Lesson 4
Senior Vocabulary

1. celibate noun unmarried; abstaining from sex
   Priests are celibates.
   In that religion, the priests take vows to remain impoverished and celibate.



2. censure verb to criticize sharply
   Congress voted to censure the young congressmen because of his unethical behavior.
   syn: blame, condemn reproach        ant: praise, applaud



3. cessation noun a stopping; a discontinuance
   Although there was a cessation in the hostilities, no one doubted that the battle would resume the next day.
   syn: pause, a ceasing        ant: a beginning, a commencement
   
   
4. chaff noun worthless matter
   "Give me just the facts," the professor said. "Separate the wheat from the chaff."
   
   
5. chagrin noun embarrassment; or a complete loss of courage
   Joanne had never felt such chagrin as the time when she fell into the mud puddle in front of her fiancee's family.



6. chimerical adj. imaginary, fantastic
   Although they laughed at his plans and called them chimerical, later events proved him to be a visionary.
   syn: absurd, illusionary        ant: practical
   
   
7. coalesce verb to blend, to merge
   The anti-war group was made up of such different personalities that it took months before they could coalesce into a group that had some power.
   syn: mix. unite, combine          ant:separate, divide
   
   
8. debacle noun a complete failure; a total collapse
   After reading the reviews, the actors knew the play was a debacle and would close in one night.
   syn: a sudden disaster           ant: success, triumph



9. debauchery noun corruption; self-indulgence
   He lived a life sunk in sin and debauchery.
   syn: excess, dissipation



10. deference noun respect, consideration
    In deference to the young widow, we moved quietly aside and allowed her to leave first.
    syn: regard, honor          ant: contempt
    
    
11. defile  verb  to pollute, to corrupt
    The oil spill was of concern to the populace because it was bound to defile the streams and rivers for miles around.
    
    
12. deign  verb  to lower oneself before an inferior
    "After what she did to me, I would not deign to say hello to her," Mary said to Joe about her former best friend.
    syn: stoop, condescend; to see fit
    
    
13. delineate  verb  to describe, to depict
    The politician went to delineate his proposal on disarmament in greater detail



14. demeanor  noun  behavior; manner of conducting oneself
    Believe me, his shy demeanor is just an act; he is really quite wild.
    syn: deportment
    
    
15. denouement  noun  an outcome, result
    Hazel prided herself on being able to solve mysteries; but the story she was reading was elusive, and the denouement didn't come until the final page.
    syn: erotic, voluptuous        ant: chaste, modest