Vocabulary: Fall List #4

Apostate (n): One who has abandoned one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause

-I don’t want to become an apostate because I don’t want to lose sight of who I am.
Effusive (adj): excessive in emotional expression

 -Every dancer has to be effusive on stage to get their point across.
Impasse (n): A situation that is so difficult that no progress can be made

-We were at an impasse because nobody wanted to give into their wants.
Euphoria (n): A feeling of great happiness or well-being

-I felt extreme euphoria after my scholarship audition because I know I did well.
Lugubrious (adj): Mournful, dismal, or gloomy

-I feel like every Monday at school starts off as lugubrious.
Bravado (n): A disposition toward showy defiance or false expressions of courage

-People who express bravado should be frowned upon.
Consensus (n): An opinion or position reached by a group as a whole

-We finally reached a consensus when we decided to compromise.
Dichotomy (n): Division into two usually contradictory parts or opinions

-Our class usually becomes a dichotomy when we have sochratic seminars.
Constrict (v): To make smaller or narrower by binding or squeezing

-The snake constricted the neck of the animal it was wrapped around.
Gothic (adj): Of or relating to painting, sculpture, or other art forms prevalent in northern Europe from the 12th through the 15th century

-As of now most people think the color black represents gothic people.
Punctilio (n): A fine point of etiquette

-My grandma has a punctilio and often forces it on me.
Metamorphosis (n): A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function

-The character, Tonks, from Harry Potter was a metamorphosis and often changed her hair color.
Raconteur (n): One who tells stories and anecdotes with skill and wit

-Raconteurs are more impressive when they add humor to their stories.
Sine qua non (n): An essential element or condition

-Facial expressions are sine qua non when you are an actor or dancer.
Quixotic (adj): Capricious; impulsive

-For me, eating chocolate every day is quixotic.
Vendetta (n): A bitter, destructive feud

-I don’t like being in vendettas with my friends.

Non sequitur (n): a statement having little or no relevance to what preceded it

-Saying you like chocolate after writing an essay about Shakespeare is non sequitur.
Mystique (n): an aura of mystery, power, and awe that surrounds a person or thing

-I hope I have a strong mystique in order to make myself more likeable.
Quagmire (n): Land with a soft muddy surface; a difficult or precarious situation; a predicament

-I was stuck in a quagmire because I couldn’t decide whether to go to dance or do my homework.
Parlous (adj): Perilous; dangerous

-I rarely ever do anything parlous because I don’t like being hurt.