VOCABULARY #3

1.  accolade - a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
Example:  The accolades on his chest meant nothing to me; he had earned them in another time.

2.  acerbity - a sharp bitterness; a rough and bitter manner
Example:  Your excessive acerbity makes me want to punch myself in the face but in a good way.

3.  attrition - a wearing down to weaken or destroy; sorrow for sin arising from fear of damnation
Example:  Wrought with the attrition his parents had embedded in him, his mind was fracturing.

4.  bromide - a trite or obvious remark
Example:  Next time try to keep that bromide to yourself.

5.  chauvinist - a person with a prejudiced belief in the superiority of his or her own kind
Example:  Perhaps people would like you more if you were less of a chauvinist.

6.  chronic - being long-lasting and recurrent or characterized by long suffering
Example:  It was only with medical grade chronic that she was able to lessen the crushing weight of her chronic insomnia and achieve some degree of terrifying sleep.

7.  expound - add details, as to an account or idea; clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing; state
Example:  Can you please expound upon this ridiculously vague law that allows for state sponsored prejudice?

8.  factionalism - the breaking apart of a larger group into factions, smaller groups each with their own ideas/agendas
Example:  The innate factionalism of politics assures us that democracy is not possible.

9.  immaculate - completely neat and clean; free from stain or blemish; without fault or error
Example:  The are not as immaculate as you claim to be; I know what you have done and it is disgusting.

10.  imprecation - the act of calling down a curse that invokes evil (and usually serves as an insult); a slanderous accusation
Example:  Unbeknownst to them, my imprecations were not empty words; I had invoked the majestic power of Lucifer, who now held claim to their souls.

11.  ineluctable - impossible to avoid or evade:"inescapable conclusion"
Example:  I suppose this was ineluctable I thought to myself as the man in the white mask took a power saw to my legs.

12.  mercurial - relating to or having characteristics (eloquence, shrewdness, swiftness, thievishness) attributed to the god Mercury
Example:  Your mercurial nature suits you, but gets annoying after a time.

13.  palliate - provide physical relief, as from pain; lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
Example:  The only procedure that could palliate the burning black cloud in her mind was taken from her by people who were intent on controlling her body.

14.  protocol - code of correct conduct; forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state
Example:   Such a casual dismissal of protocol deserves a reprimand at the very least, but the officer responsible was instead placed on paid laid.

15.  resplendent - having great beauty and splendor
Example:  The resplendent forest was quickly turned into a desolate wasteland by men interested only in profit.

16.  stigmatize - mark with a stigma or stigmata; to accuse or condemn or openly or formally or brand as disgraceful
Example:  Because of his use of medical marijuana to alleviate his depression he was stigmatized by his family.

17.  sub rosa- in secret; privately or confidentially
Example:  We met sub rosa on the hill at midnight; it felt like the rest of the world was draped in fog.

18.  vainglory - outspoken conceit
Example:  This disrespect emanating from this vainglorious, self-titled cuber is really getting on my nerves.

19.  vestige - an indication that something has been present
Example:  There was no vestige at the bottom of the hill save for a dead rat; it was then that I knew if I stayed here I would die alone.

20.  volition - the act of making a choice; the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention
Example:  You don't have the volition to handle something with such big consequences; you only have the money.