1. Nirvana (n.) a condition of great peace or happiness
After graduation, the students were in a state of nirvana.
2. Salutary (adj.) healthful; wholesome
The country air had a salutary influence on the child’s chronic cough.
3. Despicable (adj.) contemptible; hateful
Only a despicable person would behave so horribly.
4. Harlequin (n.) a clown
The king summoned the harlequin to entertain the guests.
5. Empathy (n.) an understanding of another’s feelings
I felt empathy for the person whose car broke down.
6. Brevity (n.) briefness; short duration
The brevity of the candidate’s speech surprised everyone.
7. Savant (n.) a person of extensive learning; an eminent scholar
Einstein was a savant remembered for E=MC2.
8. Obsequious (adj.) excessively submissive or overly attentive
The waiter’s obsequious behavior annoyed the patrons.
9. Redundant (adj.) repetitious; using more words than necessary
“Rich millionaire” is redundant.
10. Offal (n.) garbage; waste parts
No one wanted the task of carrying the offal from the butcher shop.
11. Hoi polloi (n.) the common people; the masses
The hoi polloi attended the football game.
12. Sentient (adj.) conscious; capable of feeling or perceiving
No one knew if the girl in the coma was sentient.
13. Impinge (v.) to encroach; to trespass
Do not impinge on your neighbor’s property.
14. Cataract (n.) a large waterfall
We visit the cataract each summer.
15. Animosity (n.) hatred
The animosity between the opposing teams was palpable.
16. Bombast (n.) impressive but meaningless language
Please, professor, spare us the bombast.
17. Orthography (n.) correct spelling
Jamie’s excellent spelling grades are a testament to her orthography.
18. Paleontology (n.) a science dealing with prehistoric life
The expert in paleontology dated the skeleton to 2000 B.C.
19. Recoil (v.) to retreat; to draw back
Liz recoiled from the harsh words.
20. Panache (n.) self-confidence; a showy manner
The actor’s panache prevented nervousness.
21. Saturnine (adj.) gloomy; sluggish
The hostess’s saturnine attitude ended the party early.
22. Endemic (adj.) confined to a particular country or area
AIDS was once endemic to Africa but now is a worldwide epidemic.
23. Mendacious (adj.) lying; false; deceitful
Everyone knew the politician was mendacious.
24. Obviate (v.) to prevent; to get around
The teacher delayed the release of the test results in order to obviate the complaints.
25. Paroxysm (n.) a sudden outburst; a fit
A paroxysm of laughter emanated from the class.
26. Aggrandize (v.) 1. To increase the range of; to expand 2. To make something appear larger
The advertisement aggrandizes the new product by making it seem as if everyone owns one.
27. Deign (v.) to lower oneself before an inferior
“After what she did to me, I would not deign to say hello,” said Danielle about her former friend.
28. Flaunt (v.) to show off
Some people flaunt their wealth.
29. Shibboleth (n.) a word or pronunciation that distinguishes someone as of a particular group
“Pop,” “gum band,” “hoagie,” and “tennis shoes” are shibboleth of the Pittsburgh region.
30. Elicit (v.) to draw forth
The attorney tried to elicit a damning response.