New Words Flashcards
(110 cards)
1
Q
melange
A
a mixture; a medley:
a mélange of tender vegetables and herbs
2
Q
quotidian
A
of or occurring every day; daily:
the car sped noisily off through the quotidian traffic
**ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane: **
his story is an achingly human one, mired in quotidian details Medicine denoting the malignant form of malaria.
3
Q
rump
A
a small or unimportant remnant of something originally larger
once the profitable enterprises have been sold the unprofitable rump will be left
4
Q
sanguine
A
optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation:
he is sanguine about prospects for the global economy the committee takes a more sanguine view
5
Q
fob off
A
deceitfully attempt to satisfy someone by making excuses or giving them something inferior:
secretaries fob off most unwanted callers by saying their boss is in a meeting
**(fob something off on) give (someone) something inferior to or different from what they want: **
he fobbed off the chairmanship on Clifford
6
Q
apposite
A
apt in the circumstances or in relation to something:
an apposite quotation
7
Q
transcendental
A
of or relating to a spiritual or nonphysical realm:
the transcendental importance of each person’s soul (in Kantian philosophy) presupposed in and necessary to experience; a priori. relating to or denoting Transcendentalism.
8
Q
bifurcation
A
the division of something into two branches or parts:
the bifurcation of the profession into social do-gooders and self-serving iconoclasts either of two branches into which something divides: right aortic bifurcation nodes were seen
9
Q
Pangloss(ian)
A
noun a person who is optimistic regardless of the circumstances.
10
Q
staid
A
sedate, respectable, and unadventurous:
staid law firms
11
Q
adumbrate
A
[with object] formal report or represent in outline:
- James Madison adumbrated the necessity that the Senate be somewhat insulated from public passions indicate faintly:*
- the walls were not more than adumbrated by the meager light foreshadow or symbolize: what qualities in Christ are adumbrated by the vine?*
overshadow:
her happy reminiscences were adumbrated by consciousness of something else
12
Q
obfuscate
A
render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible:
- the spelling changes will deform some familiar words and obfuscate their etymological origins bewilder (someone):*
- i**t is more likely to obfuscate people than enlighten them*
13
Q
mendacious
A
adjective not telling the truth; lying:
mendacious propaganda
14
Q
specious
A
superficially plausible, but actually wrong:
- a specious argument misleading in appearance, especially misleadingly attractive:*
- the music trade gives Golden Oldies a specious appearance of novelty*
15
Q
milieu
A
a person’s social environment:
he grew up in a military milieu
16
Q
obtuse
A
annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand:
he wondered if the doctor was being deliberately obtuse difficult to understand: some of the lyrics are a bit obtuse
17
Q
eschew
A
deliberately avoid using; abstain from:
he appealed to the crowd to eschew violence
18
Q
compendium
A
a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, especially in a book or other publication. a collection of things, especially one systematically gathered: t
he program is a compendium of outtakes from our archives
19
Q
pluralism
A
**a condition or system in which two or more states, groups, principles, sources of authority, etc., coexist. a form of society in which the members of minority groups maintain their independent cultural traditions. **
20
Q
allay
A
diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry): the report attempted to educate the public and allay fears relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger):
some stale figs partly allayed our hunger
21
Q
disquiet
A
a feeling of anxiety or worry:
public disquiet about animal testing
verb [with object] (usually as adjective disquieted) make (someone) worried or anxious:
she felt disquieted at the lack of interest the girl had shown
22
Q
expositor
A
a person or thing that explains complicated ideas or theories:
a lucid expositor of difficult ideas
23
Q
replete
A
filled or well-supplied with something:
sensational popular fiction, replete with adultery and sudden death very full of or sated by food: I went out into the sun-drenched streets again, replete and relaxed
24
Q
judicious
A
having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense:
the efficient and judicious use of pesticides
25
travesty
**a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something:**
*the absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice*
26
ossify
**be stagnant or rigid:**
*ossified political institutions*
27
chimera
**a thing that is hoped or wished for but in fact is illusory or impossible to achieve:**
*the economic sovereignty you claim to defend is a chimera*
28
inculcate
**instill (an attitude, idea, or habit) by persistent instruction:**
*the failures of the churches to inculcate a sense of moral responsibility*
**teach (someone) an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction:**
*they will try to inculcate you with a respect for culture*
29
banal
**so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring:**
*songs with banal, repeated words*
30
conflate
**combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one:**
*the urban crisis conflates a number of different economic and social issues*
31
affine
**allowing for or preserving parallel relationships.**
32
rejoinder
**a reply, especially a sharp or witty one:**
*she would have made some cutting rejoinder but none came to mind Law, dated a defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s reply or replication.*
33
moxie
**force of character, determination, or nerve:**
*when you’ve got moxie, you need the clothes to match*
34
demagogue
**a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.**
35
coup de grâce
**a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal:**
* he administered the coup de grâce with a knife an action or event that serves as the culmination of a bad or deteriorating situation: t*
* he epidemic has been the coup de grâce for the airline crisis*
36
bête noire
**a person or thing that one particularly dislikes:**
*great-uncle Edward was my father’s bête noire*
37
countenance
** person’s face or facial expression:**
*his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away*
**support:**
*she was giving her specific countenance to the occasion verb [with object] admit as acceptable or possible: he was reluctant to countenance the use of force*
38
parlance
**a particular way of speaking or using words, especially a way common to those with a particular job or interest:**
*dated terms that were once in common parlance medical parlance*
39
bridle
**bring (something) under control; curb:**
the fact that he was their servant bridled his tongue
**show one’s resentment or anger, especially by throwing up the head and drawing in the chin:**
ranchers have bridled at excessive federal control
40
pillory
attack or ridicule publicly: he found himself pilloried by members of his own party
41
riposte
**a quick clever reply to an insult or criticism.**
42
envisage
**contemplate or conceive of as a possibility or a desirable future event:**
*the Rome Treaty envisaged free movement across frontiers*
**form a mental picture of (something not yet existing or known):**
*he knew what he liked but had difficulty envisaging it*
43
miasma
**a highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor:**
*a miasma of stale alcohol hung around him like marsh gas*
**an oppressive or unpleasant atmosphere that surrounds or emanates from something:**
*a miasma of despair rose from the black workshops*
44
penury
extreme poverty; destitution:
he died in a state of virtual penury
45
dialectic
**the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions.**
**inquiry into metaphysical contradictions and their solutions. the existence or action of opposing social forces, concepts, etc..**
46
panacea (pan uh sea uh)
**a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases:**
*the panacea for all corporate ills the time-honored panacea, cod liver oil*
47
stylize(d)
**[with object] (usually as adjective stylized) depict or treat in a mannered and nonrealistic style:**
*gracefully shaped vases decorated with stylized but recognizable white lilies*
48
explicate
**[with object] analyze and develop (an idea or principle) in detail:**
*attempting to explicate the relationship between crime and economic forces analyze (a literary work) in order to reveal its meaning.*
49
mea culpa
**an acknowledgment of one’s fault or error:**
*“Well, whose fault was that?” “Mea culpa!” Frank said*
50
voluble
**speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently:**
*she was as voluble as her husband was silent*
51
**locomotion**
**movement or the ability to move from one place to another:**
*the muscles that are concerned with locomotion he preferred walking to other forms of locomotion*
52
chimes
**be in agreement; harmonize:**
*his poem chimes with our modern experience of loss*
53
sclerotic
**becoming rigid and unresponsive; losing the ability to adapt:**
*sclerotic management*
54
stultifying
**cause to lose enthusiasm and initiative, especially as a result of a tedious or restrictive routine:**
*the stultifying conformity of provincial life*
55
codified
**arrange (laws or rules) into a systematic code:**
*the statutes have codified certain branches of common law*
56
Profundity
* *great depth of insight or knowledge:**
* the simplicity and profundity of the message*
* *great depth or intensity of a state, quality, or emotion:**
* the profundity of her misery*
57
nexus
**connection or series of connections linking two or more things**
*the nexus between industry and political power; a nexus of ideas*
* *a central or focal point:**
* the nexus of any government in this country is No. 10*
58
apogee
**the highest point in the development of something; a climax or culmination:**
*a film which was the apogee of German expressionist cinema*
59
obeisance
**deferential respect:**
*they paid obeisance to the Prince*
**[count noun] a gesture expressing deferential respect, such as a bow or curtsy:**
*she made a deep obeisance*
60
impute
**represent (something, especially something undesirable) as being done or possessed by someone; attribute:**
*the crimes imputed to Richard*
**Finance assign (a value) to something by inference from the value of the products or processes to which it contributes:
(as adjective imputed)**
*recovering the initial outlay plus imputed interest*
61
phalanx
* *(plural phalanxes) a body of troops or police officers standing or moving in close formation:**
* six hundred marchers set off, led by a phalanx of police*
* *a group of people or things of a similar type forming a compact body:**
* he headed past the phalanx of waiting reporters to the line of limos*
62
gadfly
**a person who annoys or criticizes others in order to provoke them into action:**
*always a gadfly, he attacked intellectual orthodoxies*
63
ramify
**form branches or offshoots; branch out:**
*an elaborate system of canals was built, ramifying throughout the UK*
64
65
alacrity
**brisk and cheerful readiness:**
*she accepted the invitation with alacrity*
66
**Abrogate**
**repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement):**
*a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike*
67
**detritus**
**waste or debris of any kind:**
*the streets were foul with detritus*
**gravel, sand, silt, or other material produced by erosion.**
**organic matter produced by the decomposition of organisms.**
68
**numeraire**
**an item or commodity acting as a measure of value or as a standard for currency exchange.**
69
**extant**
**still in existence; surviving:**
*an extant letter*
70
**patina**
* *a green or brown film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period:**
* many bronzes have been overcleaned, their original patina removed and artificially replaced*
**a gloss or sheen on wooden furniture produced by age and polishing:**
*the dining table will acquire a warm patina with age*
**the impression or appearance of something:**
*he carries the patina of old money and good breeding*
71
**invidious**
* *(of an action or situation) likely to arouse or incur resentment or anger in others:**
* she’d put herself in an invidious position*
* *(of a comparison or distinction) unfairly discriminating; unjust:**
* it seems invidious to make special mention of one aspect of his work*
72
proffer
**hold out or put forward (something) to someone for acceptance:**
*she proffered a glass of wine*
73
**aegis**
* *1 [in singular] the protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization:**
* the negotiations were conducted under the aegis of the UN*
**2(in classical art and mythology) an attribute of Zeus and Athene (or their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva) usually represented as a goatskin shield.**
74
**hoary**
* *1greyish white:**
* hoary cobwebs*
* *(of a person) old and having grey or white hair:**
* young lasses imprisoned by hoary old husbands*
* *2overused and unoriginal; trite**:
* the hoary old adage often used by Fleet Street editors*
75
**demotic**
ordinary colloquial speech:denoting or relating to the kind of language used by ordinary people; colloquial:
*he blinked in mild surprise at this uncharacteristic leap into the demotic*
76
**plaint**
* *1 Law, British an accusation or charge.**
* *2chiefly literary a complaint or lamentation:**
* it is a familiar plaint—no jobs for young researchers*
77
**Bulwark**
**1 defensive wall.**
* a person or thing that acts as a defence:*
* the security forces are a bulwark against the breakdown of society*
78
**bumptious**
**irritatingly self-assertive:**
*an impossibly bumptious and opinionated ass*
79
**Jingoistic**
**[mass noun] chiefly derogatory
extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy:**
*the popular jingoism that swept the lower-middle classes*
80
81
**couched**
**1express (something) in language of a specified style:**
*the assurances were couched in general terms*
82
**apotheosis**
* *1the highest point in the development of something; a culmination or climax:**
* his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career*
* *2the elevation of someone to divine status:**
* death spared Pompey the task of having to account for the apotheosis of Caesar*
83
**sinceure**
**a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit:**
*political sinecures for the supporters of ministers*
84
**Extant**
**still in existence; surviving:**
*an extant letter*
85
**Amalgam**
**a mixture or blend:**
*a curious amalgam of the traditional and the modern*
*Chemistry an alloy of mercury with another metal, especially one used for dental fillings:
[as modifier]:*
86
**blithely**
* *showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper:**
* a blithe disregard for the rules of the road*
* *literary happy or carefree:**
* a blithe seaside comedy*
87
**Bugbear**
* *1a cause of obsessive fear, anxiety, or irritation:**
* the biggest villain is that adman’s bugbear, saturated fat*
**2 archaic an imaginary being invoked to frighten children, typically a sort of hobgoblin supposed to devour them.**
88
**Presage**
**be a sign or warning of (an imminent event, typically an unwelcome one):**
*the heavy clouds above the moorland presaged snow*
* *an omen or portent:**
* the fever was a sombre presage of his final illness*
89
**morass**
* *1an area of muddy or boggy ground:**
* in midwinter the track beneath this bridge became a muddy morass*
* *2a complicated or confused situation:**
* she would become lost in a morass of lies and explanations*
90
**Ignominious**
**deserving or causing public disgrace or shame:**
*no other party risked ignominious defeat*
91
**Reprise**
**repeat (a piece of music or a performance):**
*he reprises his role as the vigilante architect*
92
**Eminently**
**to a notable degree; very:**
*an eminently readable textbook*
93
**ad hominem**
**(of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining:
[as adjective]:**
*an ad hominem response*
94
**Fealty**
**a feudal tenant’s or vassal’s sworn loyalty to a lord:**
*they owed fealty to the Earl rather than the King*
* *formal acknowledgement of loyalty to a lord:**
* a property for which she did fealty*
95
**Imprimatur**
**a person’s authoritative approval:**
*the original LP enjoyed the imprimatur of the composer*
96
**Scion**
**a descendant of a notable family:**
*he was the scion of a wealthy family*
97
**Protracted**
**lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual:**
*a protracted and bitter dispute*
98
**Vanguard**
* *a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas:**
* the experimental spirit of the modernist vanguard*
* *a position at the forefront of new developments or ideas:**
* the prototype was in the vanguard of technical development*
99
100
101
**Peremptory**
* *insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way:**
* ‘Just do it!’ came the peremptory reply*
* *Law not open to appeal or challenge; final:**
* a peremptory order of the court*
102
**Ukase**
**(in tsarist Russia) a decree with the force of law.**
*an arbitrary or peremptory command.*
103
**Enjoined**
* *instruct or urge (someone) to do something:**
* the code enjoined members to trade fairly*
* *[with object] prescribe (an action or attitude) to be performed or adopted:**
* the charitable deeds enjoined on him by religion*
* *[with object] (enjoin someone from) Law prohibit someone from performing (a particular action) by issuing an injunction:**
* he was enjoined from using the patent*
104
**Blithe**
* *showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper:**
* a blithe disregard for the rules of the road*
105
**Actuate**
* *1 [with object] make (a machine or device) operate:**
* the pendulum actuates an electrical switch*
* *2make (someone) act in a particular way; motivate:**
* the defendants were actuated by malice*
106
**Solicitude**
* *care or concern for someone or something:**
* I was touched by his solicitude*
107
**approbate**
**approve formally; sanction:**
*a letter approbating the affair*
108
**Ethereal**
* *extremely delicate and light in a way that seems not to be of this world:**
* her ethereal beauty*
* *heavenly or spiritual:**
* ethereal, otherworldly visions*
109
**Contrition**
* *the state of feeling remorseful and penitent:**
* to show contrition for his crime he offered to do community service*
110
**Fructify**
* *make (something) fruitful or productive:**
* they were sacrificed in order that their blood might fructify the crops*
* *[no object] bear fruit or become productive:**
* it fructified like vegetation in steamy heat*
