Vocabulary Lesson 20

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Vocabulary Lesson 20
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intractable

• difficult to manipulate or govern
• unmanageable
• rigid

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disseminate

• to disperse or scatter
• distribute

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sinecure

• a job that provides income but requires little or
  no work

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tendentious

• biased in perspective preferring one view over
  another
• jaundiced
• partisan

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politic

• prudent or shrewdly tactful
• sagacious
• cunning

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extemporaneous

• done without planning spur of the moment
  unexpected makeshift
• impromptu
• spontaneous

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discursive

• jumping from one topic to another without any
  order or reason
• digressive
• rambling

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diaspora

• a dispersion of people from their homeland
• displacement

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requiem

• a religious service or song for the deceased

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traduce

• to slander someones reputation
• smear
• besmirch

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acerbic

• sarcastic in mood, tone, or temper, harsh

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beatitude

• a state of happiness or joy
• bliss
• euphoria

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maladroit

• not resourceful or cunning inept
• incompetent

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androgynous

• having features of both sexes suitable for both
  male and female

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augur

• someone who predicts future events according to
  omens
• clairvoyant
• oracle

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Vocabulary Lesson 21
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bon mot

• a witty remark or saying
• quip

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peon

• various laborers who are generally landless
• serf
• servant

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plutocrat

• a member of the controlling upper-class

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plenary

• complete in every way full
• thorough
• entire

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digress

• to deviate from the original subject or course
• stray

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furlough

• a leave of absence
• vacation
• liberty

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misogyny

• a hatred toward females

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stolid

• showing or having little or no emotions
• impassive
• stoic

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succor

• something that gives relief or aid
• comfort
• ease

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travesty

• poor representation or imitation distortion
• perversion
• sham

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xeric

• characterized by or adapted to a dry habitat

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clandestine

• marked by secrecy
• undercover
• hidden

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potboiler

• a poorly done artistic work, often for quick
  profit

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redoubtable

• arousing fear
• dreadful
• dire

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vignette

• a short, descriptive literary sketch