Ambiance - Reminisce Advanced Vocabulary

1. ambiance (n.) mood, feeling; general atmosphere (n.) mood, feeling; general atmosphere –usually used about pleasant atmospheres, moods, and feelings. Ex: For Valentines Day, Blake decided to take his girlfriend to a restaurant with a romantic ambiance. Ex: For Valentines Day, Blake decided to take his girlfriend to a restaurant with a romantic ambiance.

2. caucus (n.) A meeting of members of a political party to make decisions (n.) A meeting of members of a political party to make decisions Ex: The Republican party held a caucus to choose their candidate for office. Ex: The Republican party held a caucus to choose their candidate for office.

3. denounce (v.) to speak out against, criticize, or condemn; give away information about somebody (v.) to speak out against, criticize, or condemn; give away information about somebody Ex: Many world leaders say they will not recognize the new Iraqi government (mostly from the Hamas group) unless they denounce using violence. Ex: Many world leaders say they will not recognize the new Iraqi government (mostly from the Hamas group) unless they denounce using violence.

4. enrage (v.) to put in a rage; infuriate, anger (v.) to put in a rage; infuriate, anger Ex: If my sister wants to enrage me, all she has to do is eat my ice cream and put the carton back with only a couple of bites left in it. Ex: If my sister wants to enrage me, all she has to do is eat my ice cream and put the carton back with only a couple of bites left in it.

5. grandiloquent (adj.) pompous; using big or fancy words when speaking for the purpose of impressing others. (adj.) pompous; using big or fancy words when speaking for the purpose of impressing others. Ex: Instead of soothing the angry crowd of employees, the managers grandiloquent choice of words and condescending tone only further enraged them. Ex: Instead of soothing the angry crowd of employees, the managers grandiloquent choice of words and condescending tone only further enraged them.

6. histrionic (adj.) overly theatric, dramatic, or emotional (adj.) overly theatric, dramatic, or emotional –psychology note: women often get diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder. If a person shows histrionic traits that persist most of her life and which interfere with daily functioning, this might be classified as histrionic personality disorder. Ex: When my sister has to do a big presentation at school, she often cries and asks me to help. I tell her not to be so histrionic–she can do it on her own. When shes finished, I help her practice. Ex: When my sister has to do a big presentation at school, she often cries and asks me to help. I tell her not to be so histrionic–she can do it on her own. When shes finished, I help her practice.

7. innovate 1. (v.) Bring something new to an environment. 1. (v.) Bring something new to an environment. 2. (v.) To begin or introduce something new; make changes 2. (v.) To begin or introduce something new; make changes –noun = innovation Ex: Employers will often reward employees who make suggestions to innovate their business. Ex: Employers will often reward employees who make suggestions to innovate their business. Ex: The invention of the internet was a huge innovation in technology, media, and business. Ex: The invention of the internet was a huge innovation in technology, media, and business.

8. irascible (adj.) easily made angry, hot- tempered (adj.) easily made angry, hot- tempered Ex: Discussions of politics usually start out pleasantly, but my grandmother becomes irascible once she hears opinions that differ from hers. Ex: Discussions of politics usually start out pleasantly, but my grandmother becomes irascible once she hears opinions that differ from hers.

9. laconic (adj.) using a minimum of words; brief; curt (adj.) using a minimum of words; brief; curt Ex: My finance professor in college did not like to read long answers on his exams–he preferred laconic answers. He told us we could answer most questions about finance in 20 words or less; otherwise, he said we didnt really know finance. Ex: My finance professor in college did not like to read long answers on his exams–he preferred laconic answers. He told us we could answer most questions about finance in 20 words or less; otherwise, he said we didnt really know finance.

10. obscure (adj.) unknown, unclear, hidden; hard to understand (adj.) unknown, unclear, hidden; hard to understand (v.) to make difficult or unclear (v.) to make difficult or unclear Ex: The American History exam was so difficult–the questions were about obscure details from the lecture that no one could recall. Ex: The American History exam was so difficult–the questions were about obscure details from the lecture that no one could recall. Ex: I like some music from the radio, but often I prefer obscure musicians that havent made it to the radio. Ex: I like some music from the radio, but often I prefer obscure musicians that havent made it to the radio. Ex: Instead of saying I dont know, the teacher obscured my question by changing the subject. Ex: Instead of saying I dont know, the teacher obscured my question by changing the subject. Ex: The horses in the pasture were obscured by a thick layer of fog. Ex: The horses in the pasture were obscured by a thick layer of fog.

11. opportune (adj.) occurring at a good time; advantageous. (adj.) occurring at a good time; advantageous. –noun = opportunity Ex: My mom had to work late on her birthday, making it opportune to surprise her with dinner and cake. Ex: My mom had to work late on her birthday, making it opportune to surprise her with dinner and cake.

12. reminisce (v.) to recall one's past thoughts, feelings, or experiences (v.) to recall one's past thoughts, feelings, or experiences –noun = reminiscence –adjective = reminiscent Ex: The sloppy handwriting was reminiscent of his kindergarten days. Ex: The sloppy handwriting was reminiscent of his kindergarten days. Ex: At family reunions, my grandparents often reminisce about the good old days. Ex: At family reunions, my grandparents often reminisce about the good old days.