Vocabulary Level F Unit 13

abet (verb) to encourage, assist, aid, support (especially in something wrong or unworthy) ANT: hamper, hinder, impede, frustrate

aver (verb) to affirm, declare confidently SYN: assert, asseverate, avouch ANT: deny, disavow, repudiate, disclaim

blatant (adjective) noisy in a course, offensive way; obvious or conspicuous, especially in an unfavorable sense SYN: flagrant, glaring, egregious, disagreeably loud ANT: inconsequential, trifling, piddling, petty

broach (verb) to bring up or begin to talk about (as subject); to announce, introduce; to break the surface of the water; to turn sideways to the wind and waves; to pierce (a keg or cask) in order to draw off liquid; (noun) a spit for roasting; a tool for tapping casks

buttress (verb) to support, prop up, strengthen; (noun) a supporting structure SYN: (verb) bolster, reinforce, brace, shore up ANT: (verb) undermine, weaken, impair

carousal (noun) noisy revelry or merrymaking (often with a suggestions of heavy drinking) SYN: drinking bout, drunken revel, binge

collate (verb) to compare critically in order to note differences, similarities, etc.; to arrange in order for some specific purpose SYN: sort out, cross- check, rearrange

connoisseur (noun) an expert; one who is well qualified to pass critical and official judgments, especially in one of the fine arts SYN: authority, savant, pundit, collectors ANT: ignoramus, philistine, yahoo

disconsolate (adjective) deeply unhappy or dejected; without hope, beyond consolation SYN: grief-stricken, inconsolable, comfortless ANT: cheerful, blithe, buoyant, jaunty

encumber (verb) to weigh down or burden (with difficulties, cares, debt, etc.); to fill up, block up, hinder SYN: overload, saddle, hamper, clog ANT: unburden, unload, relieve

foment (verb) to promote trouble or rebellion; to apply warm liquids to, warm SYN: instigate, incite, stir up ANT: quell, quash, squelch, suppress

grisly (adjective) frightful, horrible, ghastly SYN: gruesome, gory, hideous ANT: pleasant, delightful, attractive

herculean (adjective) (capital H) relating to Hercules; (lowercase h) characterized by great strength; very hard to do in the sense of requiring unusual strength SYN: mighty, powerful, arduous, onerous, colossal ANT: puny, Lilliputian, bantam

impassive (adjective) showing no feeling or emotion; inanimate; motionless SYN: emotionless, stoical, unemotional, insensible ANT: emotional, passionate, excitable

inauspicious (adjective) unfavorable, unlucky, suggesting bad luck for the future SYN: unpropitious, unpromising, untimely ANT: propitious, favorable

incontrovertible (adjective) unquestionable, beyond dispute SYN: incontestable, indisputable, indubitable ANT: debatable, dubious, open to question

nonplussed (adjective, participle) puzzled, not knowing what to do, at a loss SYN: perplexed, baffled, stumped, flabbergasted ANT: poised, confident, assured

opportune (adjective) suitable or convenient for a particular purpose; occurring at an appropriate time SYN: timely, appropriate, felicitous ANT: untimely, inconvenient, inappropriate

prolific (adjective) abundantly productive; abundant, profuse SYN: fruitful, fecund, proliferous ANT: barren, unproductive, sterile, sparse

rejoinder (noun) a reply to a reply, especially from the defendant in a legal suit SYN: answer, reply, response, riposte, retort