Vocab List #9 Remix

 Here are some ways that I am going to remember these words.

Abortive: failing to produce the intended result.

This makes me think of abortion.
Bruit: spread a report or rumor widely

It sounds like the word brew which means to conjure or create. You can create rumors and spread them.
Contumelious: scornful and insulting behavior

The "melious" part makes me think of malicious behavior which can be scornful and insulting.
Dictum: a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source; a short statement that expresses a general truth or principle

You can sometimes find a dictum in a dictionary.
Ensconce: establish or settle

Ensconce starts with an e and so does establish.
Iconoclastic: characterized by attack on established beliefs or institutions

Ensconce has "con" in it and so does iconoclastic. Ensconce is to establish, and iconoclastic is attacks on established beliefs.
In medias res: a narrative that begins somewhere in the middle of a story rather than the beginning

This has the word "media" in it. Sometimes they put an In medias res in film and media.
Internecine: destructive to both sides in a conflict

This has "inter" in it just like internal. Makes me think of internal conflict.
Maladroit: ineffective or bungling; clumsy

This is an awkward word to read. Maladroit can mean awkward or clumsy.
Maudlin: self-pitying or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness

Mary Magdalene (which sounds like maudlin) from the Bible was usually crying in the paintings she was in.
Modulate: exert a modifying or controlling influence on

Both modify and modulate have "mod" in them. - Like to mod a car or computer.
Portentous: of or like a portent; done in a pompously or overly solemn manner

Portent- an indication of something important about to happen.
Prescience: the power to foresee the future

Has "pre" in it which means before. So to see things before they happen.
Quid pro quo: a favor or advantage granted in return for something

My dad is a professional tile setter and usually trades tile work for something that we need in our house such as new windows.
Salubrious: health-giving, healthy; pleasant, not run-down

Reminds me of salad which is healthy.
Saturnalia: the ancient Roman festival of Saturn in December; an occasion of wild revelry

Saturnalia is the ancient festival of Saturn.
Touchstone: a standard or criterion by which something is judged or recognized

When I think of a stone, I think of a standard rock.
Traumatic: emotionally disturbing or distressing; relating to or causing psychological trauma

Just makes me think of trauma, which is the same thing.
Vitiate: spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of; destroy or impair the legal validity of.

Vitiate and validity both start with V which is a rare letter to start with.
Waggish: humorous in a playful, mischievous, or facetious manner

"Wag" makes me think of dogs which are playful.