Vocabulary 5

Obsequious- characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning

After the butler had finished his tasks he gave an obsequious bow.

Beatitude- supreme blessedness; exalted happiness.
The beatitude that was bestowed upon jerry was above reproach.

Bete noire- a person or thing that one particularly dislikes or dreads 

Homework is the bete noire of most student’s day.

Bode- to be an omen of; portend

The news bodes evil days for him.

Dank- unpleasantly moist or humid; damp and, often, chilly

We kept our wine in a dank cellar.

Ecumenical- general; universal.

I was giving my speech in an ecumenical fashion.

Fervid- heated or vehement in spirit, enthusiasm, etc.

Phil Pulaski was a fervid orator.

Fetid- having an offensive odor; stinking.

My dog has a horrible fetid to him.

Gargantuan- gigantic; enormous; colossal

A gargantuan task.

Heyday- the stage or period of greatest vigor, strength, success, etc.; prime

The heyday of the vaudeville stars.

Incubus- something that weighs upon or oppresses one like a nightmare.

The incubus took its toll on my mental health.

Infrastructure- the basic, underlying framework or features of a system or organization.

The USA infrastructure is in desperate need of upgrades.

Inveigle- to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements

To inveigle a person into playing bridge.

Kudos- honor; glory; acclaim

He received kudos from everyone on his performance.

Lagniappe- an unexpected or indirect benefit.

His tip on the table was a lagniappe.

Prolix- extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious length; long and wordy.

The speech that was written needed to be edited because it was written in too much of a prolix fashion.

Protégé- a person under the patronage, protection, or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare.

Troy had become my protégé after years of staying silent.

Prototype- the original or model on which something is based or formed.

Before companies release a product they come up with a prototype.

Sycophant- a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.

He was very sycophant in order to draw a complement from the group.

Tautology- an instance of such repetition.

I, I, I.

Truckle- to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely

Don't truckle to unreasonable demands.