Wordly Wise · Topic Cheatsheet
Book 11 · College prep
300 key results accumulated across 20 chapters.
apocryphal (adj)
Ch 1
Of doubtful authenticity.
arcane (adj)
Ch 1
Understood by few.
gesticulate (v)
Ch 1
To gesture dramatically.
imperturbable (adj)
Ch 1
Unable to be upset.
increment (n)
Ch 1
A small increase.
incremental (adj)
Ch 1
Increasing by small amounts.
levity (n)
Ch 1
Humour treating serious matter lightly.
mortify (v)
Ch 1
To deeply embarrass.
periphery (n)
Ch 1
The outer edge.
peripheral (adj)
Ch 1
Of secondary importance.
raconteur (n)
Ch 1
A skilled storyteller.
reiterate (v)
Ch 1
To say again.
subterfuge (n)
Ch 1
Deception used to achieve a goal.
vacillate (v)
Ch 1
To waver between options.
vivacious (adj)
Ch 1
Lively.
accoutrements (n pl)
Ch 2
Additional accessories.
aggrieved (adj)
Ch 2
Feeling wronged.
comport (v)
Ch 2
To behave in a particular way.
disconcert (v)
Ch 2
To upset the composure of.
fauna (n)
Ch 2
Animals of a region.
maraud (v)
Ch 2
To raid in search of plunder.
modicum (n)
Ch 2
A small quantity.
opulent (adj)
Ch 2
Showing great wealth.
patrician (n/adj)
Ch 2
An aristocrat; noble.
phlegmatic (adj)
Ch 2
Calm; unemotional.
propensity (n)
Ch 2
A natural inclination.
ravage (v)
Ch 2
To cause severe damage.
therapeutic (adj)
Ch 2
Relating to healing.
utilitarian (adj)
Ch 2
Useful rather than beautiful.
vagary (n)
Ch 2
An unpredictable change.
atrophy (v)
Ch 3
To waste away.
efficacious (adj)
Ch 3
Producing the desired effect.
emolument (n)
Ch 3
Payment for office or service.
icon (n)
Ch 3
A symbol; an image revered.
incipient (adj)
Ch 3
Just beginning.
inculcate (v)
Ch 3
To instil by teaching.
inestimable (adj)
Ch 3
Beyond measure.
lackluster (adj)
Ch 3
Lacking energy or shine.
martinet (n)
Ch 3
A strict disciplinarian.
prodigious (adj)
Ch 3
Remarkably great.
stellar (adj)
Ch 3
Outstanding.
stoic (adj)
Ch 3
Calm under pain or trouble.
vibrant (adj)
Ch 3
Full of energy.
vocation (n)
Ch 3
A calling; a career.
zealous (adj)
Ch 3
Eagerly devoted.
autonomous (adj)
Ch 4
Self-governing.
circumspect (adj)
Ch 4
Wary and cautious.
composure (n)
Ch 4
Calmness of mind.
edifice (n)
Ch 4
A large impressive building.
ensconce (v)
Ch 4
To settle securely.
environs (n pl)
Ch 4
Surroundings.
hapless (adj)
Ch 4
Unfortunate.
heinous (adj)
Ch 4
Utterly evil.
incognito (adv)
Ch 4
With identity hidden.
indoctrinate (v)
Ch 4
To teach uncritically.
interim (n/adj)
Ch 4
An intervening time; temporary.
mausoleum (n)
Ch 4
A grand tomb.
pillage (v)
Ch 4
To loot.
reverie (n)
Ch 4
A daydream.
thrall (n)
Ch 4
The state of being in another's power.
accrue (v)
Ch 5
To accumulate over time.
acquiesce (v)
Ch 5
To agree quietly.
besmirch (v)
Ch 5
To damage the reputation of.
explicit (adj)
Ch 5
Clearly stated.
histrionic (adj)
Ch 5
Overly theatrical.
impropriety (n)
Ch 5
Improper conduct.
inveigle (v)
Ch 5
To persuade by flattery.
penitent (adj)
Ch 5
Feeling regret.
probity (n)
Ch 5
Integrity; uprightness.
purport (v/n)
Ch 5
To claim; the meaning.
repercussion (n)
Ch 5
An aftereffect.
revelation (n)
Ch 5
A surprising disclosure.
surfeit (n)
Ch 5
An excess.
unsavory (adj)
Ch 5
Distasteful.
vacillate (v)
Ch 5
To waver.
anathema (n)
Ch 6
A formal curse; something detested.
avuncular (adj)
Ch 6
Kindly like an uncle.
convivial (adj)
Ch 6
Friendly; sociable.
eclectic (adj)
Ch 6
Drawing from diverse sources.
epigram (n)
Ch 6
A short witty saying.
intrinsic (adj)
Ch 6
Belonging naturally.
inveterate (adj)
Ch 6
Long-established as a habit.
munificent (adj)
Ch 6
Very generous.
nascent (adj)
Ch 6
Just coming into existence.
perspicacious (adj)
Ch 6
Having keen insight.
philistine (n)
Ch 6
A person hostile to culture.
propitious (adj)
Ch 6
Favourable.
puerile (adj)
Ch 6
Childishly silly.
redoubtable (adj)
Ch 6
Formidable.
saturnine (adj)
Ch 6
Gloomy in temperament.
archipelago (n)
Ch 7
A group of islands.
careen (v)
Ch 7
To lurch wildly.
cavalier (adj)
Ch 7
Showing arrogant disregard.
contiguous (adj)
Ch 7
Sharing a common border.
correlate (v)
Ch 7
To have a mutual relation.
etymology (n)
Ch 7
The study of word origins.
frenetic (adj)
Ch 7
Wildly excited.
kinetic (adj)
Ch 7
Of motion.
presage (v)
Ch 7
To predict.
pulverize (v)
Ch 7
To reduce to powder.
recondite (adj)
Ch 7
Hard to understand.
repulse (v)
Ch 7
To drive back.
seismic (adj)
Ch 7
Of earthquakes.
undulate (v)
Ch 7
To move in waves.
upheaval (n)
Ch 7
A violent disturbance.
betrothed (adj)
Ch 8
Engaged to marry.
blasphemy (n)
Ch 8
Impious speech about sacred things.
cadence (n)
Ch 8
A rhythmic flow.
canon (n)
Ch 8
A general rule; an authoritative list.
denouement (n)
Ch 8
The resolution of a plot.
edict (n)
Ch 8
An official proclamation.
enamor (v)
Ch 8
To inspire love in.
insensate (adj)
Ch 8
Lacking sensation.
renegade (n)
Ch 8
A deserter from a cause.
soliloquy (n)
Ch 8
A speech to oneself in a play.
stricture (n)
Ch 8
Severe criticism; a restriction.
triumvirate (n)
Ch 8
A group of three rulers.
vestment (n)
Ch 8
A ceremonial robe.
votary (n)
Ch 8
A devoted follower.
wraith (n)
Ch 8
A ghost.
advent (n)
Ch 9
An arrival or beginning.
bravado (n)
Ch 9
False display of bravery.
disparity (n)
Ch 9
A great difference.
domicile (n)
Ch 9
A dwelling.
fabricate (v)
Ch 9
To make up; to construct.
itinerant (adj)
Ch 9
Travelling from place to place.
lilliputian (adj)
Ch 9
Extremely small.
phobia (n)
Ch 9
An extreme fear.
proclivity (n)
Ch 9
A tendency.
projectile (n)
Ch 9
An object thrown or fired.
queasy (adj)
Ch 9
Slightly nauseous.
reciprocate (v)
Ch 9
To respond in kind.
reciprocal (adj)
Ch 9
Given in return.
relegate (v)
Ch 9
To consign to a lower place.
vertigo (n)
Ch 9
Dizziness.
attenuate (v)
Ch 10
To reduce in strength.
behemoth (n)
Ch 10
A huge or powerful thing.
disinter (v)
Ch 10
To dig up.
impinge (v)
Ch 10
To have an effect on.
oxymoron (n)
Ch 10
A figure of speech combining opposites.
plenitude (n)
Ch 10
Abundance.
postulate (v)
Ch 10
To assume as true.
prevail (v)
Ch 10
To triumph; to be widespread.
putrefy (v)
Ch 10
To rot.
salubrious (adj)
Ch 10
Healthful.
succulent (adj)
Ch 10
Juicy.
tundra (n)
Ch 10
Cold treeless plain.
unequivocal (adj)
Ch 10
Leaving no doubt.
vicissitudes (n pl)
Ch 10
Changes of circumstance.
voracious (adj)
Ch 10
Insatiable.
amity (n)
Ch 11
Friendly relations.
animadversion (n)
Ch 11
Severe criticism.
antithesis (n)
Ch 11
The exact opposite.
antithetical (adj)
Ch 11
Directly opposed.
bellicose (adj)
Ch 11
Inclined to fight.
bucolic (adj)
Ch 11
Of country life.
craven (adj)
Ch 11
Cowardly.
exalt (v)
Ch 11
To praise highly.
impugn (v)
Ch 11
To call into question.
introspective (adj)
Ch 11
Examining one's own thoughts.
penurious (adj)
Ch 11
Extremely poor.
privation (n)
Ch 11
Lack of comforts.
sobriquet (n)
Ch 11
A nickname.
throes (n pl)
Ch 11
Intense pangs.
vie (v)
Ch 11
To compete eagerly.
altruism (n)
Ch 12
Selfless concern for others.
concurrent (adj)
Ch 12
Happening at the same time.
context (n)
Ch 12
Surrounding circumstances.
crass (adj)
Ch 12
Lacking refinement.
cuisine (n)
Ch 12
A style of cooking.
enjoin (v)
Ch 12
To command.
extemporaneous (adj)
Ch 12
Spoken unrehearsed.
genesis (n)
Ch 12
An origin.
libation (n)
Ch 12
A drink poured as an offering.
malaise (n)
Ch 12
A vague unease.
platitude (n)
Ch 12
A stale remark.
reconcile (v)
Ch 12
To bring to agreement.
sunder (v)
Ch 12
To split apart.
travail (n)
Ch 12
Painful effort.
ubiquitous (adj)
Ch 12
Everywhere.
abeyance (n)
Ch 13
Temporary suspension.
buttress (v/n)
Ch 13
To support; a structural support.
commensurate (adj)
Ch 13
Corresponding in size.
dilatory (adj)
Ch 13
Tending to delay.
ecumenical (adj)
Ch 13
Universal in scope.
facade (n)
Ch 13
The front of a building.
pinnacle (n)
Ch 13
The highest point.
requiem (n)
Ch 13
A musical setting for the dead.
sacrosanct (adj)
Ch 13
Especially sacred.
sensuous (adj)
Ch 13
Appealing to the senses.
tenet (n)
Ch 13
A central principle.
transcend (v)
Ch 13
To rise above.
venue (n)
Ch 13
A place where an event occurs.
verdant (adj)
Ch 13
Green with vegetation.
virtuoso (n)
Ch 13
A highly skilled performer.
arbiter (n)
Ch 14
A judge whose decision is final.
conclave (n)
Ch 14
A private meeting.
concomitant (adj)
Ch 14
Accompanying.
coterie (n)
Ch 14
A small exclusive group.
entice (v)
Ch 14
To attract by offering pleasure.
genteel (adj)
Ch 14
Polite and refined.
inimical (adj)
Ch 14
Hostile.
inordinate (adj)
Ch 14
Excessive.
ludicrous (adj)
Ch 14
Absurd.
oligarchy (n)
Ch 14
Rule by a few.
perfunctory (adj)
Ch 14
Carried out without enthusiasm.
pristine (adj)
Ch 14
Unspoiled.
redoubtable (adj)
Ch 14
Formidable.
subversive (adj)
Ch 14
Seeking to undermine authority.
virulent (adj)
Ch 14
Extremely severe; bitterly hostile.
archives (n pl)
Ch 15
Historical records.
chattel (n)
Ch 15
An item of property.
commodious (adj)
Ch 15
Roomy.
conflagration (n)
Ch 15
A great destructive fire.
limbo (n)
Ch 15
A state of in-between.
lineage (n)
Ch 15
Line of descent.
listless (adj)
Ch 15
Lacking energy.
metropolis (n)
Ch 15
A large important city.
perfunctory (adj)
Ch 15
Done quickly with minimal effort.
pristine (adj)
Ch 15
Unspoiled.
ramshackle (adj)
Ch 15
In a state of severe disrepair.
sequester (v)
Ch 15
To isolate.
subvert (v)
Ch 15
To undermine.
terminus (n)
Ch 15
An endpoint.
virulent (adj)
Ch 15
Bitterly hostile.
autocrat (n)
Ch 16
An absolute ruler.
caustic (adj)
Ch 16
Sarcastic; corrosive.
debilitate (v)
Ch 16
To make weak.
duplicitous (adj)
Ch 16
Deceitful.
emissary (n)
Ch 16
A representative sent on a mission.
felicitous (adj)
Ch 16
Well-chosen and effective.
forthright (adj)
Ch 16
Direct and outspoken.
impecunious (adj)
Ch 16
Having little money.
jaundiced (adj)
Ch 16
Affected by bitterness.
mercenary (adj/n)
Ch 16
Motivated by money; a hired soldier.
notorious (adj)
Ch 16
Famous for bad reasons.
oust (v)
Ch 16
To remove from power.
parsimonious (adj)
Ch 16
Stingy.
pejorative (adj)
Ch 16
Expressing disapproval.
precept (n)
Ch 16
A general rule.
bereft (adj)
Ch 17
Deprived.
criterion (n)
Ch 17
A standard.
deride (v)
Ch 17
To mock.
effrontery (n)
Ch 17
Shameless boldness.
espouse (v)
Ch 17
To support a cause.
hypocrisy (n)
Ch 17
Pretending virtue.
impending (adj)
Ch 17
About to happen.
incensed (adj)
Ch 17
Furious.
pertinent (adj)
Ch 17
Relevant.
promulgate (v)
Ch 17
To make widely known.
proscribe (v)
Ch 17
To forbid.
redress (n/v)
Ch 17
Remedy.
regime (n)
Ch 17
A government.
retribution (n)
Ch 17
Punishment.
substantiate (v)
Ch 17
To prove.
aegis (n)
Ch 18
Protection or backing.
bauble (n)
Ch 18
A showy trinket.
complaisant (adj)
Ch 18
Willing to please.
consolidate (v)
Ch 18
To strengthen.
depredation (n)
Ch 18
An act of plunder.
pendulous (adj)
Ch 18
Hanging loosely.
portend (v)
Ch 18
To be a sign of.
portent (n)
Ch 18
An ominous sign.
pragmatic (adj)
Ch 18
Practical.
reprieve (n/v)
Ch 18
A delay; to grant such.
stentorian (adj)
Ch 18
Very loud.
tenure (n)
Ch 18
A period in office.
unilateral (adj)
Ch 18
Performed by one side.
viable (adj)
Ch 18
Able to live or work.
winnow (v)
Ch 18
To sift out the inferior.
abrogate (v)
Ch 19
To formally repeal.
accede (v)
Ch 19
To agree.
cogent (adj)
Ch 19
Clear and convincing.
diatribe (n)
Ch 19
A forceful attack in words.
disparate (adj)
Ch 19
Essentially different.
edify (v)
Ch 19
To instruct morally.
expound (v)
Ch 19
To explain in detail.
imperious (adj)
Ch 19
Arrogant and domineering.
incisive (adj)
Ch 19
Sharply analytical.
irrefutable (adj)
Ch 19
Impossible to deny.
polemic (n)
Ch 19
A strong verbal attack.
rhetoric (n)
Ch 19
Effective speaking.
salient (adj)
Ch 19
Most noticeable.
specious (adj)
Ch 19
Superficially plausible.
tenable (adj)
Ch 19
Defensible.
altercation (n)
Ch 20
A noisy argument.
anomaly (n)
Ch 20
Something deviating from normal.
circumlocution (n)
Ch 20
An indirect way of speaking.
circumspect (adj)
Ch 20
Cautious.
concurrent (adj)
Ch 20
Happening together.
deference (n)
Ch 20
Humble respect.
incontrovertible (adj)
Ch 20
Impossible to dispute.
litigation (n)
Ch 20
The process of taking legal action.
obfuscate (v)
Ch 20
To deliberately make unclear.
preempt (v)
Ch 20
To take before others can.
procure (v)
Ch 20
To obtain by effort.
remand (v)
Ch 20
To send back.
stipulate (v)
Ch 20
To state as a condition.
succinct (adj)
Ch 20
Briefly clear.
vindicate (v)
Ch 20
To clear of blame.