Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Vocabulary #1

expository- intended to explain or describe something
Ex. She wrote an expository article on the origin of life.

composition- the nature of somethings constituents

Ex. He wrote a composition for the choir to sing.

assuage- to make something that is unpleasant less intense

Ex. I helped assuage his sadness after his mother had died by hanging out with him. 

decadence- period of deterioration or decline.

Ex. The average person from the Middle East condemns the decadence of western society. 

hackneyed- lacking significance due to being overused 

Ex. The meaning of the term Y.O.L.O. became hackneyed after a few months. 

coalition- pact or treaty

Ex. The two factions formed a coalition to fight off the totalitarian Emperor and his army.

transcend- to rise above or go beyond the range of limits

Ex. During the Harlem Renaissance, African American literature began to transcend culture. 

meritorious- deserving praise, merit

Ex. The parents awarded their meritorious daughter be taking her out to dinner. 

lurid- gruesome, horrible, revolting

Ex. After watching the lurid crime show for ten minutes, I  had to change the channel.

petulant- bad-tempered

Ex. The child became petulant after her mother refused to buy her the toy.

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