Vocabulary Sentences List #4

Apostate: One who has abandoned one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause

• They considered all sinners apostates, as well as all those who opposed them. 

Effusive: Unrestrained or excessive in emotional expression; gushy

• From when I first read the script I was looking for a part that was not particularly effusive and affectionate.

impasse:  A situation that is so difficult that no progress can be made; a deadlock or a stalemate

• On the positive side, his proposal would also provide an avenue out of a political impasse.

euphoria:  A feeling of great happiness or well-being

• One dictionary defines marijuana as the leaves and flowering tops taken to induce euphoria.

lugubrious:  Mournful, dismal, or gloomy, especially to an exaggerated or ludicrous degree.

• The rest of the movie is even heavier and more lugubrious.

bravado:  a pretentious, swaggering display of courage. 

• Skill practices and on-the-spot defensive driving techniques help change bravado to confidence.

consensus:  majority of opinion:

•  The consensus of the group was that they should meet twice a month. 

dichotomy:  division into two parts, kinds, etc. 

• There is a way to bridge the dichotomy between science and religionthat brings into question blind beliefs on both sides.

constrict:  to draw or press in; cause to contract or shrink; compress. 

• She is worried about talk that the music  program might constrict with the economy.

gothic:   noting or pertaining to a styleof architecture, originating in France in the middle of the12th century and existing in the western half of Europethrough the middle of the 16th century, characterized by theuse of the pointed arch and the ribbed vault, by the use offine woodwork and stonework, by a progressive lightening ofstructure, and by the use of such features as flyingbuttresses, ornamental gables, crockets, and foils. 

• The gothic building give an eerie feeling do to their age and condition.

punctilio:  a fine point, particular, or detail, as of conduct, ceremony,or procedure. 

• They really seem to show a readiness to stand on punctilio andceremony.

metamorphosis:   A transformation, as by magic or sorcery. 

• A caterpillar must go through metamorphosis  in order to become a butterfly.

raconteur:  a person skilled in telling stories 

• When books did not exist, selected individual were selected and named raconteurs due to their magnificent skill.

sine qua non:  An essential element or condition 

• The perfect cake is the sine qua non of the carefully planned modern wedding.

quixotic: Caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality.

• At worst his scruples must have been quixotic, not malicious.

vendetta:  A feud between two families or clans that arises out of a slaying and is perpetuated by retaliatory acts of revenge; a blood feud. 

• It was almost as if she had a personal vendetta against the machine, but she was a very pleasant lady.

non sequitur: An inference or conclusion that does not follow from the premises or evidence.

• Evidently his voice, language and mannerism were consistent with his looks; even the apparent non sequitur.

mystique:  An aura of heightened value, interest, or meaning surrounding something, arising from attitudes and beliefs that impute special power or mystery to it 

• He has retained a certain mystique which makes him such a compelling character.

quagmire:  . A difficult or precarious situation; a predicament. 

• The rules governing eligibility for international representation have created a political quagmire for several sports in northern ireland.

parlous: Perilous; dangerous:

• The lebanon situation looks parlous despite an apparent ceasefire.