Alexander Hamilton Glossary

Alexander Hamilton Glossary

Amorous

Having strong feelings of love or passion.

Anomalous

Irregular; unusual

Ardent

Passionate; devoted

Auspicious

Promising; favorable

Autodidact

A self-taught person

Caricature

A parody of a person or group, usually with exaggerated features meant to ridicule and mock.

Castigate

To severely criticize or punish.

Cavil

To complain about unimportant or trivial matters.

Clandestine

Secret; furtive

Collegian

A recently graduated college student.

Eclectic

Varied; diverse

Epithet

A word or phrase characterizing a person or group.

Exuberant

Cheerful; spirited

Fallacious

False; deceptive

Fillip

Stimulate; excite

Gilded

Covered or inlaid with gold or something golden in color.

Grandiloquence

Proud; boastful

Imperious

Arrogant; haughty

Indomitable

Steadfast; unyielding

Inebriate

Drunken; intoxicated

Licentiousness

Immorality; lewdness

Misbegotten

Illegitimate; illicit

Nadir

Peak; height

Obsequious

Sycophantic; fawning

Paterfamilias

The patriarch of a family or household.

Pecuniary

Being related to money or financial matters.

Pernicious

Ruinous; dangerous

Perusal

Inspection; examination

Philander

Womanize; flirt

Pithy

Blunt; brief

Polemic

A strong written or spoken argument against a belief or opinion.

Polyglot

A person who is able to understand, speak and write multiple languages.

Profane

Offensive; contemptuous

Puerile

Childish; immature

Refractory

Stubborn; disobedient

Resplendent

Glorious; splendid

Reticent

Restrained; reserved

Reverential

Respectful

Sartorial

Being related to tailors and their profession.

Self-Effacing

Humble; modest

Slipshod

Sloppy; careless

Sumptuous

Being magnificent and splendid, and usually expensive and lavish.

Trepidation

Wariness; apprehension

Unctuous

Falsely earnest or friendly; insincere

Visceral

Emotional; sentimental, not relying on logic or reason.

Vitriolic

Extreme hatred or contempt.

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