blue book #15 Flashcards
(86 cards)
forte
1.
a person’s strong suit, or most highly developed characteristic, talent, or skill; something that one excels in:
I don’t know what her forte is, but it’s not music.
2.
the stronger part of a sword blade, between the middle and the hilt (opposed to foible).
forthright
1.
frank; directly honest; going straight to the point; outspoken:
It’s sometimes difficult to be forthright and not give offense.
2.
proceeding in a straight course; direct; straightforward:
a forthright glance.
fortify
1.
to protect or strengthen against attack; surround or provide with defensive military works.
2.
to furnish with a means of resisting force or standing strain or wear:
to fortify cotton with nylon.
3.
to make strong; impart strength or vigor to:
to fortify oneself with a good breakfast.
4.
to increase the effectiveness of, as by additional ingredients:
to fortify a diet with vitamins; to fortify a lotion with lanolin.
5.
to strengthen mentally or morally:
to be fortified by religious faith.
6.
to confirm or corroborate:
to fortify an accusation with facts.
fortitude
mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously:
Never once did her fortitude waver during that long illness.
fortuitous
1.
happening or produced by chance; accidental:
a fortuitous encounter.
2.
lucky; fortunate:
a series of fortuitous events that advanced her career.
foster
1.
to nourish; promote the growth or development of; further; encourage:
to foster new ideas.
2.
to bring up, raise, or rear, as a foster child.
3.
to care for or cherish.
founder
1.
(of a ship, boat, etc.) to fill with water and sink.
2.
to fall or sink down, as buildings, ground:
Built on a former lake bed, the building has foundered nearly ten feet.
3.
to become wrecked; fail utterly:
The project foundered because public support was lacking.
4.
to stumble, break down, or go lame, as a horse:
His mount foundered on the rocky path.
foyer
1.
the lobby of a theater, hotel, or apartment house.
2.
a vestibule or entrance hall in a house or apartment.
fracas
a noisy, disorderly disturbance or fight; riotous brawl; uproar.
fractious
1.
unruly; refractory:
a fractious animal that would not submit to the harness.
2.
readily angered; peevish; irritable; quarrelsome:
an incorrigibly fractious young man.
franchise
1.
a privilege of a public nature conferred on an individual, group, or company by a government:
a franchise to operate a bus system.
2.
the right or license granted by a company to an individual or group to market its products or services in a specific territory.
3.
the right to vote:
to guarantee the franchise of every citizen.
6.
a privilege arising from the grant of a sovereign or government, or from prescription, which presupposes a grant.
frank
1.
direct and unreserved in speech; straightforward; sincere:
Her criticism of my work was frank but absolutely fair.
2.
without inhibition or subterfuge; direct; undisguised:
a frank appeal for financial aid.
fraudulent
1.
characterized by, involving, or proceeding from deceit or trickery, perpetrated for profit, as actions, enterprise, methods, or gains:
a fraudulent scheme to evade taxes.
2.
given to or using fraud, as a person; cheating; dishonest.
fraught
1.
filled or laden with:
ships fraught with precious wares.
2.
(fraught with) full of; accompanied by; involving:
a venture fraught with danger.
freight
1.
goods, cargo, or lading transported for pay, whether by water, land, or air.
2.
the ordinary conveyance or means of transport of goods provided by common carriers (distinguished from express):
Shipping by freight is less expensive.
3.
the charges, fee, or compensation paid for such transportation:
We pay the freight.
frenetic
frantic; frenzied.
frenzied
1.
wildly excited or enthusiastic:
frenzied applause.
2.
violently agitated; frantic; wild:
a frenzied mob.
frequent
1.
happening or occurring at short intervals:
to make frequent trips to Tokyo.
2.
constant, habitual, or regular:
a frequent guest.
3.
located at short distances apart:
frequent towns along the shore.
4.
to visit often; go often to; be often in:
to frequent the art galleries.
fresco
the art or technique of painting on a moist, plaster surface with colors ground up in water or a limewater mixture.
frigid
1.
very cold in temperature:
a frigid climate.
2.
without warmth of feeling; without ardor or enthusiasm:
a frigid reaction to the suggested law.
3.
stiff or formal:
a welcome that was polite but frigid.
4.
unemotional or unimaginative; lacking passion, sympathy, or sensitivity:
a correct, but frigid presentation.
frivolous
1.
characterized by lack of seriousness or sense:
frivolous conduct.
2.
self-indulgently carefree; unconcerned about or lacking any serious purpose.
3.
(of a person) given to trifling or undue levity:
a frivolous, empty-headed person.
4.
of little or no weight, worth, or importance; not worthy of serious notice:
a frivolous suggestion.
frolicsome
merrily playful; full of fun.
frond
1.
an often large, finely divided leaf, especially as applied to the ferns and certain palms.
2.
a leaflike expansion not differentiated into stem and foliage, as in lichens.
frugal
1.
economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful:
What your office needs is a frugal manager who can save you money without resorting to painful cutbacks.
2.
entailing little expense; requiring few resources; meager; scanty:
a frugal meal.
