Lesson 04 Flashcards
(15 cards)
celibate
(noun) unmarried
(adj. ) abstaining from sex
Priests that are celibates.
In that religion, the priests take vows to remain impoverished and celibate.
censure
(verb) to criticize sharply
Congress voted to censure the young congressman because of his unethical behavior.
syn: blame, condemn, reproach
ant: praise, applaud
cessation
(noun) a stopping; a discontinuance
Although there was a cessation in the hostilities, no one doubted that the battle would resume the next day.
syn: a pause, a ceasing
ant: a beginning, a commencement
chaff
(noun) worthless matter
“Give me just the facts,” the professor said. “Separate the wheat from the chaff.”
chagrin
(noun) embarrassment; a complete loss of courage
Joanne had never felt such chagrin as the time when she fell into the mud puddle in front of her fiancée’s family.
chimerical
(adj.) imaginary; fantastic
Although they laughed at his plans and called them chimerical, later events proved him to be a visionary.
syn: absurd, illusionary
ant: practical
coalesce
(verb) to blend, to merge
The anti-war group was made up of such different personalities that it took months before they could coalesce into a group that had some power.
syn: mix, unite, combine
ant: separate, divide
debacle
(noun) a complete failure; a total collapse
After reading the reviews, the actors knew the play was a debacle and would close in one night.
syn: a sudden disaster
ant: success, triumph
debauchery
(noun) corruption; self-indulgence
He lived a life sunk in sin and debauchery.
syn: excess, dissipation
deference
(noun) respect; consideration
In deference to the young widow, we moved quietly aside and allowed her to leave first.
syn: regard, honor
ant: contempt
defile
(verb) to pollute, to corrupt
The oil spill was of concern to the populace because it was bound to defile the streams and rivers for miles around.
deign
(verb) to lower oneself before an inferior
“After what she did to me, I would not deign to say hello to her,” Mary said to Joe about her former best friend.
syn: stoop, condescend
delineate
(verb) to describe, to depict
The politician went on to delineate his proposal on disarmament in greater detail.
demeanor
(noun) behavior; manner of conducting oneself
Believe me, his shy demeanor is just an act; he is really quite wild.
syn: deportment
denouement
(noun) an outcome, result
Hazel prided herself on being able to solve mysteries; but the story she was reading was elusive, and the denouement didn’t come until the final page.
syn: conclusion
