Vocabulary 5

Obsequious: adj. obedient, dutiful

Due to Mulan’s incapability to be obsequious to her parents, she ended up helping save China.

Beatitude: n. supreme blessedness, exalted happiness, any declarations of blessedness pronounced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount

China’s beatitude was felt when Mulan saved them from the Huns.

Bête noire: n. a person or thing that one  particularly dislikes or dreads

Ursula is the bête noire of under the sea.

Bode: v. to be an omen of, to predict

The lost souls collected in Ursula’s lair boded that Ariel would have to face a similar fate when she signed the contract.

Dank: adj. unpleasantly moist or humid, damp and chilly

New Orleans dank weather made Tiana’s cooking a little more difficult.

Ecumenical: adj. general, universal, the whole Christian church, promoting Christian unity throughout the world, interreligious or interdenominational

The ecumenical story of Aladdin is one that tells the tale of a princess falling in love with a thief but there is much more to the story.

Fervid: adj. heated in spirit, enthusiasm, glowing, intensely hot

Jafar’s fervid rant against Jasmine and Aladdin grew as much as he did when Genie made him into a powerful sorcerer.

Fetid: adj. having an offensive odor, stinking

Although Pumba had fetid breath, Timon still loved talking and living with him.

Gargantuan: adj. gigantic, enormous, colossal

Melificent turned into a gargantuan dragon when Prince Philip had overcome the thorn bushes surrounding the castle.

Heyday: n. the stage or period of greatest vigor, strength, success, or prime

The lion pride was at its heyday when Mufasa was the king.

Incubus: n. imaginary demon supposed to descend upon sleeping persons (especially one fabled to have sexual intercourse with women during their sleep), a nightmare, something that weighs upon or oppresses like a nightmare

Simba’s incubus was reliving the moment when his father was dropped of the edge of the cliff.

Infrastructure: n. the basic framework or freatures of a system or organization, fundamental facilities and systems serving a country, city or area (ex. Transportation systems, power plants, schools), the military installations of a country

New Orleans’s infrastructure helped Tiana because her restaurant was right on the river, which drew in tourists.

Inveigle: v. to entice or lure by flattery or artful talk (followed by into)

Aladdin inveigles Genie when he uses him to get out of tricky situations without having to use a wish.

Kudos: n. honor or glory

Snow White gained kudos when she was the “fairest maiden of them all” which truly angered the Evil Queen.

Lagniappe: n. a tip, an unexpected or indirect benefit

Tiana always wished for good lagniappes when she was waiting tables so she could save for her restaurant.

Prolix: adj. extended to great, unnecessary, or tedious lengths, long and wordy

Zazu gives prolix speeches to Simba and Nala when they are younger so that they will not leave Pride Rock.

Protégé: n. a person under the patronage, protection or care of someone interested in his or her career or welfare

Simba was Timon and Pumba’s wild protégé after they raised the run away lion.

Prototype: n. the original which something is based or formed, someone or something that serves to illustrate the typical qualities of a class, model

Sebastian is the prototype of a cautious, law-abiding citizen.

Sycophant: n. a self-seeking, servile flatterer, fawning parasite

Jafar was a sycophant towards the sultan in order to gain his favor and marry Jasmine.

Tautology: n. instance of such repetition, needless repetition of an idea, especially in words other than those of the immediate context, without imparting additional force or clearness

The tautology in Sebastian’s rant made clear that he did not want Ariel to leave Triton’s kingdom.

Truckle: v. to submit or yield obsequiously or tamely (followed by to)

Tiana did not truckle to the easy-way out of life.