Hamilton Flashcards
(136 cards)
1
Q
Acerbic
A
Sharp and forthright
2
Q
Acrimiony
A
n. - bitterness or ill feeling (e.g., a quagmire of lawsuits, acrimony and finger-pointing)
3
Q
Aegis
A
n. - the protection, backing or support of a particular person or organization (e.g., negotiations were conducted under the aegis of the UN)
4
Q
Anathema
A
n. - something or someone that one vehemently dislikes (e.g., racial hatred was anathema to her)
5
Q
Anathematize
A
v. - curse; condemn (e.g., she anathematized Tom as the despoiler of a helpless widow)
6
Q
Anglophile
A
n. - a person who is fond of or greatly admires England or Britain.
7
Q
Aphorisms
A
n. - a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
8
Q
Apoplectic [ap e plek tik]
A
adj. - overcome with anger; extremely indignant (e.g., Mark was apoplectic with rage a the decision)
9
Q
Apropos
A
With reference to; concerning (e.g., she remarked apropos of the initiative, “It’s not going to stop the abuse.”)
10
Q
Aquiline
A
Like an eagle; (of a person’s nose) hooked or curved like an eagle’s beak.
11
Q
Arcane
A
adj. - understood by few; mysterious or secret (e.g., modern math and its arcane notation)
12
Q
Ardent
A
Enthusiastic or passionate
13
Q
Arrogate
A
Take or claim something for oneself without justification.
14
Q
Avaricious [ave rishes]
A
adj. - having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain (e.g., a corrupt and avaricious government)
15
Q
Blithe
A
adj. - showing a casual and cheerful indiffernece considered to be callous or improper. (e.g., a blithe disregard for the rules of the road.)
16
Q
Brimstone
A
Sulpher
17
Q
Cabal
A
A secret political clique or faction
18
Q
Calumny
A
The making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone’s reputation; slander.
19
Q
Calumny [kalemne]
A
n. - the making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone’s reputation; slander
20
Q
Captious
A
Tending to find fault or raise petty objections
21
Q
Choleric
A
adj. - bad-tempered or irritable.
22
Q
Compendium
A
A collection of concise but detailed information abuot a particular subject, esp. in a book or other publication.
23
Q
Congenital
A
adj. - (esp. of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth; having a particular trait from birth OR FIRMLY ESTABLISHED HABIT (e.g., a congenital liar)
24
Q
Contretemps
A
An unexpected and unfortunate occurrence OR a minor dispute or disagreement.
25
Coterie
A small group of people with shared interests or tastes, especially one that is exclusive of other people.
26
Coup
n. - a sudden, violent and illegal seizure of power from a government.
27
Credulity
n. - a tendency to be too ready to believe that something is true.
28
Debauchee [di bo che]
n. - a person given to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.
29
Denouement
The final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
30
Depredation
An act of attacking or plundering (e.g., protecting grain from the depredations of rats and mice)
31
Despot
I ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically in a cruel or oppressive way.
32
Dilate
1) make or become wider, larger or more open. 2) speak or write at length on (a subject)
33
Dilatory
1) Slow to act (e.g., He had been dilatory in appointing a successor.) 2) Intended to cause delay (e.g., They resorted to dilatory procedural tactics.)
34
Dissolute
Lax in morals; licentious. (e.g., a dissolute, drunken, disreputable rogue.)
35
Dudgeon
A feeling of offense or deep resentment (e.g., the manager walked out in high dudgeon.)
36
Epigram
n. - a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way. Special usage: a short poem, esp. a satirical one, having a witty or ingenious ending.
37
Erstwhile
Former (seriously)
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Erudite
Having or showing great knowledge or learning.
39
Execrable
Extremely bad or unpleasant
40
Execrate
Feel or express great loathing for (e.g., they were execrated as dangerous and corrupt)
41
Facile
1) (Esp. of a theory or arguement) appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial.
2) (of a person) having a superficial or simplistic knowledge or approach.
42
Fiat
n. - a formal authorization or proposition; a decree (e.g., adopting a legislative review program, rather than trying to regulate by fiat.)
43
Foible
A minor weakness or eccentricity in someone's character.
44
Foment
v. - instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action) (e.g., they accused him of fomenting political unrest)
45
Fulminate
Express vehement protest
46
Furtive
Attempting to avoid notice or attention, typically because of guilt or a belief that discovery would lead to trouble; secretive. (e.g., he stole a furtive glance at her.)
47
Gaucheness
adj. - lacking ease or grace; unsophisticated and socially awkward
48
Imbroglio
An extremely confused, complicated or embarrassing situation.
49
Imperious
adj. - assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering (e.g., his imperious demands)
50
Implacable
adj. - unable to be placated (e.g., he was an implacable enemy of Ted's)
51
Impugn
Dispute the truth, validity or honesty of (a statement or motive); call into question.
52
Inchoate (in ko it)
Just begun and so not fully formed or developed; rudimentary
53
Incorrigible
(of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed.
54
Infamy
adj. - well known for some bad quality or deed (e.g., an infamous war criminal)
55
Insidious
1) proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects (e.g., sexually transmitted diseases can be insidious and sometimes without symptoms); 2) SPECIAL USE: treacherous; crafty (e.g., tangible proof of an insidious alliance)
56
Internecine
Destructive to both sides in a conflict.
57
Interstice
An intervening space, esp. a very small one. (e.g., sunshine filtered through the interstices of the arching trees.)
58
Intrepid
Fearless; adventurous
59
Inveigh
Speak or write about something with great hostility
60
Inveterate
Having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long established and unlikely to change.
61
Invidious
adj. - (of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others (e.g., she'd put herself in an invidious position)
62
Laconic
(of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words.
63
Lascivious
adj. - (of a person, manner or gesture) feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire (e.g., he gave her a lascivious wink.)
64
Libertine
A person, especially a man, who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility, especially in sexual matters.
65
Lineament
n. - a distinctive feature or characteristic, esp. of the face.
66
Magnanimous
Very generous or forgiving, esp. toward a rival or someone less powerful than oneself.
67
Mercurial
adj. - (of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind (e.g., his mercurial temperament)
68
Mollify
v. - appease the anger or anxiety of someone (e.g., nature reserves were set up around the power stations to mollify local conservationists)
69
Mordant
Having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting. (esp. of humor)
70
Obstinate
Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chose course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.
71
Oracular
adj. - of or relating to an oracle. Of an utterance, advice, etc., hard to interpret; enigmatic.
72
Ostentation
n. - Pretentious and vulgar display, esp. of wealth and luxury, intended to impress or attract notice. (e.g., the office was spacious, but without a trace of ostentation.)
73
Pariah
An outcast (e.g., they were treated as social pariahs.)
74
Paroxysm
A sudden attack or violent expression of a particular emotion or activity.
75
Pathos
n. - a quality that evokes pity or sadness (e.g., the actor injects his customary humor and pathos into the role)
76
Patrician
An aristocrat or nobleman; a member of a long-established wealthy family.
77
Perfidy
n. - deceitfulness, untrustworthiness
78
Petulant
Childishly sulky or bad tempered
79
Phlegmatic
(of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.
80
Piquant
1) Having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor.
| 2) Pleasantly stimulating or exciting to the mind.
81
Polemic
A strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
82
Prescient
Having or showing knowledge of events before thy take place
83
Probity
The quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency
84
Prodigious
adj. - remarkably or impressively great in extent, size or degree. (e.g., the stove consumed a prodigious amount of fuel.)
85
Profligate
Recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources
86
Profligate
adj. - recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources (e.g., profligate consumers of energy)
87
Prolix
adj. - (of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy. (he found the narrative too prolix and discursive.)
88
Promulgate
v. - promote or make widely known (an idea or cause) (e.g., these objectives have to be promulgated within the organization)
89
Protean
Tending or able to change frequently or easily
90
Pugnacioius
adj. - eager or quick to argue, quarrel or fight (e.g., the increasingly pugnacious demeanor of politicians)
91
Pugnacious
Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight
92
Punctilious [pengk tile e es]
adj. - showing great attention to detail or correct behavior (e.g., he was punctilious in providing every amenity for his guests)
93
Purloin
Steal (something)
94
Reprobate
An unprincipled person (often used humorously or affectionately)
95
Retinue (retn yoo)
A group of advisors, assistants or others accompanying an important person.
96
Sanguinary
adj. - involving or causing too much bloodshed (as in the French Revolution)
97
Sanguinary
involving or causing much bloodshed
98
Sardonic
grimly mocking or cynical (e.g., Starkey attempted a sardonic smile.)
99
Scullduggery
Dishonorable proceedings; mean dishonesty or trickery
100
Sedition
n. - conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
101
Sedulous
Showing dedication and diligence
102
Sinecure
n. - a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit.
103
Solicitude
Care or concern for someone or something. (e.g., I was touched by his solicitude.)
104
Specious
adj. - superficially plausible, but actually wrong (e.g., a specious argument)
105
Splenetic
Bad-tempered, spiteful
106
Spurious
Not being what it purports to be; false or fake
107
Sublime (se blim)
Of such excellence, grandeur or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
108
Sycophant
A person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer.
109
Tableau
A group of models or motionless figures representing a scene from a story or from history.
110
Temerity [te merite]
n. - excessive confidence or boldness; audacity (e.g., no one had the temerity to question his conclusions)
111
Truculent
Eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant. (e.g., his days of truculent defiance were over.)
112
Tumescent
adj. - swollen or becoming swollen, esp. as a response to sexual arousal; pompous or pretentious
113
Tutelary
adj. - serving as a protector, guardian or patron (e.g., the tutelary spirits of this region)
114
Unprepossessing
adj. - not particularly attractive or appealing to the eye. (e.g., Despite his unprepossessing appearance he had an animal magnetism)
115
Urbanity
n. - suavity, courteousness and refinement of manner; urban life
116
Venal
Showing or motivated by susceptibility to bribery
117
Venerable
Accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character. (e.g., Ben Franklin)
118
Veracity
Conformity to facts; accuracy (e.g., officials expressed doubts concerning the veracity of the story.)
119
Veritable
adj. - used an an intensifier, often to qualify a metaphor (e.g., the early 1970s witnessed a veritable price explosion)
120
Vicissitudes
A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or pleasant. (e.g., her husband's sharp vicissitudes of fortune.)
121
Virulent
Extremely severe or harmful in its effects
122
Voluble
Speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently.
123
Voluptuary
A person devoted to luxury and sensual pleasure.
124
Vouchsafed
(Often to be vouchsafed) give or grant (something) to (someone) in a gracious or condescending manner
125
Plenary [ple na re]
adj. - unqualified; absolute
126
Drolly
adj. - curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement (e.g., his unique brand of droll self-mockery)
127
Idiosyncratic [id i o syn crat ic]
adj. - of or relating to idiosyncrasy; peculiar or individual (e.g., she emerged as one of the great idiosyncratic talents of the 90s)
128
Sangfroid [sang frwa OR sang froid]
n. - composure or coolness, sometimes excessive, as shown in danger or under trying circumstances
129
Dubious
adj. - hesitating or doubting (e.g., Alex looked dubious, but complied) OR not to be relied upon; suspect (e.g., extremely dubious assumptions)
130
Bilious
adj. - affected by or associated with nausea or vomiting OR of a color, lurid or sickly
131
Desultory [des ul to ry]
adj. - lacking a plan, purpose or enthusiasm (e.g., a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion)
132
Rapacious
adj. - aggressively greedy or grasping (e.g., rapacious landlords)
133
Churlish
adj. - rude in a mean-spirited and surly way (e.g., it seems churlish to complain)
134
Impudent
adj. - not showing due respect for another person; impertinent (e.g., he could have strangled this impudent upstart)
135
Vehement
adj. - showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate or intense (e.g., her voice was low but vehement; vehement criticism)
136
Caustically
adj. - able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action (e.g., a caustic cleaner) OR sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way (e.g., the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing)
