Midterm Flashcards
Taut
Pulled or drawn tight
Fulcrum
The pivot about which a lever turns
Hiatus
An interruption in the intensity or amount of something
Recrimination
Mutual accusations
Strident
Unpleasantly loud and harsh
Incantation
A ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a magical effect
Flaunt
Display proudly, act pretentiously
Impalpable
Not perceptible to the touch
Parody
A composition that imitates or misinterprets somebody’s style, usually in a humorous way
Immure
Lock up or confine, in or as in a jail
Inarticulate
Without or deprived of the use of speech or words
Leviathan
The largest or most massive thing of its kind (sea monster)
Furtive
Secret and sly
Officious
Intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
Symbolism
The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships
Swathe
Wrap in swaddling clothes
Motif
A unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic work
Sinewy
Consisting of tendons or resembling a tendon
Inscrutable
Of an obscure nature
Frond
Compound lead of a fern or palm tree
Vicissitude
A change in circumstances or fortune at different times in life or in the development of something
Incredulity
Doubt about the truth of something
Gesticulate
Show, express or direct through movement (esp. with the hands)
Vagrant
A wanderer who has no established residence or visible means of support
