Word List 33 Flashcards
Obtuse (adj)
blunt; stupid
What can you do with someone so obtuse that he can’t even tell you’re insulting him?
Obviate (v)
make unnecessary; get rid of
I hope this contribution will obviate ant need for further collection of funds
Odious (adj)
hateful; vile
Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters had the odious habit of popping their zits in public
Odium (n)
detestation; hatefulness; disrepute
Prince Charming could not express the odium he felt toward Cinderella’s stepsisters because of their mistreatment of poor Cinderella
Offhand (adj)
casual; done without prior thought
Expecting to be treated with due propriety by her hosts, Great Aunt Maud was offended by their offhand manner
Officious (adj)
meddlesome; excessively pushy in offering one’s services
After he long flight, Jill just wanted to nap, but the officious bellboy was intent on showing her all the special features of the deluxe suite
Omnipotent (adj)
all-powerful
Omnipresent (adj)
universally present; ubiquitous
Omniscient (adj)
all-knowing
Omnivorous (adj)
eating both plant and animal food; devouring everything
Onerous (adj)
burdensome
She asked for an assistant because her work load was too onerous
Onus (n)
burden; responsibility
Opprobrium (n)
infamy; vilification
He refused to defend himself against the slander and opprobrium hurled against him by the newspapers; he preferred to rely on his record
Opulence (n)
extreme wealth; luxuriousness; abundance
The glitter and opulence of the ballroom took Cinderella’s breath away
Opus (n)
work
Although many critics hailed his Fifth Symphony, he did not regard it as his major opus
