1. Chapter 10 vocab

2. Agnostic (n.)
One who believes It is impossible to know whether or not God exists
Formed from Greek a (not) and gnosis (knowledge), “agnostic means a person who believes that we do not have the knowledge to know if there is or is not a God.
Syn= unbeliever, doubter, questioner, skeptic

3. Nepotism (n.) Favoritism to relatives in giving jobs and offices
Because they could not lawfully recognize these offspring as their sons, the priest called them “nephews.” From the Latin word for “nephew”– nepos—comes our word nepotism, referring to favoritism toward relatives, especially in business and politics.
Syn= favoritism, patronage

4. Enigmatic (adj.) Puzzling, mysterious, perplexing
From the Greek anigmia (riddle) derives our word “enigma.”
Syn= mystifying, baffling, bewildering, obscure, cryptic
Related words= inexplicable. Indecipherable
Contrasted: lucid

5. Blatant (adj.) Completely obvious, often offensively so shameless
Spenser probably coined “blatant” based on Latin blaterare (babble)
Syn= clear outstanding, prominent conspicuous
Related words= flagrant, egregious
Contrasted subtle

6. Nebulous (adj.) Unclear hazy indistinct
Since nebulous derives from Latin nebula (“cloud”), anything nebulous cannot be seen, understood, or penetrated clearly, as if it were wrapped in a cloudy mist.
Syn= fuzzy, murky, imprecise, confused, vague
Related words= obscure

7. Procrustean (adj.) Forcing rigid conformity
Procrustes had a unique surprise for his victims. He would force them on an iron bed. If they were too long, he cut off part of their bodies; if they were too short, he stretched them to fit the bed. One size fatally fit all. Nowadays “procrustean” applies to unyielding conformity.
Syn= unyielding, inflexible, unbending, rigid, stringent
Related words= obdurate, austere
Contrasted: pliant

8. Denigrate (v.) Defame speak ill of attack the reputation of
Denigrate derives from Latin de (“of”) and “niger” (black).
Syn= belittle, discredit, slander, disparage
Related words= libel, traduce
Contrasted: laud

9. Prosaic (adj.) Commonplace, dull, uninspired
Prosaic looks like “prose” and well it should, since prosaic derives from Latin prosa (prose).
Syn= humdrum, uninteresting, ordinary, monotonous, mundane
Related words= banal, trite
Contrasted: lyrical

10. Docile (adj.)
Easily managed, controlled, or taught; gentle; submissive
Derived from Latin docere (“teach”), “doctor” originally referred to a teacher or any learned person.
Syn= obedient, manageable, amenable
Related words= compliant
Contrasted: belligerent

11. Boycott (v./n.) Refuse to deal with as means of protest and persuasion
Not only did Boycott deny their request, but he raised their rents. Boycott’s name quickly became synonymous for an act of protest in which the protestors refuse the goods and services of their opponent.
Syn= reject, ban, exclude, ostracize
Related words= spurn, shun
Contrasted: patronize

12. Carnage (n.)
Great slaughter , massacre

13. Carnal (adj.)
Pertaining to desires of the flesh; sensual, sexual, lustful, worldly

14. Carnivorous (adj.)
Flesh-eating

15. Incarnate (adj./v.)
Having bodily form, especially human form; personified

16. Reincarnation (n.)
Rebirth into another body