraskedhimtoburnishthesilverwarebeforesettingthetable.)buttress1.(v.)tosupport,holdup(Thecolumnbuttressestheroofabovethestatue.)2.(n.)somethingthatofferssupport(Thebuttresssupportstheroofabovethestatues.)Ccacophony(n.)tremendousnoise,disharmonioussound(Theelementaryschoolorchestracreatedacacophonyattherecital.)cajole(v.)tourge,coax(Fred’sbuddiescajoledhimintoattendingthebachelorparty.)calumny(n.)anattempttospoilsomeoneelse’sreputationbyspreadinglies(Thelocalofficial’scalumnyendedupruininghisopponent’sprospectofwinningtheelection.)capricious(adj.)subjecttowhim,fickle(Theyounggirl’scapricioustendenciesmadeitdifficultforhertofocusonachievinghergoals.)clemency(n.)mercy(Afterheforgottheiranniversary,MartincouldonlybegMariaforclemency.)cogent(adj.)intellectuallyconvincing(Irene’sargumentsinfavorofabstinenceweresocogentthatIcouldnotresistthem.)concomitant(adj.)accompanyinginasubordinatefashion(Hisdislikeofhardworkcarriedwithitaconcomitantlackoffunds.)conflagration(n.)greatfire(Theconflagrationconsumedtheentirebuilding.)contrite(adj.)penitent,eagertobeforgiven(Blake’scontritebehaviormadeitimpossibletostayangryathim.)conundrum(n.)puzzle,problem(InterpretingJane’sbehaviorwasaconstantconundrum.)credulity(n.)readinesstobelieve(Hiscredulitymadehimaneasytargetforconmen.)cupidity(n.)greed,strongdesire(Hiscupiditymadehimentertheabandonedgoldminedespitetheobviousdangers.)cursory(adj.)brieftothepointofbeingsuperficial(Lateforthemeeting,shecastacursoryglanceattheagenda.)Ddecry(v.)tocriticizeopenly(Thekindvideorentalclerkdecriedthepolicyofchargingcustomerslatefees.)defile(v.)tomakeunclean,impure(Shedefiledthecalmofthereligiousbuildingbyplayingherbanjo.)deleterious(adj.)harmful(Sheexperiencedthedeleteriouseffectsofrunningamarathonwithoutstretchinghermusclesenoughbeforehand.)demure(adj.)quiet,modest,reserved(Thougheveryoneelseatthepartywasdancingandgoingcrazy,sheremaineddemure.)deprecate(v.)tobelittle,depreciate(Alwaysover-modest,hedeprecatedhiscontributiontothelocalcharity.)deride(v.)tolaughatmockingly,scorn(Thebulliesderidedtheforeignstudent’saccent.)desecrate(v.)toviolatethesacrednessofathingorplace(Theyfearedthattheconstructionofagolfcoursewoulddesecratethepreservedwilderness.)desiccated(adj.)driedup,dehydrated(Theskinofthedesiccatedmummylookedlikeoldpaper.)diaphanous(adj.)light,airy,transparent(Sunlightpouredinthroughthediaphanouscurtains,brighteningtheroom.)diffident(adj.)shy,quiet,modest(Whileeatingdinnerwiththeadults,thediffidentyouthdidnotspeakforfearofseemingpresumptuous.)discursive(adj.)rambling,lackingorder(Theprofessor’sdiscursivelecturesseemedtobeabouteverysubjectexcepttheoneinitiallydescribed.)dissemble(v.)toconceal,fake(Notwantingtoappearheartlesslygreedy,shedissembledandhidherintentiontosellherailingfather’sstampcollection.)dither(v.)tobeindecisive(Notwantingtooffendeitherfriend,heditheredaboutwhichofthetwobirthdaypartiesheshould