Set 13 Flashcards
Corrigible
Capable of being set right, correctable, reparable
The trend away from rehabilitative programming in prisons may indicate a decrease in the public’s belief that inmates are corrigible
Corrigibility, a noun, is the capacity to be set straight
The Corrigibility of the damage to the train could only be determined after extensive inspection and testing
*incorrigible means not reformable, uncontrollable, recalcitrant
Countenance
To approve of or to tolerate
The dean fully countenanced the addition of the new athletic complex, saying that a healthy body would only aid in the development of a healthy mind
Countenance can also be a noun, in which case it means mien, face, composure
The countenance of the woman in Dorothea Lange’s famous photograph, “migrant mother, nipomo, California” is one of the most powerful and enduring images of the Great Depression; the woman’s face communicates such fear and despair, and yet also strength, that it has become iconic
Cozen
To deceive, beguile, hoodwink
The corrupt televangelist cozened millions of dollars out of his viewers by convincing them that he would perform miracles to make them all win the lottery
Craven
Contemptibly faint hearted, pusillanimous, lacking any courage
His craven cowardice in refusing to admit his mistake meant that a completely innocent person was punished
Credulous
Tending to believe too readily; gullible
Nathan was so credulous that he believed us when we told him that Naugahyde comes from horse-like creatures called naugas, who eat plastic grass
Crescendo
A gradual increase in intensity, particularly in music
The crescendo of RSVPs seems to have passed, as we now are receiving only one or two replies per day
Culpable
Deserving blame
Pat could hardly be thought culpable for spilling the cranberry juice on the floor, since he wasn’t even in the room at the time
Culpability is blame worthiness
Cynicism
An attitude or quality of belief that all people are motivated by selfishness
Tricia’s cynicism was matched only by her own selfishness; she believed no one else was altruistic because she was never herself
*someone who displays cynicism is called a cynic
Damp
To diminish the intensity or check something, such as a sound or feeling
Her hopes were damped when she checked the mailbox and there was still no letter for the fourth day in a row
Daunt
To intimidate or dismay
At first, the protagonist of the fairy tale was daunted by the task given to him; he didn’t know how he would ever sort the grains of wheat and barley until the ants arrived to help him
The adjective daunting means dismaying, disheartening
*dauntless means fearless, undaunted, intrepid
Convoluted
Complex or complicated
Cynthia’s convoluted response to the question made her listeners think she was concealing something; it was as if she hoped they would forget the question as they tried to follow her answer
