Vocab 4
Atrophy (verb or noun) N: the wasting away of organ or tissue V: to waste away – often from lack of use
Consummate (Adj and Verb) Adj: Perfect, complete example The consummate student studies every night.
Glean (Verb) To gather bit by bit Like grain, or information The judge will eventually glean the truth from the court cases presented.
Incarcerate (verb) To imprison, confine, jail The convicted criminal was incarcerated for a very long time.
Incumbent (adj or noun) Adj: obligatory, required It is incumbent upon you to wear shoes in a restaurant Usually follows the word “upon” Noun: one who currently holds office at the time No one voted for the incumbent because he did such a terrible job
Ludicrous (adj) Ridiculous, laughable, absurd Thinking I can run a mile when I have been a couch potato for three years is ludicrous.
Pecuniary (adj) Having to do with money I didn’t want to trouble my kids with our pecuniary concerns. College isn’t just about GPA, there are a lot of pecuniary issues to consider
Flotsam (noun) Floating debris (garbage) Homeless people (deragatory) The environmental protest was over the huge amount of flotsam in the bay. The human flotsam in the city is just horrible; someone should clean it up!
Jocular (adj) Humorous, joking, done in a humorous way He was a jocular jock.
Nettle (noun or verb) Prickly or stinging plant To arouse anger or irritation Don’t pick the stinging nettles – they hurt! Be careful if you nettle him; he has quite a temper!