abate

(verb) to make less in amount, degree, etc.; to subside, nullify, or omitSynonym: diminish, decrease, subsideAntonym: intensify, increase, magnify

Age lines abated, or diminished.

adulation

(noun) praise or flattery that is excessive

Synonyms: adoration, idolization, hero-worship

Antonyms: ridicule, derision, scorn, odium

Lloyd took drugs to win 1 Tour De France, Lance took them to win Seven! Who’s adulation is excessive?

anathema

(noun) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation

Synonyms: malediction, imprecation, abomination

Antonyms: benediction, blessing

astute

(adjective) shrewd, crafty, showing practical wisdom

Synonyms: shrewd, acute, sagacious, judicious

Antonyms: obtuse, doltish, dumb

Bill gates and Steve Jobs are probably the most astute of all the tech C.E.O.s.

avarice

(noun) a greedy desire, particularly for wealth

Synonyms: cupidity, rapacity, acquisitiveness

Mr. Trump is arguable the most avaricious man in these United States.Also one of the Seven

Deadly Sins.

avaritia = greed

culpable

(adjective) deserving blame, worthy of condemnation

Synonyms: guilty, delinquent, blameworthyAntonyms: blameless, innocent, laudable

Culp = blame

dilatory

(adjective) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

Synonyms: stalling, slow, tardy, laggardAntonyms: prompt, punctual, speedy, expeditious

dilator = procrastinator

egregious

(adjective) conspicuous, standing out from the mass

Synonyms: glaring, flagrant, blatant

Antonyms: unnoticeable, paltry, piddling

Everyone knows the red sour patch kids are the most egregious.

ex grege = out of the flock

equivocate

(verb) to speak or act in a way that allows for more than one interpretation; to be deliberately vague

Synonyms: to talk out of both sides of one’s mouth, palter, hedgeAntonyms: to speak one’s mind plainly

Harvey Dent may be two faced, but there’s nothing equivocal about how he does business.

aequus "equal" (see equal) vocare "to call" (see voice)In other words: have same name

evanescent

(adjective) vanishing, soon passing away; light and airy

Synonyms: ephemeral, transient, transitory

Antonyms: everlasting, immortal, imperishable

Like a wisp of smoke, or a face in the clouds.

ex- out + vanescere "vanish"

irresolute

(adjective) unable to make up one’s mind, hesitating

Synonyms: indecisive, vacillating, wavering

Antonyms: determined, decisive, unwavering

I can’t decide which is more disgusting, or delicious.

Ir or in (not) + Resolutus = absolute

nebulous

(adjective) cloudlike, resembling a cloud; cloudy in color, not transparent; vague, confused,

Synonyms: hazy, fuzzy, cloudy, vague, murky, opaque

Antonyms: definite, distinct, clear, sharply focused

This is a horse head and crab nebula from the Hubble Space Telescope. They are made of clouds of electrically charged gases.

Nebele = cloud/mist

novice

(noun) one who is just a beginner at some activity requiring skill and experience (also adjective)

Synonyms: neophyte, tyro, trainee, apprentice

Antonyms: veteran, past master, pro, expert

Before finishing his first term as a rookie U.S. Senator, Barack Obama is now a novice President of these United States.

novus = new

penury

(noun) extreme poverty; barrenness, insufficiency

Synonyms: destitution, want, indigence

Antonyms: affluence, abundance, luxury

This is Kenyan poverty. The United States does not know penury like this.

pretentious

(adjective) done for show, striving to make a big impression, claiming merit or position unjustifiably

Synonyms: inflated, ostentatious, affectedAntonyms: unassuming, unaffected, modest

prætensus = pretendIn other words: to pretend you are better than everyone else

recapitulate

(verb) to review a series of facts; to sum up

Synonyms: review, summarize, go over

Al Gore didn’t need to recapitulate the vote when he won the Academy Award for best Documentary Film. Though Hillary and Barack weren’t thrilled.

re- "again" + capitulum "main part“ (capitis – head)

resuscitate

(verb) to revive, bring back to consciousness or existence

Synonyms: revitalize, reanimate, restore, reactivate

sub (up from) under + citare (to summon)

slovenly

(adjective) untidy, dirty, careless

Synonyms: unkempt, slatternly, slipshod, lax

Antonyms: neat, tidy, careful, meticulous

slof = careless, negligentsloovin = scoldSloth = deadly sin

supposition

(noun) something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence

Synonyms: assumption, presumption, hypothesis

Did you simply suppose that the Liger either did or did not exist without evidence? Well, because of that supposition, you missed out on this super sweet photo.

sub (under) + ponere (to put)Posit (put forth), oppose (put against)

torpid

(adjective) inactive, sluggish, dull

Synonyms: sluggish, lethargic, languid

Antonyms: energetic, dynamic, vigorous

This torpid torpedo won’t get off its lazy computer generated perch.

torpere =be numb or stiffTorpor = numbness