Vocab #1 DEFINITIONS

1. adumbrate[a-duhm-breyt, ad-uh m-breyt]: To produce a faint image or resemblance of; to outline or sketch; to foreshadow (verb)
2.  apotheosis[uh-poth-ee-oh-sis, ap-uh-thee-uh-sis]: The elevation or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god (noun, plural)
3. ascetic[uh-set-ik]: A person who leads an austerely simple life, especially one who abstains from the normal pleasures of life or denies himself or herself material satisfaction (noun)
4. bauble[baw-buh l]: A showy, usually cheap, ornament; trinket; gewgaw (noun)
5. beguile[bih-gahyl]: To influence by trickery, flattery, etc.; mislead; delude (verb)
6. burgeon[bur-juh n]: To grow or develop quickly; flourish (verb)
7. complement[kom-pluh-ment]: Something that completes or makes perfect (noun)
8. contumacious[kon-too-mey-shuh s, -tyoo-]: Stubbornly perverse or rebellious; willfully and obstinately disobedient (adj.)
9. curmudgeon[ker-muhj-uh n]: A bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous person (noun)
10. didactic[dahy-dak-tik]: Intended for instruction; instructive (adj.)
11. disingenuous[dis-in-jen-yoo-uh s]: Lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity; falsely or hypocritically ingenuous (adj.)
12. exculpate[ek-skuhl-peyt]: To clear from charge of guilt or fault; free from blame; vindicate (verb)
13. faux pas[foh pah]: A slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion (noun, plural)
14. fulminate[fuhl-muh-neyt]: To explode with a loud noise; detonate (verb)
15. fustian[fuhs-chuh n]: A fabric of stout twilled cotton and low-quality wool, with a short nap or pile (noun)
16. hauteur[hoh-tur]: Disdainfully proud(haughty) manner or spirit; arrogance (noun)
17. inhibit[in-hib-it]: To restrain, hinder, arrest, or check (an action, impulse, etc.) (verb)
18. jeremiad[jer-uh-mahy-uh d, -ad]: A prolonged lamentation or mournful complaint (noun)
19. opportunist[op-er-too-nist]: A person who practices opportunism, or the policy of adapting actions, decisions, etc., to effectiveness regardless of the sacrifice of ethical principles (noun)
20. unconscionable[uhn-kon-shuh-nuh-buh l]: Not in accordance with what is just or reasonable (adj.)

cite:  http://dictionary.reference.com/