← Book 10 · High school II
Wordly Wise · Topic Cheatsheet

Book 10 · High school II

300 key results accumulated across 20 chapters.

asperity (n)
Ch 1
Harshness of manner.
bane (n)
Ch 1
A cause of distress.
doleful (adj)
Ch 1
Mournful; sad.
extrovert (n)
Ch 1
Outgoing person.
garish (adj)
Ch 1
Excessively bright; vulgar.
hierarchy (n)
Ch 1
A ranked system.
imbue (v)
Ch 1
To fill with a quality.
instigate (v)
Ch 1
To stir up; to incite.
penchant (n)
Ch 1
A strong inclination.
rambunctious (adj)
Ch 1
Boisterous.
repertoire (n)
Ch 1
Stock of available works.
rudiment (n)
Ch 1
A basic principle.
undermine (v)
Ch 1
To weaken gradually.
unremitting (adj)
Ch 1
Never relaxing.
vivacious (adj)
Ch 1
Lively and animated.
adjudicate (v)
Ch 2
To make a formal judgment.
centennial (n)
Ch 2
A 100th anniversary.
countenance (n/v)
Ch 2
Face; to allow.
disgruntle (v)
Ch 2
To make discontented.
equilibrium (n)
Ch 2
Balance.
expedite (v)
Ch 2
To speed up.
gird (v)
Ch 2
To prepare; to encircle.
gratuitous (adj)
Ch 2
Uncalled-for; free.
illusory (adj)
Ch 2
Based on illusion.
implacable (adj)
Ch 2
Unable to be appeased.
luminary (n)
Ch 2
A distinguished person.
manifesto (n)
Ch 2
A public declaration.
mesmerize (v)
Ch 2
To hold spellbound.
precedent (n)
Ch 2
An earlier event used as a guide.
spurious (adj)
Ch 2
False; not genuine.
curtail (v)
Ch 3
To cut short.
discriminate (v)
Ch 3
To treat unfairly.
espionage (n)
Ch 3
Spying.
inalienable (adj)
Ch 3
Unable to be taken away.
incarcerate (v)
Ch 3
To imprison.
indignity (n)
Ch 3
Treatment that lowers dignity.
indiscriminate (adj)
Ch 3
Done without making distinctions.
infamous (adj)
Ch 3
Well known for being bad.
intercede (v)
Ch 3
To intervene on behalf of someone.
malign (v)
Ch 3
To speak evil of.
perpetrate (v)
Ch 3
To carry out (a crime).
rampant (adj)
Ch 3
Spreading unchecked.
rancor (n)
Ch 3
Bitter resentment.
reparation (n)
Ch 3
Compensation for wrong.
smattering (n)
Ch 3
A small amount.
accolade (n)
Ch 4
An award; high praise.
adamant (adj)
Ch 4
Refusing to change one's mind.
adulate (v)
Ch 4
To flatter excessively.
altercation (n)
Ch 4
A noisy argument.
annals (n pl)
Ch 4
Historical records.
chary (adj)
Ch 4
Cautious.
clique (n)
Ch 4
A small exclusive group.
decrepit (adj)
Ch 4
Worn out from age.
ephemeral (adj)
Ch 4
Lasting only a short time.
endowment (n)
Ch 4
A gift; a natural ability.
ingratiate (v)
Ch 4
To gain favour by flattery.
pantheon (n)
Ch 4
A group of revered figures.
perversity (n)
Ch 4
A turning from what is right.
tutelage (n)
Ch 4
Instruction; guidance.
venerable (adj)
Ch 4
Worthy of respect for age.
acrimony (n)
Ch 5
Bitterness of feeling.
ambivalent (adj)
Ch 5
Having mixed feelings.
cessation (n)
Ch 5
A ceasing.
emaciated (adj)
Ch 5
Abnormally thin from hunger.
enclave (n)
Ch 5
A distinct group within a larger one.
engender (v)
Ch 5
To bring about.
exacerbate (v)
Ch 5
To make worse.
illicit (adj)
Ch 5
Not legally allowed.
indigenous (adj)
Ch 5
Native to a region.
inexorable (adj)
Ch 5
Unable to be stopped.
infatuated (adj)
Ch 5
Possessed by foolish love.
insatiable (adj)
Ch 5
Impossible to satisfy.
intransigent (adj)
Ch 5
Unwilling to compromise.
ostensible (adj)
Ch 5
Appearing so but possibly not.
subjugate (v)
Ch 5
To bring under control by force.
ameliorate (v)
Ch 6
To make better.
baleful (adj)
Ch 6
Threatening evil.
berate (v)
Ch 6
To scold severely.
circumvent (v)
Ch 6
To go around (a rule).
compunction (n)
Ch 6
A feeling of guilt.
condone (v)
Ch 6
To overlook (wrongdoing).
diminutive (adj)
Ch 6
Very small.
euphemism (n)
Ch 6
A mild substitute for a harsh expression.
expendable (adj)
Ch 6
Not worth keeping.
heresy (n)
Ch 6
A belief contrary to accepted doctrine.
infirm (adj)
Ch 6
Weak from age or illness.
profane (adj)
Ch 6
Showing disrespect for sacred things.
reproach (v/n)
Ch 6
To express disapproval; blame.
servitude (n)
Ch 6
Slavery; forced labor.
transgress (v)
Ch 6
To go beyond limits set by law.
castigate (v)
Ch 7
To criticise severely.
colloquial (adj)
Ch 7
Informal in language.
epitaph (n)
Ch 7
An inscription on a tomb.
exodus (n)
Ch 7
A mass departure.
inter (v)
Ch 7
To bury.
lacerate (v)
Ch 7
To tear roughly; to wound.
largesse (n)
Ch 7
Generous giving.
obituary (n)
Ch 7
A notice of death.
omnivorous (adj)
Ch 7
Eating both plants and animals.
permeate (v)
Ch 7
To spread through.
rendition (n)
Ch 7
A performance or version.
stereotype (n)
Ch 7
An oversimplified image.
stipend (n)
Ch 7
A regular fixed payment.
subservient (adj)
Ch 7
Submissive.
vestige (n)
Ch 7
A trace of what once existed.
beset (v)
Ch 8
To attack from all sides.
circuitous (adj)
Ch 8
Going around; indirect.
desultory (adj)
Ch 8
Lacking plan or purpose.
exodus (n)
Ch 8
A mass departure.
expedient (n/adj)
Ch 8
A means to an end; advantageous.
implement (v/n)
Ch 8
To carry out; a tool.
inconsequential (adj)
Ch 8
Unimportant.
magnitude (n)
Ch 8
Great size or importance.
preponderance (n)
Ch 8
Greater number or weight.
resurgence (n)
Ch 8
A rising again.
shoddy (adj)
Ch 8
Poorly made.
tantamount (adj)
Ch 8
Equivalent to.
tedium (n)
Ch 8
Boredom.
ulterior (adj)
Ch 8
Hidden; beyond what is openly stated.
wanton (adj)
Ch 8
Reckless.
cautionary (adj)
Ch 9
Serving as a warning.
constrain (v)
Ch 9
To force; to restrict.
flotilla (n)
Ch 9
A small fleet.
gossamer (adj/n)
Ch 9
Light and delicate; cobweb material.
ignominious (adj)
Ch 9
Deserving disgrace.
incur (v)
Ch 9
To bring on oneself.
liquidate (v)
Ch 9
To settle (debts); to dispose of.
magnate (n)
Ch 9
A powerful business person.
misnomer (n)
Ch 9
A wrong name.
onerous (adj)
Ch 9
Burdensome.
pandemonium (n)
Ch 9
Wild uproar.
tenacious (adj)
Ch 9
Holding firmly.
trove (n)
Ch 9
A valuable collection.
vestige (n)
Ch 9
A trace.
zephyr (n)
Ch 9
A gentle breeze.
attest (v)
Ch 10
To bear witness to.
axiom (n)
Ch 10
A self-evident truth.
churlish (adj)
Ch 10
Rude and bad-tempered.
concoct (v)
Ch 10
To make up; to invent.
derivative (n/adj)
Ch 10
Something derived; not original.
differentiate (v)
Ch 10
To recognise as different.
disparage (v)
Ch 10
To speak slightingly of.
dissipate (v)
Ch 10
To scatter; to waste.
esoteric (adj)
Ch 10
Understood by few.
olfactory (adj)
Ch 10
Of the sense of smell.
plethora (n)
Ch 10
An excessive amount.
refurbish (v)
Ch 10
To renovate.
secrete (v)
Ch 10
To produce a substance; to hide.
tactile (adj)
Ch 10
Of the sense of touch.
volatile (adj)
Ch 10
Easily evaporated; changeable.
agrarian (adj)
Ch 11
Of agriculture.
amalgamate (v)
Ch 11
To combine into one.
cataclysm (n)
Ch 11
A great upheaval.
culinary (adj)
Ch 11
Of cooking.
denigrate (v)
Ch 11
To criticise unfairly.
epicure (n)
Ch 11
A connoisseur of food.
gourmet (n)
Ch 11
A judge of fine food.
grandiloquent (adj)
Ch 11
Pompous in speech.
hybrid (n)
Ch 11
A cross between varieties.
manifold (adj)
Ch 11
Of many kinds.
palatable (adj)
Ch 11
Pleasant to taste.
plebeian (adj)
Ch 11
Common; vulgar.
scourge (n)
Ch 11
A cause of great suffering.
stalemate (n)
Ch 11
A deadlock.
temperate (adj)
Ch 11
Mild; moderate.
aftermath (n)
Ch 12
The aftereffects of an event.
aphorism (n)
Ch 12
A pithy saying.
catharsis (n)
Ch 12
An emotional release.
cohort (n)
Ch 12
A group sharing a feature.
culpable (adj)
Ch 12
Deserving blame.
diabolical (adj)
Ch 12
Devilish.
gibe (n/v)
Ch 12
A mocking remark; to mock.
innocuous (adj)
Ch 12
Harmless.
necessitate (v)
Ch 12
To make necessary.
odyssey (n)
Ch 12
A long adventurous journey.
partisan (n/adj)
Ch 12
A strong supporter; biased.
posterity (n)
Ch 12
Future generations.
premeditated (adj)
Ch 12
Planned in advance.
scurrilous (adj)
Ch 12
Coarsely abusive.
trauma (n)
Ch 12
A deeply disturbing experience.
adjunct (n)
Ch 13
A thing added or attached.
belie (v)
Ch 13
To contradict; to misrepresent.
carnage (n)
Ch 13
Great slaughter.
dilemma (n)
Ch 13
A difficult choice.
flout (v)
Ch 13
To openly disregard.
insurrection (n)
Ch 13
A revolt.
mandatory (adj)
Ch 13
Required.
mitigate (v)
Ch 13
To make less severe.
pretext (n)
Ch 13
A false excuse.
redoubtable (adj)
Ch 13
Formidable; impressive.
singular (adj)
Ch 13
Remarkable; unique.
somnolent (adj)
Ch 13
Drowsy.
stalwart (adj/n)
Ch 13
Loyally firm; a loyal supporter.
tantamount (adj)
Ch 13
Equivalent.
vindicate (v)
Ch 13
To clear of blame.
aberration (n)
Ch 14
A deviation from normal.
antiquated (adj)
Ch 14
Old-fashioned.
celestial (adj)
Ch 14
Of the sky or heavens.
certitude (n)
Ch 14
Certainty.
galaxy (n)
Ch 14
A vast star system.
intractable (adj)
Ch 14
Hard to control or solve.
juncture (n)
Ch 14
A critical point in time.
juxtapose (v)
Ch 14
To place side by side.
maelstrom (n)
Ch 14
A powerful whirlpool; turmoil.
optimum (adj/n)
Ch 14
The best possible.
pillory (v)
Ch 14
To expose to ridicule.
proliferate (v)
Ch 14
To multiply rapidly.
remiss (adj)
Ch 14
Negligent.
titan (n)
Ch 14
A person of great power.
ubiquitous (adj)
Ch 14
Found everywhere.
abominate (v)
Ch 15
To detest.
abridge (v)
Ch 15
To shorten.
auspicious (adj)
Ch 15
Favourable.
beleaguer (v)
Ch 15
To beset with troubles.
confidant (n)
Ch 15
One trusted with secrets.
iniquitous (adj)
Ch 15
Grossly unfair.
ostracize (v)
Ch 15
To exclude from society.
predecessor (n)
Ch 15
One who held a position before.
premeditate (v)
Ch 15
To plan in advance.
sabotage (n/v)
Ch 15
Deliberate damage; to damage.
sadistic (adj)
Ch 15
Taking pleasure in cruelty.
scathing (adj)
Ch 15
Severely critical.
transpire (v)
Ch 15
To happen; to become known.
ubiquitous (adj)
Ch 15
Everywhere.
venal (adj)
Ch 15
Open to bribery.
aura (n)
Ch 16
A distinctive atmosphere.
banal (adj)
Ch 16
Lacking originality.
bemuse (v)
Ch 16
To confuse.
cognizant (adj)
Ch 16
Aware.
conundrum (n)
Ch 16
A confusing problem.
evanescent (adj)
Ch 16
Fading quickly.
factotum (n)
Ch 16
A general servant or assistant.
grandiose (adj)
Ch 16
Impressive and ambitious.
intransigent (adj)
Ch 16
Refusing to change view.
laudatory (adj)
Ch 16
Expressing praise.
mellifluous (adj)
Ch 16
Sweet-sounding.
panache (n)
Ch 16
Flamboyant style.
picayune (adj)
Ch 16
Of little value.
predilection (n)
Ch 16
A preference.
promontory (n)
Ch 16
A high point of land jutting out.
allocate (v)
Ch 17
To set apart for a purpose.
augur (v)
Ch 17
To predict.
bastion (n)
Ch 17
A stronghold.
decorum (n)
Ch 17
Proper behaviour.
defunct (adj)
Ch 17
No longer in operation.
disarray (n)
Ch 17
A state of disorder.
halcyon (adj)
Ch 17
Calm and peaceful.
hyperbole (n)
Ch 17
Exaggeration.
importune (v)
Ch 17
To beg persistently.
jurisdiction (n)
Ch 17
Official authority.
ostracism (n)
Ch 17
Exclusion from society.
ruminate (v)
Ch 17
To meditate; to chew over.
temerity (n)
Ch 17
Reckless boldness.
tertiary (adj)
Ch 17
Third in rank.
winnow (v)
Ch 17
To separate; to remove the unwanted.
acoustic (adj)
Ch 18
Of sound; not amplified.
auspices (n pl)
Ch 18
Patronage; protection.
cavil (v)
Ch 18
To raise petty objections.
curator (n)
Ch 18
A keeper of a collection.
extant (adj)
Ch 18
Still in existence.
gamut (n)
Ch 18
The complete range.
ineffable (adj)
Ch 18
Too great to be expressed.
mellifluous (adj)
Ch 18
Sweet-flowing in sound.
nonpareil (adj/n)
Ch 18
Having no equal.
raconteur (n)
Ch 18
A skilled storyteller.
resuscitate (v)
Ch 18
To revive from unconsciousness.
rhapsody (n)
Ch 18
An ecstatic expression.
savant (n)
Ch 18
A learned person.
soliloquy (n)
Ch 18
A solo speech in a play.
verisimilitude (n)
Ch 18
The appearance of being real.
amenable (adj)
Ch 19
Willing to agree.
ascribe (v)
Ch 19
To attribute to a cause.
charisma (n)
Ch 19
A compelling charm.
dearth (n)
Ch 19
A scarcity.
demoralize (v)
Ch 19
To weaken the morale of.
ebullient (adj)
Ch 19
Cheerful and full of energy.
entrepreneur (n)
Ch 19
A person who starts a business.
fatuous (adj)
Ch 19
Silly and pointless.
harbinger (n)
Ch 19
A forerunner.
homogeneous (adj)
Ch 19
Of the same kind.
incumbent (adj/n)
Ch 19
Currently holding office.
matriarchal (adj)
Ch 19
Headed by women.
neophyte (n)
Ch 19
A beginner.
patriarchal (adj)
Ch 19
Headed by men.
sibling (n)
Ch 19
A brother or sister.
altruism (n)
Ch 20
Unselfish concern for others.
concomitant (adj)
Ch 20
Accompanying.
criterion (n)
Ch 20
A standard for judgement.
deride (v)
Ch 20
To mock.
effrontery (n)
Ch 20
Shameless boldness.
espouse (v)
Ch 20
To support a cause.
hypocrisy (n)
Ch 20
Pretending to be more virtuous than one is.
impending (adj)
Ch 20
About to happen.
incensed (adj)
Ch 20
Very angry.
pertinent (adj)
Ch 20
Relevant to the matter.
promulgate (v)
Ch 20
To make widely known.
proscribe (v)
Ch 20
To forbid by law.
redress (n/v)
Ch 20
Remedy; to set right.
retribution (n)
Ch 20
Punishment.
substantiate (v)
Ch 20
To prove the truth of.