English Flashcards
Capricious
Given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior.
Derogate
Disparage (someone or something).
“it is typical of Pirandello to derogate the powers of reason”
Pernicious
Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
“the pernicious influences of the mass media”
Loquacious
tending to talk a great deal; talkative; babble
Tendentious
Expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one.
“a tendentious reading of history”
Etymology
The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
Obsequious
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
“they were served by obsequious waiters”
Avaricious
having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
“a corrupt and avaricious government”
Myopic
Short-sighted
Minutiae
The small, precise, or trivial details of something.
“the minutiae of everyday life”
Pedantic
It’s a negative term that implies someone is showing off book learning or trivia, especially in a tiresome way. You don’t want to go antique-shopping with a pedantic friend, who will use the opportunity to bore you with his in-depth knowledge of Chinese porcelain kitty-litter boxes.
Antipodean inflection
It is well established that in some dialects, especially Australian and New Zealand ones, there exists a rising inflection at the end of a spoken phrase, which causes it to be reasonably consistently heard as a question in the ears of English speakers who don’t have
Lilting
Characterized by a rhythmical swing or cadence
Impugn
Dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive); call into question.
“the father does not impugn her capacity as a good mother”
Imbue
to infuse or spread with color
“the entire performance was imbued with sparkle and elan”
