Vocabulary #9

aficionado (n.): a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime.

-Mark was a golf aficionado.

Browbeat (v.): intimidate (someone), typically into doing something, with stern or abusive words

Commensurate (adj.): corresponding in size or degree; in proportion.

-His penetrating stare browbeat her into doing as he said without question.

Diaphanous (adj.): (esp. of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent.

-Her voice was diaphanous and very pleasing to listen to.

Emolument (n.): a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office.

-There was a protest outside the office because of employees complaining about their emolument not being paid in its entirety. 

Foray (v.): A venture or an initial attempt, especially outside one's usual area

-To foray into areas of life we are not keen of or good at can make one a better and more round individual.

Genre (n.): a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

-The magical fantasy genre is one I don't find interesting at all.

Homily (n.): a religious discourse that is intended primarily for spiritual edification rather than doctrinal instruction; a sermon.

-After disagreeing with my mom regarding religion, she called my priest uncles to deliver a homily to me on the importance of religion.

Immure (v.): enclose or confine (someone) against their will.

-Homework immures us in our room all day.

Insouciant (adj.): showing a casual lack of concern; indifferent.

-President George Bush was very insouciant after Katrina.

Matrix (n.): an environment or material in which something develops; a surrounding medium or structure.

-Air is the matrix in which we live.

Obsequies (n.): funeral rites.

-Usually priests deliver the obsequies. 

Panache (n.): flamboyant confidence of style or manner.

-Kanye West walks on stage with a panache that makes us all either hate him or adore him.

Persona (n.): the aspect of someone's character that is presented to or perceived by others.

-Sheldon's persona makes him beloved by us the television viewers, but hated by the show's characters.

Philippic (n.): a bitter attack or denunciation, esp. a verbal one.

-In his book he presented a philippic argument against gun control.

Prurient (adj.): having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters.

-Shakespeare's plays can be said to be very prurient.

Sacrosanct (adj.): (esp. of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with.

-Religion is seen as sacrosanct by many people. 

Systemic (adj.): of or relating to a system, esp. as opposed to a particular part.

-The human body is a system that is evolution's Mona Lisa.

Tendentious (adj.): expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, esp. a controversial one.

-I was given a tendentious flyer in which a man argued against gay marriage. I threw such paper away.

Vicissitude (n.): a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.

-The recent vicissitude of luck has made him fall into a great depression.