ethereal
adjective: characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
Because she dances with an ethereal style, ballet critics have called her Madame Butterfly.
internecine
adjective: (of conflict) within a group or organization
The guerilla group, which had become so powerful as to own the state police, was finally destroyed by an internecine conflict.
bridle
verb: the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
New curfew laws have bridled people's tendency to go out at night.
verb: to react with anger or to take offense
The hostess bridled at the tactless dinner guests who insisted on eating before everybody had gotten their food.
pontificate
verb: talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner
The vice-president would often pontificate about economic theory, as if no one else in the room were qualified to speak on the topic.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
stultify
verb: cause one, through routine, to lose energy and enthusiasm
As an undergraduate Mark felt stultified by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school, in which he could focus solely on literary analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge.
enormity
noun: an act of extreme wickedness
The enormity of Pol Pot's regime is hard to capture in words--within months hundreds of thousands of Cambodians lost their lives.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
desideratum
noun: something desired as a necessity
The desideratum of the environmental group is that motorists should rely on carpooling.
gumption
noun: resourcefulness and determination
Wallace Stegner lamented the lack of gumption in the U.S. during the sixties, claiming that no young person knew the value of work.
pontificate
verb: talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner
The vice-president would often pontificate about economic theory, as if no one else in the room were qualified to speak on the topic.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
self-effacing
adjective: reluctant to draw attention to yourself
The most admirable teachers and respected leaders are those who are self-effacing, directing attention and praise to their students and workers.
