Essential words Flashcards
(333 cards)
1
Q
solvent
A
adj. able to meet financial obligations
2
Q
sordid
A
filthy; contemptible and corrupt
3
Q
spendthrift
A
person who spends money recklessly
4
Q
squalor
A
filthy; wretched condition”The family lives in squalor in the slums.”
5
Q
stanch
A
to stop or check the flow of”… to stanch the flow of money out of the country.”
6
Q
stentorian
A
extremely loud”The stentorian speaker prefers not to use a microphone…”
7
Q
stint
A
v. to be sparing”Stinting on funding for education strikes many people as shortsighted.n. a period of time spent doing something”…did a short stint in the army”
8
Q
stratified
A
adj. arranged in layersn. stratum (layers)stratification: hierarchical arrangement of individuals in a society into classes
9
Q
stricture
A
something that restrains; negative criticism”…a set of ethical strictures in their practice of the law.”
10
Q
strident
A
loud; harsh”Call for the prime minister’s resignation became more strident after it was discovered that he had strong connections to organised crime.”
11
Q
strut
A
to swagger; display to impress others
12
Q
stultify
A
to impair or reduce to uselessness”…overreliance on rote learning stultifies students’ creativity.”
13
Q
stupefy
A
to dull the senses of; stun; astonish
14
Q
stygian
A
dark and gloomy; hellish
15
Q
subpoena
A
n. notice ordering someone to appear in court
16
Q
subside
A
to settle down; grow quiet”… to wait for the violence to subside”
17
Q
substantive
A
essential; pertaining to the substance”… should present evidence that was substantive to the case.”
18
Q
subversive
A
intended to undermine or overthrow, e.g. a governmentv. subvert
19
Q
succor
A
relief; help in time of distress or want”The woman was accused of providing succour to the enemy in the form of food and medical help.”
20
Q
sundry
A
various”…safely returns after his sundry adventures.”
21
Q
supine
A
lying on the back; marked by lethargy”… the suspects were held supine on the floor.”
22
Q
supplant
A
to replace; substitute
23
Q
suppliant
A
beseeching”The worshippers raised their suppliant voices to god”
24
Q
supplicant
A
one who asks humbly and earnestly”…appeared as a supplicant before the governor.”
25
syllogism
a form of deductive reasoning that has a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion
26
sylvan
related to the woods or forest
27
talisman
charm to bring good luck and avert misfortune
28
tenet
belief; doctrine"... based on the tenets of a behavioural psychology .."
29
theocracy
government by priests representing a god
30
thespian
actor/ actress
31
timbre
the characteristic quality of sound produced by an instrument or voice
32
toady
flatterer; yes-man
33
tome
book, usually large and academic
34
torque
twisting force
35
tout
to promote or praise energetically"The critic touted Moby Dick..."
36
travail
work, esp arduous work; tribulation; anguish
37
travesty
parody; exaggerated imitation; caricature
38
treatise
article treating a subject systematically and thoroughly"The thesis of the philosopher's treatise is..."
39
tremulous
trembling; frugal; timid
40
trepidation
fear and anxiety
41
tryst
agreement between lovers to meet; rendezvous
42
tumid
swollen; distended"The prose of writers can sometimes becomes tumid."
43
turbid
muddy; opaque; in a state of confusion
44
tutelary
serving as a guardian or protector"Tutelary spirits"
45
uncanny
strange
46
undulating
moving in waves"The undulating terrain of the area has made it difficult for engineers to build roads there."
47
unfeigned
not false; genuine
48
untoward
not favorable; troublesome adverse; unruly"Police investigated whether anything untoward had happened to the missing man."
49
usury
practice of lending money at exorbitant rates... the state's usury laws.""usurious"
50
turgid
swollen; pompous
51
valedictory
pertaining to a farewell"The retiring actor gave a valedictory performance."
52
vaunt
to boast; brag
53
venal
bribable; mercenary; corruptible
54
vertigo
dizziness
55
vexation
irritation; annoyance; confusion; puzzlement
56
vindictive
spiteful; vengeful; unforgiving"The Treaty of Versailles was deliberately vindictive, imposing tremendous penalties on Germany."
57
visage
countenance; appearance aspect"The infant studied its mother's visage intently."
58
vivisection
dissection; surgery; experiments on living animal for scientific research ... used in animal rights context
59
vogue
prevailing fashion or practice
60
warranted
justified
61
wary
careful; cautious
62
welter
to wallow or roll; be in turmoil"The pigs weltered about happily in the mud."
63
wistful
vaguely longing; sadly thoughtful
64
simian
apelike
65
sinecure
well-playing job or office that requires little or no work
66
sinuous
winding; intricate; complex"...sinuous line of reasoning."
67
sobriety
seriousness
68
sodden
thoroughly soaked; saturated
69
sedition
behaviour prompting rebellion"... an act of sedition"
70
sedulous
diligent
71
seismic
relating to earthquakes; earthshaking"The study of seismic waves..."
72
servile
submissive; obedient"None of the dictator's servile citizens dared question his decree."
73
sextant
navigation tool that determines latitude and longitude
74
shard
a piece of broken glass or pottery
75
sidereal
relating to the stars
76
sardonic
cynical; scornfully mocking"Nature that is too sardonic often loses its effectiveness."
77
saturnine
gloomy"... the mood in the room was saturnine."
78
satyr
half-man half-beast with horns etc.
79
savor
to enjoy
80
reverent
expressing deep respect; worshipfulv. revere
81
riposte
a retaliatory action or retort
82
rococo
excessively ornate; highly decorated, a form of architecture"... the Rococo period/ style"
83
rubric
title or heading; category; protocol".. to design a new rubric to organise it."
84
rue
respect"... to rue his decision to commit the crime."
85
ruse
trick; crafty stratagem
86
salacious
lascivious; lustful"... the book is too salacious to be in the school library."
87
reparation
amends; compensation"... pay full reparation to the family hurt by his crime."
88
repine
fret; complain
89
reprise
repetition; esp of a music
90
reproach
to find fault with; blame
91
presage
to foretell; indicate in advance
92
preternatural
beyond the normal course of nature; supernatural
93
primordial
original; existing from the beginning"...a primordial monotheism"
94
provident
providing for future needs; frugal
95
puissant
powerful
96
punctilious
careful in observing rules of behaviour or ceremony"...must be punctilious in following protocol"
97
purport
to profess; suppose; claim"...nearly everyone purports to believe in God"
98
pusillanimous
cowardly
99
quagmire
marsh; difficult situation
100
quail
to cower; lose heart"The defendant quailed when the judge entered the room to announce the sentence."
101
qualm
sudden feeling of faintness or nausea
102
quibble
to argue over insignificant and irrelevant details
103
raconteur
witty; skillful storyteller
104
rail
to scold with bitter or abusive language"The critic railed against..."
105
raiment
clothing
106
ramification
implication; outgrowth; consequence
107
rebus
puzzle in which pictures or symbols represent words"Egyptian writing uses the principle of the rebus."
108
recluse
person who lives in seclusion and often in solitude
109
redoubtable
formidable; arousing fear; worthy of respect"...a redoubtable attorney."
110
refulgent
brightly shining; resplendent"...a large, refulgent diamond"
111
regale
to entertain"...often regaled visitors with amusing political anecdotes."
112
remonstrate
to object or protest"...the committee remonstrated with the majority members."
113
renege
to go back on one's word
114
pallid
lacking colour or liveliness
115
panegyric
elaborate praise; formal hymn of praise"Many panegyrics were written to Lincoln "
116
patois
a regional dialect; jargon
117
peregrination
a wandering from place to place"...his peregrinations took him all over India."
118
peremptory
imperative; leaving no notice"...in a peremptory tone"
119
perennial
present throughout the years; persistent
120
perigee
point in an orbit that is closest to the Earth
121
petulant
rude; peevish"the petulant child"
122
physiognomy
facial features
123
piquant
appealing stimulating; pleasantly pungent; attractive"...the piquant barbecue sauce"
124
placid
calm
125
plaintive
melancholy; mournful
126
plumb
to determine the depth; to examine deeply"...plumbs the depths of despair"
127
plutocracy
a society ruled by the wealthy
128
poseur
person who affects an attitude or identity to impress others
129
prate
to talk idly; chatter
130
prattle
meaningless; foolish talk
131
preamble
preliminary statement (noun)
132
precept
principle; law
133
preempt
to supersede appropriate for oneself
134
prehensile
capable of grasping"...animals with prehensile tails"
135
fracas
a loud quarrel; brawl
136
fresco
a painting done on plaster
137
frieze
ornamental band on a wall
138
froward
stubbornly contrary; obstinately disobedient
139
fulsome
so excessive as to be disgusting
"...embarrassed by the fulsome praise"
140
gambol
to frolic; leap playfully
"The children gambled on the lawn..."
141
gauche
coarse; clumsy
142
geniality
cheerfulness; kindliness
143
gerrymander
to divide an area into voting districts in a way that favours a political party
144
goad
to prod; urge on
"Goaded by his friends into trying out for the football team..."
145
gossamer
sheer; light and delicate
146
gouge
to tear out; scoop out
147
grouse
to complain
"stop grousing about the policy"
148
guise
outward appearance; pretense
149
gustatory
affecting the sense of taste
150
halcyon
calm and peaceful; happy
151
hallowed
holy; sacred
152
harrowing
extremely distressing; terrifying
153
hermetic
tightly sealed; magical
154
hieroglyphics
a system of writing in which pictorial symbols represent meaning or sounds
155
hirsute
covered with hair
156
imbroglio
complicated situation; an entanglement
157
impecunious
poor; having no money
"...an impecunious students..."
158
impede
to hinder; block
159
exact
verb: to force the payment of; demand
160
exhort
to urge by strong appeals
161
exorcise
to expel evil spirits
162
expatiate
to speak or write at length
"...a speaker to expatiate on the art of writing"
163
expatriate
to send into exile
164
expiate
to atone for
165
explicate
to explain; interpret; clarify
166
expository
explanatory
167
extemporaneous
unrehearsed
"....the speaker's extemporaneous remarks..."
168
extirpate
to root up; to destroy
"...extirpate corruption in the state"
169
factotum
a person who does all sorts of work; a handyman
170
fallow
slowed but not sowed; uncultivated
"... a fallow field..."
171
fauna
animals of a period or region
172
fawning
seeking favour by flattering
"...fawning employees."
173
feral
existing in a wild or untamed state
"Feral dogs..."
174
fetid
having a bad smell
175
fetter
to bind; combine
"..fetter his natural instincts and spirit"
176
fiat
arbitrary order; authorisation
177
filibuster
use of obstructive tactics in a legislature to block passage of a law
178
finesse
to handle with a deceptive or evasive strategy
"...the problem can be finessed by..."
179
fissure
crevice
"...the width of the fissure"
180
flag
to droop; grow weak
181
flora
plants of a region or era
182
florid
ruddy; reddish; flowery
183
flout
to treat scornfully
184
forbearance
patience
185
formidable
menacing; threatening
186
forswear
renounce; repudiate
187
founder
to sink; fail; collapse
188
ethnocentric
based on the attitude that one's group is superior
189
etiology
causes or origins
190
etymology
origin and history of a word
191
eulogy
high praise
192
euphoria
a feeling of extreme happiness
193
evince
to show plainly; be an indication of
"The student's response to the question evinced his ignorance of the subject."
194
evocative
tending to call to mind or produce a reaction
195
epistemology
branch of philosophy that examines the nature of knowledge
196
equable
steady; unvarying; serene
"Throughout the crisis he remained equable."
197
errant
mistaken; straying form the proper course
198
essay
to make an attempt; subject to a test
"He began to work on a music form that he had not previously essayed."
199
estimable
admirable; possible to estimate
200
emollient
soothing; mollifying
201
encomium
a formal expression of praise
202
engender
to cause; produce
"...traumatic events of infancy often engender person that creates neuroses."
203
entomology
study of insects
204
enunciate
to pronounce clearly
205
elixir
a substance believed to have the power to cure ills
206
Elysian
blissful; delightful (in Greek/ Roman mythology, refers to an otherworld where spirits of the virtuous and heroic dwell)
207
emaciated
thin and wasted
"The prisoner was emaciated..."
208
doggerel
poor verse
209
dross
waste; worthless matter; trivial matter
210
dupe
to deceive; trick
"The mind is always duped by the heart."
211
effervescence
state of high spirits or liveliness; the process of bubbling as gas escapes
212
dissident
person who disagrees about beliefs
213
distend
to expand; swell out
"People in an advanced stage of starvation often have distended bellies."
214
distrait
inattentive; preoccupied
215
divest
to strip; deprive; rid
216
divulge
to make known something that is secret
"...forced to divulge information"
217
discretion
quality of showing self-restraint in speech or actions; circumspection; freedom to act on one's own
218
disjointed
lacking order or coherence; dislocated
219
discomfit
to make uneasy; disconcert
220
digression
act of straying from the main point
221
dirge
funeral hymn
222
discerning
perceptive; exhibiting keen insight and good judgement
223
deride
to mock
224
desuetude
state of disuse
"...a program fallen into desuetude."
225
deterrent
something that discourages or hinders
226
detraction
the act of taking away
227
diaphanous
transparent; fine-textured; vague
"...diaphanous dreams of glory"
228
default
to fail to act
229
defunct
no longer existing
230
denizen
an inhabitant; a regular visitor
231
defame
to malign; harm someone's reputation
232
debauchery
corruption
233
dearth
scarcity
"...a dearth of resources"
234
credo
statement of belief or principle; creed
235
cozen
to mislead by trick or fraud; deceive
236
covetous
desiring something owned by another
"The astronomer is covetous of the time that ..."
237
convivial
sociable
238
copious
abundant; plentiful
239
coquette
woman who flirts
240
cornucopia
horn overflowing with fruit and grain; state of abundance
241
contumacious
disobedient; rebellious
242
contrite
very sorrowful for a wrong
"...he is contrite about his crime"
243
continence
self-control; abstention from sexual activity
244
contiguous
touching; neighbouring
245
contend
to assert
contention (n): assertion
246
conscript
person enrolled for military service
247
conjugal
pertaining to marriage agreement
248
congenial
similar in tastes and habits; friendly; suited to
249
condone
to overlook voluntarily; forgive
250
concoct
to invent
251
compunction
uneasiness caused by guilt
252
compliant
yielding
253
coalesce
cause to become one
254
codify
to systematize
255
cognizant
informed; conscious
256
clique
a small, exclusive group
257
clamor
noisy outcry
258
clairvoyant
one who can predict the future; psychic
259
circuitous
roundabout
260
churlish
rude; boorish
261
chasten
to correct by punishment
262
champion
to defend or support
263
centripetal
moving or directed toward a center
264
celestial
concerning the sky or heavens; sublime
265
caustic
sarcastically biting; burning
"The columnist's caustic comments..."
266
caucus
smaller group within an organization
267
cataclysm
a violent upheaval that causes great destruction and change
268
cantankerous
irritable; ill-humoured
269
captious
faultfinding; intended to entrap; as in an argument
270
cardinal
of foremost importance
271
carnal
of the flesh or body; related to physical appetites
272
carping
to find fault; complain
273
cartography
science of making maps
274
caste
any of the hereditary social classes of hindu society; social stratification
275
canon
an established principle
276
bucolic
characteristic of the countryside; rustic; pastoral
277
cadge
to beg; sponge
278
callous
thick-skinned; insensitive
279
calumny
false and malicious accusation; slander
280
canard
false; deliberately misleading story
281
blandishment
flattery
282
blase
bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned
283
bolster
to give a boost to; support
284
brazen
bold; shameless
285
broach
to mention for the first time
"...to broach the subject"
286
axiomatic
taken for granted
287
bacchanalian
pertaining to riotous or drunken festivity; pertaining to revelry
288
bard
poet
289
bawdy
obscene
290
beatify
to sanctify; to bless
291
bedizen
to dress in a vulgar, showy manner
292
behemoth
huge creature; anything very large and powerful
293
atavism
reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after absence; return of a trait
294
avarice
greed
295
avocation
secondary occupation
296
avuncular
like an uncle, benevolent and tolerant
297
argot
a specialized vocabulary used by a group
"...use the argot of criminals and detectives"
298
asperity
severity; harshness
299
assuage
to make less severe
300
astringent
harsh; severe
301
appellation
name
302
apposite
strikingly appropriate and relevant
303
apropos
relevant
"Apropos of nothing..."
304
arabesque
ornate design featuring intertwined curves
305
ardor
great emotion or passion
306
appease
to calm
307
apothegm
a terse, witty saying
308
apogee
the point in an orbit most distant from the body being orbited
309
antediluvian
prehistoric
"...knowlege of antediluvian times"
310
antecedent
something that comes before
311
anodyne
something that calms or soothes pain
312
ambrosia
something delicious
313
amenable
agreeable; cooperative; suited
314
amenity
something that increases comfort
315
amulet
ornament worn as a charm against evil spirits
316
analgesic
medication that reduces or eliminates pain
317
aggrandize
to make larger or greater
318
allay
to lessen; ease; soothe
319
allure
the power to entice by charm
320
affected
pretentious, phony
"...an unnatural and affected speech"
321
adulterate
to corrupt or make impure
322
abysmal
very bad
323
accretion
growth in size or increase in amount
324
accrue
to accumulate; grow by additions
"...to enjoy the advantages accruing from greater monopolies"
325
adjunct
something added; attached
326
admonish
to caution or reprimand
327
abstinence
the giving up of certain pleasures
328
abscond
to depart secretly
"... to have absconded with 3 million dollars"
329
abscission
the act of cutting; the natural separation of a leaf or other part of a plant
330
abjure
to reject; abandon formally
"...to abjure the use of violence to settle disputes"
331
abject
miserable; pitiful
332
abdicate
to give up a position, right, or power
"...to abdicate the throne after 10 years"
333
abate
to decrease; reduce
