VOCABULARY #4

obsequious - adj. attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner; attempting to win favor from influential people by flattery
The obsequious complement was insincere.
beatitude - noun one of the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount; in Latin each saying begins with `beatus' (blessed); a state of supreme happiness
Her beatitude was shown through her huge smile.
bete noire - noun a person or thing that one particularly dislikes
Batman was the joker's bete noire.
bode - verb indicate by signs
The line bodes that she would face sudden death.
dank - adj. unpleasantly cool and humid
The dank weather badly affected the tourists day.
ecumenical - adj. of worldwide scope or applicability; concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions
The ecumenical group of pastors tried to convert the atheists.
fervid - adj. extremely hot; characterized by intense emotion
His fervid passion for teaching children got him the job.
fetid - adj. offensively malodorous
His fetid breath drew away the women in the club.
gargantuan - adj. of great mass; huge and bulky
Costco's packages are always gargantuan.
heyday - noun the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
The heydays have passed by as America is suffering in an economic depression.
incubus - noun a male demon believed to lie on sleeping persons and to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; someone who depresses or worries others; a situation resembling a terrifying dream
The incubus terrified the young child.
infrastructure - noun the stock of basic facilities and capital equipment needed for the functioning of a country or area; the basic structure or features of a system or organization
The infrastructure of the building supported the people in it.
inveigle - verb influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
I inveigled my parents to let me go to Italy. 
kudos - noun an expression of approval and commendation
The kudos from his mother confirmed that he would propose to his girlfriend.
lagniappe - noun a small gift (especially one given by a merchant to a customer who makes a purchase)
The businessman gave a lagniappe to the woman who made a large purchase.
prolix - adj. tediously prolonged or tending to speak or write at great length
Her prolix explanation for not turning in her homework annoyed the teacher.
protege - noun a person who receives support and protection from an influential patron who furthers the protege's career
The protege was grateful for his financial aid.
prototype - noun a standard or typical example
The company offered the possible buyer a prototype of their new product.
sycophant - noun a person who tries to please someone in order to gain a personal advantage
The sycophant got an A in his economic class by coaxing to the teacher.
tautology - noun useless repetition; (logic) a statement that is necessarily true
Some writers use tautology to get their point across.
truckle - noun a low bed to be slid under a higher bed; verb yield to out of weakness; try to gain favor by cringing or flattering
Her truckle did not influence the manager to promote her.