creative writing Flashcards
(160 cards)
1
Q
ABJURE
A
(vt) 1. To give up (right, allegiance, etc.) on oath; renounce 2. To give up (opinions) publicly; recant
2
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ABSTRUSE
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(adj) Difficult to understand; obscure
3
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ACCESSION
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(n) The act of acceding; augmentation; succession to the throne
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ADJURE
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(vt) 1. To charge solemnly, often under oath or penalty 2. To entreat earnestly
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Q
AGUE
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(n) 1. A fever, usually that of malaria, marked by regularly recurring chills 2. A chill; fit of shivering
6
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ALACRITY
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(n) liveliness; cheerful readiness; promptitude
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ALIGHT
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(v) 1. To get down off of; dismount 2. To come down after flight 3. [Rare] To come (on
or upon) accidentally
8
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ALLIGATE
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(n) to attach; bind
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APPELLATION
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(n) 1. The act of calling by a name 2. A name or title; designation
10
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ARDENT
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(adj) 1. Warm or intense in feeling; passionate 2. intensely enthusiastic or devoted; zealous 3. Glowing; radiant 4. Burning, aflame
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ASSEVERATE
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(vt) To state seriously or positively; assert
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AUGEAN
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(adj) difficult or unpleasant
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AUGUR
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(n) An instrument for boring holes
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AVARICE
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(n) Covetousness, greed, eagerly desirous (to be); extreme greed for wealth or material gain
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AVER
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(vt) To declare to be true; affirm. Past tense Averred
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AVUNCULAR
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(a) Relating to an uncle “The avuncular affair”
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BECLOUD
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(vt) To cloud over; obscure
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BEGUILE
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(vt) 1. To mislead by guile; deceive 2. To deprive (of or out of) by deceit; cheat 3. To pass (time) pleasantly; while away [ he beguiled his day with reading ] 4. To charm or delight
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BELEAGUER
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(vt) 1. To besiege by encircling, as with an army 2. To beset, harass
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BENEFICIENCE
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(n) The quality or state of doing or producing good
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CAPITULATE
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(v) To cease resisting; acquiesce, surrender, often after a negotiation of terms
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CAPRICE
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A sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action// a disposition to do things impulsively
*Capricious: governed by caprice
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CLAMOROUS
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(adj) 1. Loud and confused; noisy 2. Loudly demanding or complaining
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COGITATE
A
(vt) To think seriously and deeply (about); ponder; consider
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COLLOQUY
(n) A conversation; a gathering for discussions of theological questions
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COMMINATE
(v) To threaten with divine punishment
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CONCOURSE
(n) A large open area inside or in front of a public building, as in an airport or train station
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CONCUPISCENT
(adj) lustful; sensual
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CONFLUENCE
(n) 1. A flowing together, esp. of two or more streams 2. The place where they join, or a stream formed in this way 3. A coming together as of people; crowd; throng
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CONNIVANCE
(n) Willingness to secretly allow or be involved in wrongdoing, especially an immoral or illegal act
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CONTIGUOUS
Touching or connected throughout in an unbroken sequence// next or near in time or sequence// touching along a boundary or a point
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CONTRARIETY
(n) 1. The condition or quality of being contrary 2. -ties Anything that is contrary; inconsistency
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CONTRIVANCE
(n) 1. The use of skill to bring something about/create something
2. A thing that is created skillfully to serve a particular purpose
3. An elaborate scheme
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CONVALESCENCE
(n) Time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment; recuperation
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CROESUS
(n) a very rich man
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CUPIDITY
(n) Greed for money or possessions
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DASTARDLY
(adj) Mean, sneaky, cowardly, etc.
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DEPORTMENT
(n) The manner of conducting oneself; behaviour
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DERELICT
(adj) 1. Deserted by the owner; abandoned 2. Neglectful of duty; negligent
(n) 1. A property abandoned by the owner; esp. a ship deserted at sea 2. A destitute person with no home or job
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DESCRY
To catch a glimpse of; to discover
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DESICCATE
(vt) 1. To dry completely 2. To preserved (food) by drying
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DIMINUTION
(n) A diminishing or being diminished; lessening; decrease
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DIMINUTIVE
(adj) 1. Very small; tiny 2. (grammar) Expressing smallness or diminution (a diminutive suffix)
(n) 1. A very small person or thing
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DISPENSATION
(n) Exemption from a rule or usual requirement
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DOSS
(v) to sleep or lie down in any convenient place
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DURANCE
(n) Imprisonment or confinement
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EFFICACIOUS
(adj) producing or capable of producing the desired effect; effective
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EFFICACY
(n) Power to produce intended results; effectiveness
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EFFULGENCE
(n) A brightness taken to the extreme. You may be dazzled by it, stunned by it, or even overcome by it
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EMENDATION
The process of making a revision or correction to a text
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ENMITY
(n) The bitter attitude or feelings of an enemy or mutual enemies; hostility
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EVINCE
(vt) To show plainly; make manifest; esp., to show that one has a specific quality, feeling, etc.)
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EXECRABLE
(adj) Abominable; detestable
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EXECRATE
(vt) 1. To call down evil upon; curse 2. To denounce scathingly 3. To loathe; detest; abhor
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EXORDIUM
(n) 1. A beginning 2. The opening of a speech, treatise, etc.
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EXPATIATE
(v) Speak or write at length or in detail
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EXPOSTULATE
(vi) To reason with a person earnestly, objecting to his actions or intentions; remonstrate (with)
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EXULT
(v) To be very proud and happy. Exultant. Exultation.
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FECUND
(adj) Fruitful or fertile; productive fecundity
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FINITUDE
(n) The state or quality of being finite
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GAINSAY
(v) Deny or contradict (a fact or statement). Speak against or oppose (someone)
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IGNOMINY
(n) Shame and disgrace; dishonor
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IMPERTINENT
(adj) Not feeling shame or regret; not sorry what one has done
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IMPORTUNATE
(adj) Urgent or annoyingly persistent in asking or demanding
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IMPRACTICABLE
(adj) Impossible in practice to do or carry out
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IMPRECATION
(n) A spoken curse. The act of imprecating. Words may be imprecatory
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IMPUDENT
Marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others
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INCENDIARY
(adj) 1. Relating to the willful destruction of property by fire 2. Designed to cause fires, as certain bombs 3. Willfully stirring up strife, riot, etc
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INCIPIENT
(adj) Just beginning to exist or to come to notice
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INEXORABLE
(adj) 1. That cannot be influenced by entreaty; unrelenting 2. That cannot be altered, checked, etc. (inexorable fate)
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INDIGENT
Suffering from extreme poverty; impoverished
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INELUCTABLE
(adj) not to be avoided or escaped; inevitable
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INFERENTIAL
(adj) characterized by or involving conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning
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INSIPID
(adj) 1. Having no flavor; tasteless 2. Not interesting, dull; lifeless
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INSOUCIANT
(adj) Calm and unbothered; carefree; indifferent
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INURED
(v)(past tense) Accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant
“She became inured to his anger”
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INVETERATE
(adj) 1. Firmly established over a long period; deep-rooted 2. Settled in a habit, practice, prejudice, etc.; habitual
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IRASCIBLE
(adj) Easily made angry; quick tempered; irritable
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ITINERANT
(adj) Traveling from place to place or on a circuit
| (n) A person who travels from place to place
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LACONIC
(adj) Brief or terse in speech or expression; using few words
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LANGUID
(adj) 1. Without vigor or vitality; drooping; weak 2. Without interest or spirit; listless 3. Sluggish; slow
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LASSITUDE
(n) A state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy
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LEVITY
excessive or unseemly frivolity
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LOQUACITY
(n) The quality of talking a great deal
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MAXILLARY
(adj) Designating, of, or near the jaw or jawbone
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MENDACITY
Lie// The quality or state of being mendacious
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MERITORIOUS
(adj) Having merit; deserving reward, praise, etc.
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MIEN
(n) 1. A way of carrying and conducting oneself; matter 2. A way of looking; appearance
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MORDANT
(adj) 1. Biting; caustic 2. Corrosive 3. Acting as a mordant
(n) 1. A substance used in dyeing to fix the colors 2. An acid, etc. used in etching to bite lines, areas, etc. into the surface
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OBSEQUIOUS
(adj) Showing too great a willingness to serve or obey; fawning
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OBVIATE
To anticipate and prevent (something. such as a situation) or make (an action) unnecessary. The use of intelligence or forethought to ward off trouble.
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ODIOUS
(adj) Arousing or deserving hatred or loathing; disgusting
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OLIGOPOLY
(n) Control of a commodity or service by a few companies or suppliers
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ONEROUS
(adj) Burdensome; oppressive
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PALAVER
(n) 1. Talk; esp., idle chatter 2. Flattery; cajolery
(vi) 1. To talk, esp. Idly or flatteringly 2. To confer
(vt) To flatter or wheedle
96
PAROXYSM
(n) A sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity
97
PERDITION
(n) 1. Complete and irreparable loss; ruin 2. The loss of the soul; damnation
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PERSPICACIOUS
(adj) Having keen judgement or understanding; discerning
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PERTINACIOUS
(adj) 1. Holding firmly or stubbornly to some purpose, belief, or action 2. Hard to get rid of; persistent
100
PESTIFEROUS
(adj) Harboring infection and disease constituting a pest or nuisance; annoying
101
PETARD
(n) A metal cone filled with explosives: formerly fastened to walls and gates and exploded to force an opening
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PETULANT
(adj) Impatient or irritable, esp. over a petty annoyance; peevish
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POLYMATH
(n) A person of great and diversified learning
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PRECIPITATELY
(adv?) to hasten the occurrence of; bring about prematurely, hastily, or suddenly: to precipitate an international crisis. ... to cast, plunge, or send, especially violently or abruptly: He precipitated himself into the struggle.
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PRECIPITOUS
(adj) 1. Dangerously high or steep 2. (of an action) done suddenly and without careful consideration
106
PRESENTIMENT
(n) A feeling that something, esp. of an unfortunate nature, is about to take place; foreboding
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PRESCIENCE
Foreknowledge of events// divine omniscience// human anticipation of the course of events
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PROMULGATE
(v) Promote or make widely known (an idea or cause)
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PROPHYLACTIC
(adj) preventive or protective; especially preventing disease
(n) A prophylactic medicine, devise
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PROPITIATE
(vt) To win or regain the goodwill of; appease or conciliate
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PROPRIETY
(n) 1. The polite and correct way of behaving
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QUIESCENT
(adj) Quiet, still; inactive
113
RANKLE
(vi, vt) To cause or fill with long-lasting rancor, resentment
114
RECPOMPENSE
(v) Make amends to someone for loss or harm suffered; compensate
(n) Compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made
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RECRUDESCENCE
(n) The recurrence of an undesirable condition
116
REDOLENT
(adj) 1. Sweet smelling; fragrant 2. Suggestive
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REPROBATE
(n) Unprincipled person “He’s a reprobate, a scoundrel.”
(adj) Unprincipled “My reprobate old friend”
(v) Express or feel disapproval of “I reprobate my own transgressions upon reflection”
118
RETRENCHMENT
(n) The reduction of costs or spending in response to economic difficulty
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RIPOSTE
(n) A sharp swift retort
120
SACROSANCT
(adj) Very sacred, holy, or inviolable
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SAGACIOUS
(adj) Very wise or shrewd
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SAGACITY
(n) The quality or an instance of being sagacious
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SALIENT
(adj) 1. Leaping 2. Pointing outward; projecting 3. Standing out; noticeable; prominent
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SALUBRIOUS
(adj) Promoting health or welfare; healthful; wholesome, salutary, etc
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SANCTIMONIOUS
(adj) Pretending to be very pious; affecting sanctity or righteousness
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SANGUINE
(adj) 1. The color of blood; ruddy 2. Cheerful; confident; optimistic
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SCINTILLA
(n) 1. A spark 2. A tiny bit, a trace
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SCRUPULOUS
(adj) 1. Having or showing scruples; conscientiously honest 2. Demanding or using precision, care, and exactness
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SEDITION
(n) A stirring up of rebellion against the government
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SEDITIOUS
(adj) 1. Of, like, or constituting sedition 2. Stirring up rebellion
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SEDULOUS
(adj) Showing dedication and diligence
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SENTENTIOUS
(adj) 1. Expressing much in few words; short and pithy 2. Full of, or fond of using, maxims, proverbs, etc., esp. In a pompously trite or moralizing way
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SEQUESTER
(v) To hide, or keep away from others; withdraw; to seize or hold, as until a debt is paid
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SERAGLIO
(n) 1. The part of a Muslims household where his wives or concubines lieve; harem 2. The palace of a Turkish sultan
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SERE
(adj) Dried up; withered *seldom used except in poetry
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SHAMBOLIC
(adj) very disorganized; messy or confused
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SHRIFT
(n) Confession; especially to a priest
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SIBILANT
(adj) Having or making a hissing sound
| (n) A consonant characterized by a hissing sound
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SLAKE
(v) Quench or satisfy (one's thirst)
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SOLICITOUS
(adj) Characterized by or showing interest or concern
| (n) Solicitude: Care/concern for something or someone
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SUBTERFUGE
(n) Any plan, action, etc. used to hide one’s true objective, evade a difficult situation, etc.
142
SUFFUSE
(vt) To overspread so as to fill with a glow, color, fluid, etc.: said of light, a blush, air,
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SUPPLICATE
(v) Ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly
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SUSPIRATION
(n) The act of sighing, or fetching a long and deep breath
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SYCOPHANT
(n) A person who weeks favor by flattering people of wealth or influence; toady
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TACIT
(adj) Understood or implied without being stated
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TACITURN
(adj) Almost always silent; not liking to talk
148
TEMERITY
(n) Foolish or reckless boldness; rashness
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TIMOROUS
(adj) 1. Full of or subject to fear; timid 2. Showing or caused by timidity
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TREPIDATION
(n) 1. Tremulous or trembling movement 2. To tremble 3. Fearful uncertainty or anxiety
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TUMESCENCE
(n) 1. A swelling; distention 2. A swollen or distended part
(adj) Tumescent ego
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UNCTUOUS
(adj) Excessively smooth, suave, or smug
153
VERACITY
(n) 1. Habitual truthfulness; honesty 2. Accordance with truth; accuracy of statement 3. Accuracy or precision, as of perception 4. That which is true; truth
154
VERITABLE
(adj) being such in truth or fact; actual
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VICISSITUDE
(n) A change of circumstance or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
156
VIRULENT
(adj) 1. a. Extremely poisonous or injurious; deadly b. Bitterly spiteful; full of hate and enmity
157
VITIATE
(vt) 1. To make imperfect or faulty; spoil 2. To weaken morally; debase 3. To make legally ineffective
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VOLUBLE
(adj) Characterized by ready or rapid speech
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IMPENITENT
(adj) Not feeling shame or regret; not sorry for what one has done
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ITINERANT
Traveling from place to place
