Fall Vocabulary List #7

Aberration: the act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course/the act of deviating from the ordinary, usual or normal type

--When the dog bit someone, it was an aberration from his usually calm demeanor.
Ad hoc: for the special purpose or end presently under consideration

--An ad hoc rescue party formed when a storm came from nowhere and wreaked havoc on the town.
Bane: a person or thing that ruins or spoils

--I often feel like my brother is the bane of my existence; he seems to try and ruin everything.
Bathos: a ludicrous descent from the exalted or lofty to the commonplace; anticlimax/insincere pathos, sentimentality, mawkishness

--The actor tended to draw all of the attention to himself with his overplayed bathos. 
Cantankerous: disagreeable to deal with, contentious, peevish

--The child became cantankerous and impossible to deal with when he was tired. 
Casuistry: Specious, deceptive, or oversubtle reasoning, especially in questions of morality; fallacious or dishonest application of general principle, sophistry

--Though Jack’s reasoning sounded clever, it was just casuistry. 
De facto: in fact, reality/actually existing, especially when without lawful authority

--Though segregation was technically made illegal, de facto segregation still existed in many public establishments for years.     
 Depredation: the act of preying upon or plundering; robbery; ravage

--After the chieftain of one clan died in battle, the group suffered from an increased depredation by rival clans. 
Empathy: the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, and attitudes of others

--Jane noticed that her friend was outside crying, but she didn’t bother to ask what was wrong or try to cheer her up; Jane obviously lacked empathy. 
Harbinger: a person who goes ahead and makes known the approach of another/anything that foreshadows a future event; omen, sign

--In the story, the cawing crow was used as a harbinger for an impending death. 
Hedonism: the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is to the highest good/devotion to pleasure as a way of life

--Roman emperors were notorious for their lavish and hedonistic way of life. 
Lackluster: lacking brilliance or radiance; dull/ lacking liveliness, vitality, spirit, or enthusiasm

--I had high expectations for the play, but the performance was lackluster at best. 
Malcontent: not satisfied or content with currently prevailing conditions or circumstances/dissatisfied with current government, administration, system, etc./a malcontent person, especially one who is chronically discontented or dissatisfied

--Jessica cried, “Down with the system!” as she gathered with other local malcontents at a rally. 
Mellifluous: sweet or smoothly flowing, sweet-sounding/flowing with honey; sweetened as with or as if with honey

--Kaitlyn’s singing voice is lovely and mellifluous.

Nepotism: patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business or politics

--The CEO was accused of nepotism when he hired his inexperienced son as president of the company. 
Pander: a person who furnishes clients for a prostitute or supplies persons for illicit sexual intercourse; pimp/to act as a pander; cater basely

--That company tends to pander to the interests of the younger crowds. 
Pecadillo: a very minor or slight sin or offense; a trifling fault

--Johnny’s parents made his every little slipup and peccadillo a big problem, and this made him feel terrible about himself. 
Piece de resistance: the most noteworthy feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction

--The artist had works all over the gallery, but her biggest, best piece—her piece de resistance—was toward the back of the room.

Remand: To send back, remit, or consign again/to send back (a case) to a lower court from which it was appealed, with instructions as to what further proceedings should be had

 --The court decided to remand the defendant to a drug treatment center.