general words and phrases Flashcards
(135 cards)
1
Q
define salient
A
MOST important
2
Q
define ostentatious
A
pretentious
3
Q
define appraise
A
set the value of or quality of something
4
Q
define insidious
A
something unpleasant that develops gradually w/o notice
5
Q
define unequivocal
A
no doubt
6
Q
define corollary
A
proposition
7
Q
define incontrovertible
A
indisputable
8
Q
define ostensibly
A
seemingly
9
Q
define penchant
A
a strong likeness to something
10
Q
define elicit
A
bring out/obtain
11
Q
define raison d’être
A
the reason for the existence of presence of something
12
Q
define objet d’art
A
ornamental work of art
13
Q
define pièce de résistance
A
the most important or remarkable feature
14
Q
define chic
A
to be stylish and elegant
15
Q
define idyllic
A
picturesque, perfect
16
Q
define panacea
A
a universal cure, cure-all
17
Q
define inconceivable
A
unbelievable
18
Q
define irrevocably
A
irreversibly
19
Q
define inadvertently
A
accidentally
20
Q
forlornly
A
regretfully, hopelessly (emotion or situation)
21
Q
define extortionate
A
way too high of a price, exorbitant
22
Q
define axiomatic
A
unquestionable
23
Q
define confluence
A
merging
24
Q
define zeitgeist
A
the general set of beliefs, ideas and moral values typical of a certain historical era
25
define denigration
the action of unfairly criticizing someone or something
26
define indubitably
absolutely, certainly
27
define pragmatic
practical and realistic
28
define ardent (supporter)
devoted
29
define (this argument) holds water
still reasonable, valid and sound
30
define prosaic
ordinary, commonplace
31
define litmus tests
a decisively indicative test
32
define efficacy
effectiveness to produce a desired result
33
define relinquish (something)
to voluntarily give up
34
define engender
to cause/give rise to
35
define multifarious
many and diverse types
36
define takes a backseat
to become secondary or less important
37
define verbatim
word for word
38
define befitting
appropriate, suitable
39
define callous
heartless, showing a cruel disregard for others
40
define espouse
adopt or support a view
41
define harbingers
someone or something that signals something is to come
42
define emblematize
to represent an idea or concept (almost like 象征)
43
define phantasmagorical
something that seems out of a dream, strange yet wonderful
44
define bereft
deprived/lack of
45
define vapid
insipid, bland
46
define posit
to propose an argument
47
define burgeoning
growing rapidly
48
define modicum (of veracity)
a little bit of truth
49
define ipso facto
because of (an earlier) fact
50
define amalgamation
combination
51
define halcyon
denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful. (adj)
52
define resplendent
bright, attractive and impressive in appearance
53
define serendipitous
coincidental, lucky
54
define scrupulous
very attentive to detail
55
define pedantic
very attentive to detail
56
define fastidious
attentive to detail
57
define stentorian
loud and powerful (voice)
58
define litany
a tedious repetition of sth
59
define iniquitous
grossly unfair and morally wrong
60
define propensity
tendency to do sth
61
define trepidation
a feeling of fear or anxiety
62
define ad nauseum
so exceesively (discussed), that it makes one sick of it
63
define cognizant
to have awareness or knowledge of something
64
define insinuate
imply in an unpleasant manner
65
define portend
foreshadows
66
define impecunious
financially poor
67
define renege
go back on a promise or honor
68
define bucolic
rustic/rural
69
define esoteric
obscure, only understood by a small amount of people, abstruse
70
define vindictive
vengeful
71
define ad hominem
criticism/attacks against another person rather than what they say in an argument
72
define hegemony
absolute instituional and ideological control of a state by one particular organization/party
73
define illiberalism
undemocratic practices done in a seemingly democratic state (e.g. having elections but curtailing civil rights)
74
define aleatory (adj.)
random, spontaneous
75
define adulatory (adj.)
adulation (n.)
excessive flattery or admiration
76
define ameliorate
to improve and make something bad better
77
define geriatric
an old person
78
define opulence
great luxury and lavishness
79
define elucubrate
to burn the midnight oil
80
define supposition
a belief without proof / an assumption
81
define troglodyte
a hermit or an ancient cavedweller
82
define dispensation
exemption from a usual requirement/rule
83
define besotted (with)
infatuated with sth
84
define reprobate (n.)
a deprave, unprincipled person
85
define indefatigable
determined and untiring
86
define lypophrenia
sadness or sorrow from no particular source
87
define accismus
the pretended refusal of something one keenly desires
88
define superfluous
redundant, unncessary and extra
89
define asinine
extremely stupid or foolish
90
define fatuous
silly, not carefully thought out, or foolish
91
define incredulous
unbelievable
92
define pejorate
to make something worse/deteriorate
93
deifne hyponym
a word whose meaning is included in the meaning of another word
e.g. "horse" is a hyponym of "animal" (which is a hypernym)
94
define languish
to lose vitality, to weaken and rot
95
define tussle
a vigorous struggle to obtain or achieve sth.
96
define affront (can be used as a noun or verb)
an action or a remark that causes outrage or offense
97
define incongruous
out of place
98
define disputatious (adj.)
fond of arguing and disputing
99
define chthonic /tho-nik/
relating to the underworld/infernal
100
define quixotic
overly idealistic, impractical and unrealistic
101
define dearth
scarcity or lack of something
102
define perspicacity
perceptiveness
103
define ramifications
a complex or unwelcome consequence of an action or event.
104
define putative
commonly accepted or supposed
105
define acquiesce
accept something reluctantly, but without protest
106
define (at an) inflection point
a moment when significant change occurs or may occur
107
define mercurial
subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
108
define tacit
understood or implied without being stated.
109
define ascendant
rising in power or influence
110
define expediency
the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral
111
define inexorable
impossible to stop or to prevent
OR
(a person) impossible to persuade
112
define spectre
something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence. (threat)
113
define calumny
slander
114
define inscrutable
impossible to understand or interpret
115
define misanthropic
antisocial, unsociable
116
define ceteris paribus
if all other relevant things, factors, or elements remain unaltered
- commonly used in an economic context such as
"This will have the effect of raising the demand and, ceteris paribus, the price."
117
define undercurrent
an underlying feeling or influence contrary to the prevailing one, not expressed openly
118
define effectuate
to cause or bring about (something) : to put (something) into effect or operation (formal)
119
define inter alia
among other things
120
define enmesh
entangled in (literal)
involve someone in a difficult situation (caught in)
121
define quintessential
typical
122
define paradigm
a typical example or pattern of something (a model)
123
define elucidate
explain
124
define apocryphal
of doubtful authenticity but widely circulated as true
125
define propound
to put forward (an idea)
126
define paradigm shifts
fundamental changes in approach or underlying assumptions
127
define paragon
model of excellence
128
define panoply
an extensive or impressive range (collection)
129
define disparage (disparagement)
to belittle/to denigrate
130
define excoriate
criticizing someone severely
131
define insouciance (insouciant)
indifference
132
define truculent
eager or quick to argue/fight, aggressive
133
define recalcitrant
uncooperative, especially towards discipline
134
define obstinate
stubborn
135
define obstreperous
noisy and unruly, difficult to control
