abate (verb) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, nullify, or omit Synonym: diminish, decrease, subside Antonym: intensify, increase, magnify Age lines abated, or diminished.

adulation (noun) praise or flattery that is excessive Synonyms: adoration, idolization, hero- worship Antonyms: ridicule, derision, scorn, odium Lloyd took drugs to win 1 Tour De France, Lance took them to win Seven! Who’s adulation is excessive?

anathema (noun) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation Synonyms: malediction, imprecation, abomination Antonyms: benediction, blessing

astute (adjective) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom Synonyms: shrewd, acute, sagacious, judicious Antonyms: obtuse, doltish, dumb Bill gates and Steve Jobs are probably the most astute of all the tech C.E.O.s.

avarice (noun) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth Synonyms: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness Mr. Trump is arguable the most avaricious man in these United States. Also one of the Seven Deadly Sins. avaritia = greed

culpable (adjective) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation Synonyms: guilty, delinquent, blameworthy Antonyms: blameless, innocent, laudable Culp = blame

dilatory (adjective) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone Synonyms: stalling, slow, tardy, laggard Antonyms: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious dilator = procrastinator

egregious (adjective) conspicuous, standing out from the mass Synonyms: glaring, flagrant, blatant Antonyms: unnoticeable, paltry, piddling Everyone knows the red sour patch kids are the most egregious. ex grege = out of the flock

equivocate (verb) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague Synonyms: to talk out of both sides of one’s mouth, palter, hedge Antonyms: to speak one’s mind plainly Harvey Dent may be two faced, but there’s nothing equivocal about how he does business. aequus "equal" (see equal) vocare "to call" (see voice)equalvoice In other words: have same name

evanescent (adjective) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy Synonyms: ephemeral, transient, transitory Antonyms: everlasting, immortal, imperishable Like a wisp of smoke, or a face in the clouds. ex- out + vanescere "vanish"

irresolute (adjective) unable to make up one’s mind, hesitating Synonyms: indecisive, vacillating, wavering Antonyms: determined, decisive, unwavering I can’t decide which is more disgusting, or delicious. Ir or in (not) + Resolutus = absolute

nebulous (adjective) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused, Synonyms: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, vague, murky, opaque Antonyms: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused This is a horse head and crab nebula from the Hubble Space Telescope. They are made of clouds of electrically charged gases. Nebele = cloud/mist

novice (noun) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (also adjective) Synonyms: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice Antonyms: veteran, past master, pro, expert Before finishing his first term as a rookie U.S. Senator, Barack Obama is now a novice President of these United States. novus = new

penury (noun) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency Synonyms: destitution, want, indigence Antonyms: affluence, abundance, luxury This is Kenyan poverty. The United States does not know penury like this.

pretentious (adjective) done for show, striving to make a big impression, claiming merit or position unjustifiably Synonyms: inflated, ostentatious, affected Antonyms: unassuming, unaffected, modest prætensus = pretend In other words: to pretend you are better than everyone else

recapitulate (verb) to review a series of facts; to sum up Synonyms: review, summarize, go over Al Gore didn’t need to recapitulate the vote when he won the Academy Award for best Documentary Film. Though Hillary and Barack weren’t thrilled. re- "again" + capitulum "main part“ (capitis – head)

resuscitate (verb) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence Synonyms: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate sub (up from) under + citare (to summon)

slovenly (adjective) untidy, dirty, careless Synonyms: unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax Antonyms: neat, tidy, careful, meticulous slof = careless, negligent sloovin = scold Sloth = deadly sin

supposition (noun) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence Synonyms: assumption, presumption, hypothesis Did you simply suppose that the Liger either did or did not exist without evidence? Well, because of that supposition, you missed out on this super sweet photo. sub (under) + ponere (to put) Posit (put forth), oppose (put against)

torpid (adjective) inactive, sluggish, dull Synonyms: sluggish, lethargic, languid Antonyms: energetic, dynamic, vigorous This torpid torpedo won’t get off its lazy computer generated perch. torpere =be numb or stiff Torpor = numbness