Words to Know Flashcards

1
Q

the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music

A

catharsis

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2
Q

expressing sorrow or lamentation

A

elegiac

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3
Q

the formation of a word by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent

A

onomatopoeia

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4
Q

a lofty oration or writing in praise of a person or thing; eulogy; formal or elaborate praise

A

panegyric

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5
Q

the science or study of poetic meters and versification

A

prosody

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6
Q

of or relating to or suggesting an idyllic rural life

A

bucolic

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7
Q

something that strongly attracts attention by its brilliance, interest, etc

A

cynosure

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8
Q

intended for instruction

A

didactic

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9
Q

devotion to pleasure as a way of life

A

hedonism

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10
Q

leadership, predominance

A

hegemony

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11
Q

of or relating to Aristotle, who taught philosophy while walking in the Lyceum of ancient Athens

A

peripatetic

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12
Q

a person who argues in opposition to another; a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc

A

polemic

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13
Q

harmful, injurious

A

deleterious

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14
Q

a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism

A

diatribe

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15
Q

derived from or guided by experience or experiment

A

empirical

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16
Q

understood by or meant for only the select few who have special knowledge or interest

A

esoteric

17
Q

light, airy, or tenuous

A

ethereal

18
Q

anything that relieves stress or pain

A

anodyne

19
Q

any sudden, violent outburst

A

paroxysm

20
Q

characterized by bitter or scornful derision; mocking; cynical; sneering

A

sardonic

21
Q

a self-seeking, servile flatterer, a fawning parasite

A

sycophant

22
Q

anticlimax, sentimentality

A

bathos

23
Q

a formal expression of high praise; eulogy

A

encomium

24
Q

a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation

A

enigma

25
Q

the many

A

hoi polloi

26
Q

noxious exhalations from putrescent organic matter; a dangerous, foreboding, or deathlike influence or atmosphere

A

miasma

27
Q

a remedy for all disease or ills

A

panacea

28
Q

overabundance, excess

A

plethora

29
Q

elegiac

A

expressing sorrow or lamentation