Vocabulary List 7

Aberration - (noun) an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image; a disorder in one's mental state; a state or condition markedly different from the norm
Aberrations are sometimes associated with extreme changes.
Ad hoc- (adverb) for the special purpose or end presently under consideration
After the earthquake devastated much of the school grounds, an ad hoc group of parents formed the help with the recovery of the school.
Bane - (noun) something causes misery or death
Bane of an athlete.
Bathos - (noun) triteness or triviality of style; a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one; insincere pathos
Talented politicians can do bathos superbly.
Cantankerous - (adj.) having a difficult and contrary disposition; stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
Cantankerous dad.
Casuistry - (noun) moral philosophy based on the application of general ethical principles to resolve moral dilemmas; argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading
My mother is a master of casuistry, she will never give you a straight answer.
De facto - (noun) in fact; in reality
Kim's mother died when she was very young, making her older sister kristen her de facto mother.
Depredation - (noun) an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding; (usually plural) a destructive action
Pig depredation redly occurs.
Empathy - (noun) understanding and entering into another's feelings
I had empathy for her because I had witnessed something similar.
Harbinger - (noun) an indication of the approach of something or someone; verb foreshadow or presage
Harbinger of death.
Hedonism - (noun) an ethical system that evaluates the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good; the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle
There are limitations and conditions in a doctrine of real hedonism.
Lackluster - (adj.) lacking luster or shine; lacking brilliance or vitality
It was a lackluster performance in my opinion.
Malcontent - (adj.) discontented as toward authority; noun a person who is discontented or disgusted
Despite his professional life as a doctor, his personal life was very malcontent.
Mellifluous - (adj.) pleasing to the ear
Her voice was mellifluous.
Nepotism - noun favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs)
The manager was a corrupt nepotist.
Pander - (noun) someone who procures customers for whores (in England they call a pimp a ponce); verb arrange for sexual partners for others; yield (to); give satisfaction to
I will not pander to the demands of my corrupt manager.
Peccadillo - (noun) a petty misdeed
Even a peccadillo can weigh on a person conscience.
Piece de resistance - (noun) the most noteworthy or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction.
The heated seats were the piece de resistance of the car.
Remand - (noun) the act of sending an accused person back into custody to await trial (or the continuation of the trial); verb refer (a matter or legal case) to another committee or authority or court for decision; lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
Remand the person on bail.
Syndrome - (noun) a complex of concurrent things; a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease
Old people often get irritable bowel sydrome.