Vacabulary List #7

aberration - an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image; a disorder in one's mental state; a state or condition markedly different from the norm
ex/ My friend Alyssa is an aberration.

Ad hoc-  for the special purpose or end presently under consideration
ex/ I sometimes stop a conversation after ad hoc.

bane -  something causes misery or death
ex/ I now understand why they call him Bane.

bathos -  triteness or triviality of style; a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one; insincere pathos
ex/  Bad climaxes end up in bathos.

cantankerous -  having a difficult and contrary disposition; stubbornly obstructive and unwilling to cooperate
ex/ The "bad boy" was cantankerous.

casuistry -  moral philosophy based on the application of general ethical principles to resolve moral dilemmas; argumentation that is specious or excessively subtle and intended to be misleading
ex/ Most people have a casuistry.

de facto - in fact; in reality
ex/ I believe in science, de facto.

depredation -  an act of plundering and pillaging and marauding; (usually plural) a destructive action
ex/  The wrecking ball was created for depredation.

empathy -  understanding and entering into another's feelings
ex/ I usually can empathize with my best friends.

harbinger -  an indication of the approach of something or someone; verb foreshadow or presage
ex/ The girl thought he was cute so she harbingered him.

hedonism -  an ethical system that evaluates the pursuit of pleasure as the highest good; the pursuit of pleasure as a matter of ethical principle
ex/ Some people are affiliated with hedonism.

lackluster -  lacking luster or shine; lacking brilliance or vitality
ex/ When I go to the dunes with my friend Alex his truck gets lackluster.

malcontent -  discontented as toward authority; noun a person who is discontented or disgusted
ex/ Jessica cried, “Down with the system!” as she gathered with other local malcontents at a rally.

mellifluous -  pleasing to the ear
nepotism - noun favoritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power (as by giving them jobs)
ex/ Kelli’s singing voice is lovely and mellifluous.

pander -  someone who procures customers for whores (in England they call a pimp a ponce); verb arrange for sexual partners for others; yield (to); give satisfaction to
ex/ That company tends to pander to the interests of the younger crowds.

peccadillo -  a petty misdeed
ex/ Randy’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 or prized feature, aspect, event, article, etc., of a series or group; special item or attraction.
ex/ 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 -  the act of sending an accused person back into custody to await trial (or the continuation of the trial); verb refer (a matter or legal case) to another committee or authority or court for decision; lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
ex/ The court decided to remand the defendant to a drug treatment center.

syndrome -  a complex of concurrent things; a pattern of symptoms indicative of some disease
ex/ It makes me sad when I hear about people that have or get life threatening syndromes.