Lesson 5
Sophomore Vocabulary

1. catalyst  noun a person or thing or agent that speeds up or stimulates a result, reaction, or change.
   A slight tap from the riding crop was all the catalyst the race horse needed to put on the speed and leave the others in his dust.
   syn: ferment      
   
   
2. catholic   adj. universal; wide-ranging
   His interests were so catholic that he could talk knowledgeably on almost any subject.
   syn: broad; liberal         ant: provincial
   
   
3. cavort verb to leap about in a sprightly manner; romp
   The stray puppy began to cavort with the children on the playground.
   syn: frolic, prance, caper
   
   
4. chafe verb to irritate as if by friction or rubbing
   The stinging wind began to chafe our faces as we struggled through the storm.
   syn: annoy; vex        ant: soothe
   
   
5. charisma noun to possess a great appeal or attraction for others; personal magnetism
   Although the candidate was very handsome and had a great deal of charisma, he had absolutely no idea of the issues.
   syn: charm 
   
   
6. chauvinist noun one who has a fanatical devotion to a country, sex, religion, with contempt for other countries, the opposite sex or other beliefs.
   Although he did not dislike women, he was a male chauvinist and had a hard time treating females as equals.
   
   
7. chicanery noun trickery;the use of clever but tricky talk to deceive or evade
   The district attorney was accused of chicanery by the defense counsel.
   syn: a ruse         ant: honesty
   
   
8. choleric adj. easily angered
   He was a choleric man whose temper was bound to get him in trouble.
   syn: quick-tempered; irascible, irritable          ant: phlegmatic, impassive
   
   
9. dally verb to waste time; dawdle
   We dallied with the idea of a sea cruise but eventually decided to fly to Rio.
   syn: to flirt or toy with, loiter           ant: hasten, hurry
   
   
10. dastardly adj. mean and cowardly
    Only a dastardly person would poison someone's pet dog.
    syn: malicious