Vocab List 4

Apostate - a person who forsakes his religion , cause, party, etc.  noun

-Apostates in medieval times were also known as heretics.
effusive - pouring out; overflowing. adj

-The actor in the drama scene was effusive while acting a tragic scene
impasse - a position or situation from which there is no escape; deadlock.  noun

-There are sometimes impasses in life and you just to face them head on.
euphoria - a state of intense happiness and self-confidence

-She was flooded with euphoria as she went to the podium to receive her Student Research Award.

lugubrious - mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved manner
               -lugubrious songs of lost love.

bravado - a pretentious, swaggering display of courage.

-Bravados are carries out by people who desire attention or praise.
consensus - majority of opinion
              -The consensus of the group was that they should meet twice a month.

dichotomy - division into two parts, kinds, etc.; subdivision into halves or pairs.

-The angel and devil are classic examples of a dichotomy.
constrict - to draw or press in; cause to contract or shrink; compress.

-The handcuffs constricted the prisoner’s movements.
gothic -  pertaining to the Middle Ages; medieval.

-That castle has a very gothic style.
punctilio - a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony, or procedure.

-They will not part with the least punctilio in their opinions and practices
metamorphosis - any complete change in appearance, character, circumstances, etc.

-Caterpillars goes through a stage of metamorphosis before becoming a butterfly

raconteur - a person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.

-There’s always a raconteur a good campfire.
sine qua non - an indispensable condition, element, or factor; something essential

-Her presence was the sine qua non of every social event.
quixotic - impulsive and often rashly unpredictable.

-His quixotic behavior put the whole group in danger.
vendetta - any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, contention, or the like

-There is a vendetta between Righetti Highschool and St. Joseph Highschool.
non sequitur - a statement containing an illogical conclusion.

-Fallacies often include many non sequiturs.
mystique - a framework of doctrines, ideas, beliefs, or the like, constructed around a person or object, endowing the person or object with enhanced value or profound meaning

-The mystique of the Quran is very important to Muslims
quagmire - a situation from which extrication is very difficult

-Joe was in a quagmire of financial debts to the bank.
parlous - perilous; dangerous.

-Every hero sets off on a parlous journey.