Ows Flashcards
(261 cards)
1
Q
What does ‘Abeyance’ mean?
A
Temporary suspension or disuse.
2
Q
What does ‘Abdicate’ mean?
A
To formally give up a position, right, or power (like a throne).
3
Q
What does ‘Abstain’ mean?
A
To restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something.
4
Q
What does ‘Acquiesce’ mean?
A
To accept something reluctantly but without protest.
5
Q
What does ‘Adjudicate’ mean?
A
To make a formal judgment or decision.
6
Q
What does ‘Adversary’ mean?
A
One’s opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute.
7
Q
What is an ‘Affidavit’?
A
A written statement confirmed by oath, for use as evidence in court.
8
Q
What does ‘Agnostic’ mean?
A
One who believes that nothing can be known about God.
9
Q
What does ‘Alienate’ mean?
A
To cause someone to feel isolated or estranged.
10
Q
What does ‘Altruism’ mean?
A
Selfless concern for the well-being of others.
11
Q
What does ‘Amalgamate’ mean?
A
To combine or unite to form one organization or structure.
12
Q
What is an ‘Ambassador’?
A
The highest-ranking diplomatic representative.
13
Q
What does ‘Ambiguous’ mean?
A
Open to more than one interpretation; unclear.
14
Q
What does ‘Ambivalent’ mean?
A
Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas.
15
Q
What does ‘Amnesty’ mean?
A
An official pardon, especially for political offenses.
16
Q
What does ‘Amorphous’ mean?
A
Without a clearly defined shape or form.
17
Q
What does ‘Anachronism’ mean?
A
Something placed in the wrong historical period.
18
Q
What does ‘Anarchy’ mean?
A
A state of disorder due to absence of authority.
19
Q
What does ‘Anomalous’ mean?
A
Deviating from the standard, normal, or expected.
20
Q
What does ‘Antipathy’ mean?
A
Deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion.
21
Q
What does ‘Apathy’ mean?
A
Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
22
Q
What is an ‘Apiary’?
A
Place where bees are kept.
23
Q
What is an ‘Arbitrator’?
A
An independent person appointed to settle a dispute.
24
Q
What does ‘Archaic’ mean?
A
Very old or old-fashioned.
25
What is an 'Archives'?
Place where historical records are kept.
26
What does 'Aristocracy' mean?
Government by the nobility or privileged upper class.
27
What is an 'Arsenal'?
Place where weapons and ammunition are stored.
28
What does 'Articulate' mean?
Able to express ideas clearly and fluently.
29
What does 'Ascetic' mean?
Practicing severe self-discipline and abstention.
30
What does 'Asylum' mean?
Protection granted by a nation; a place of refuge.
31
What does 'Atheist' mean?
One who does not believe in the existence of God.
32
What does 'Audit' mean?
An official inspection of accounts.
33
What does 'Autocracy' mean?
Government by one person with absolute power.
34
What does 'Autonomous' mean?
Having self-government; independent.
35
What does 'Avarice' mean?
Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
36
What is an 'Aviary'?
Place where birds are kept.
37
What does 'Belligerent' mean?
Hostile and aggressive; engaged in war.
38
What is a 'Bibliophile'?
A lover and collector of books.
39
What does 'Biennial' mean?
Happening every two years.
40
What does 'Bigot' mean?
A person intolerant of others holding different opinions.
41
What does 'Blasphemy' mean?
Speaking irreverently about God or sacred things.
42
What does 'Bureaucracy' mean?
Government by state officials rather than elected representatives.
43
What is a 'Cadre'?
A small group specially trained for a purpose (often political/military).
44
What does 'Callous' mean?
Showing insensitive and cruel disregard for others.
45
What does 'Capitulate' mean?
To cease resisting an opponent; surrender.
46
What does 'Carnivorous' mean?
Feeding on other animals.
47
What is a 'Caucus'?
A subgroup within a larger body pursuing special interests.
48
What does 'Chauvinist' mean?
Person displaying aggressive patriotism or sexism.
49
What does 'Circumlocution' mean?
Using many words where fewer would do; talking in circles.
50
What is a 'Clique'?
A small, exclusive group of people.
51
What does 'Coerce' mean?
To persuade using force or threats.
52
What does 'Collusion' mean?
Secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy.
53
What does 'Congenital' mean?
(Disease or abnormality) present from birth.
54
What is a 'Congregation'?
A group assembled for religious worship.
55
What is a 'Connoisseur'?
An expert judge in matters of taste (art, food, etc.).
56
What does 'Conscription' mean?
Compulsory enlistment for state service, typically military.
57
What does 'Consortium' mean?
An association, typically of several companies.
58
What does 'Contemporary' mean?
Living or occurring at the same time.
59
What does 'Contrite' mean?
Feeling or expressing remorse; penitent.
60
What does 'Convalescence' mean?
Time spent recovering from an illness.
61
What does 'Cosmopolitan' mean?
Familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures.
62
What is a 'Coterie'?
A small group with shared interests, often exclusive.
63
What does 'Credible' mean?
Able to be believed; convincing.
64
What does 'Credulous' mean?
Too ready to believe things; gullible.
65
What is a 'Curator'?
Keeper of a museum or other collection.
66
What does 'Cynic' mean?
One who believes people are motivated purely by self-interest.
67
What does 'Debacle' mean?
A sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco.
68
What is a 'Demagogue'?
A leader who appeals to popular desires and prejudices.
69
What does 'Deprecate' mean?
To express disapproval of.
70
What does 'Despotism' mean?
The exercise of absolute power, especially cruelly.
71
What does 'Deterrent' mean?
Something that discourages someone from doing something.
72
What does 'Diaspora' mean?
The dispersion of people from their original homeland.
73
What does 'Didactic' mean?
Intended to teach, particularly moral instruction.
74
What does 'Dilettante' mean?
A person who cultivates an area of interest without real commitment or knowledge.
75
What does 'Dogmatic' mean?
Asserting opinions in an arrogant, doctrinaire way.
76
What does 'Eclectic' mean?
Deriving ideas or style from a diverse range of sources.
77
What does 'Effeminate' mean?
(Of a man) having characteristics regarded as typical of a woman.
78
What is an 'Elegy'?
A poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.
79
What does 'Embezzlement' mean?
Theft of funds placed in one's trust.
80
What does 'Empathy' mean?
Ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
81
What does 'Endemic' mean?
(Disease or condition) regularly found among particular people or in a certain area.
82
What does 'Ephemeral' mean?
Lasting for a very short time.
83
What is an 'Epicure'?
A person who takes particular pleasure in fine food and drink.
84
What is an 'Epitaph'?
Words written in memory of a person who has died, especially on a tombstone.
85
What does 'Equanimity' mean?
Mental calmness, composure, especially in difficulty.
86
What does 'Esoteric' mean?
Intended for or understood by only a specialist few.
87
What is a 'Eulogy'?
A speech or writing praising someone, typically one who has just died.
88
What does 'Euphemism' mean?
A mild or indirect word substituted for one considered too harsh.
89
What does 'Exonerate' mean?
To absolve someone from blame for a fault or wrongdoing.
90
What does 'Extempore' mean?
Spoken or done without preparation.
91
What is a 'Faction'?
A small, organized dissenting group within a larger one.
92
What does 'Fallacy' mean?
A mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument.
93
What does 'Fastidious' mean?
Very attentive to detail; hard to please.
94
What does 'Fatalist' mean?
One who believes events are predetermined by fate.
95
What does 'Figurehead' mean?
A nominal leader without real power.
96
What does 'Flamboyant' mean?
Tending to attract attention because of exuberance, confidence, style.
97
What does 'Fratricide' mean?
Killing of one's brother.
98
What does 'Garrulous' mean?
Excessively talkative, especially on trivial matters.
99
What does 'Genealogy' mean?
The study of family ancestries and histories.
100
What does 'Genocide' mean?
The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially of a particular nation or ethnicity.
101
What does 'Gregarious' mean?
Fond of company; sociable.
102
What does 'Hedonist' mean?
One who believes pleasure is the highest good.
103
What does 'Herbivorous' mean?
Feeding on plants.
104
What does 'Heretic' mean?
One holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted (esp. religious).
105
What does 'Homicide' mean?
The killing of one human being by another.
106
What does 'Iconoclast' mean?
One who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions.
107
What does 'Idiosyncrasy' mean?
A peculiar mode of behaviour or thought.
108
What does 'Illegible' mean?
Not clear enough to be read.
109
What does 'Imminent' mean?
About to happen.
110
What does 'Immutable' mean?
Unchanging over time or unable to be changed.
111
What does 'Impasse' mean?
A situation where no progress is possible; deadlock.
112
What does 'Impeccable' mean?
In accordance with the highest standards; faultless.
113
What does 'Impromptu' mean?
Done without being planned or rehearsed.
114
What does 'Incendiary' mean?
Designed to cause fires; tending to stir up conflict.
115
What does 'Incognito' mean?
Having one's true identity concealed.
116
What does 'Incorrigible' mean?
(Person or tendencies) not able to be corrected or reformed.
117
What does 'Incumbent' mean?
The current holder of an office.
118
What does 'Indefatigable' mean?
Persisting tirelessly.
119
What does 'Indigenous' mean?
Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
120
What does 'Infallible' mean?
Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.
121
What does 'Infanticide' mean?
Killing of an infant.
122
What does 'Innuendo' mean?
An allusive or oblique remark, typically suggestive or disparaging.
123
What does 'Insatiable' mean?
Impossible to satisfy (e.g., appetite or desire).
124
What does 'Insolvent' mean?
Unable to pay debts owed.
125
What does 'Interregnum' mean?
A period when normal government is suspended, especially between successive reigns or regimes.
126
What does 'Intransigent' mean?
Unwilling or refusing to change one's views or agree.
127
What does 'Itinerant' mean?
Traveling from place to place.
128
What does 'Juxtaposition' mean?
Placing two things together for contrasting effect.
129
What does 'Kleptomania' mean?
Recurrent urge to steal.
130
What does 'Laconic' mean?
Using very few words; concise.
131
What does 'Laudable' mean?
Deserving praise and commendation.
132
What does 'Litigation' mean?
The process of taking legal action.
133
What does 'Loquacious' mean?
Talkative.
134
What does 'Maladroit' mean?
Inefficient or clumsy; inept.
135
What does 'Martinet' mean?
A strict disciplinarian.
136
What does 'Matricide' mean?
Killing of one's mother.
137
What does 'Maverick' mean?
An independent-minded person; unorthodox.
138
What does 'Megalomania' mean?
Obsession with the exercise of power.
139
What does 'Mercenary' mean?
Primarily concerned with making money; a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.
140
What does 'Meticulous' mean?
Showing great attention to detail; very careful.
141
What does 'Misanthrope' mean?
A hater of humankind.
142
What does 'Misogynist' mean?
A hater of women.
143
What does 'Monarchy' mean?
Government by a king or queen.
144
What does 'Monotheism' mean?
Belief in one God.
145
What does 'Nepotism' mean?
Favouritism shown to relatives or friends, especially in job appointments.
146
What does 'Nihilism' mean?
Belief that life is meaningless; rejection of all principles.
147
What does 'Nonconformist' mean?
One who does not follow generally accepted beliefs or practices.
148
What does 'Nostalgia' mean?
Sentimental longing for the past.
149
What does 'Novice / Tyro' mean?
A beginner or someone new to a profession.
150
What does 'Obfuscate' mean?
To make obscure, unclear, or unintelligible.
151
What does 'Obliterate' mean?
To destroy utterly; wipe out.
152
What does 'Obsequious' mean?
Obedient or attentive to an excessive degree; servile.
153
What does 'Obsolete' mean?
No longer produced or used; out of date.
154
What does 'Oligarchy' mean?
Government by a small group of powerful people.
155
What does 'Omnipotent' mean?
Having unlimited power.
156
What does 'Omnipresent' mean?
Present everywhere at the same time.
157
What does 'Omniscient' mean?
Knowing everything.
158
What does 'Omnivorous' mean?
Feeding on both plants and meat.
159
What is an 'Ombudsman'?
Official investigating complaints against public bodies.
160
What does 'Onerous' mean?
Involving great effort and difficulty; burdensome.
161
What does 'Opportunist' mean?
One who exploits circumstances for immediate advantage.
162
What is 'Ornithology'?
The study of birds.
163
What does 'Ostracize' mean?
To exclude someone from a society or group.
164
What does 'Pacifist' mean?
One who believes war and violence are unjustifiable.
165
What does 'Panacea' mean?
A remedy for all difficulties or diseases.
166
What does 'Paradox' mean?
A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement that may prove true.
167
What does 'Paragon' mean?
A person or thing regarded as a perfect example.
168
What does 'Pariah' mean?
An outcast.
169
What does 'Parody' mean?
An imitation of the style of a writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.
170
What does 'Patricide' mean?
Killing of one's father.
171
What does 'Pauper' mean?
A very poor person.
172
What does 'Pedantic' mean?
Excessively concerned with minor details or rules.
173
What does 'Penitent' mean?
Feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong.
174
What does 'Perennial' mean?
Lasting for a long time; constantly recurring.
175
What does 'Perjury' mean?
Willfully telling an untruth in court after taking an oath.
176
What does 'Permeable' mean?
Allowing liquids or gases to pass through it.
177
What does 'Perquisite' mean?
A special right or privilege enjoyed due to one's position (a perk).
178
What is a 'Philanthropist'?
One who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by generous donations.
179
What does 'Philistine' mean?
A person hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts.
180
What does 'Plagiarism' mean?
Taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.
181
What does 'Platitude' mean?
A remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.
182
What does 'Plebiscite / Referendum' mean?
A direct vote by the whole electorate on a particular public question.
183
What does 'Plutocracy' mean?
Government by the wealthy.
184
What does 'Polyglot' mean?
Knowing or using several languages.
185
What does 'Polytheism' mean?
Belief in more than one god.
186
What does 'Posthumous' mean?
Occurring, awarded, or appearing after death.
187
What does 'Pragmatic' mean?
Dealing with things sensibly and realistically.
188
What does 'Precedent' mean?
An earlier event or action regarded as an example or guide in subsequent similar circumstances.
189
What does 'Precarious' mean?
Not securely held; dangerously likely to fall or collapse; uncertain.
190
What does 'Prodigy' mean?
A young person with exceptional abilities.
191
What does 'Proletariat' mean?
Workers or working-class people, regarded collectively.
192
What does 'Proponent' mean?
A person who advocates a theory, proposal, or project.
193
What does 'Proxy' mean?
Authority to represent someone else, especially in voting.
194
What does 'Pseudonym' mean?
A fictitious name, especially one used by an author.
195
What does 'Pugnacious' mean?
Eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.
196
What does 'Purist' mean?
One who insists on absolute adherence to traditional rules.
197
What does 'Quandary' mean?
A state of perplexity or uncertainty.
198
What does 'Quarantine' mean?
A state of isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease.
199
What does 'Quorum' mean?
Minimum number of members needed for proceedings to be valid.
200
What does 'Quotidian' mean?
Occurring every day; daily; ordinary.
201
What does 'Raconteur' mean?
A person skilled in telling anecdotes.
202
What does 'Recalcitrant' mean?
Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude.
203
What does 'Recluse' mean?
A person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people.
204
What does 'Regicide' mean?
Killing of a king.
205
What does 'Remiss' mean?
Lacking care or attention to duty; negligent.
206
What does 'Rendezvous' mean?
A meeting at an agreed time and place.
207
What does 'Renegade' mean?
A person who deserts and betrays an organization, country, or set of principles.
208
What does 'Reticent / Taciturn' mean?
Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily; reserved.
209
What does 'Sacrilege' mean?
Violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred.
210
What does 'Sadist' mean?
One who derives pleasure from inflicting pain.
211
What is a 'Sanatorium'?
Institution for long-term medical treatment or recovery.
212
What does 'Sanguine' mean?
Optimistic or positive, especially in a bad situation.
213
What does 'Scapegoat' mean?
A person blamed for the wrongdoings or mistakes of others.
214
What does 'Schism' mean?
A split between strongly opposed sections (often religious/political).
215
What does 'Scrupulous' mean?
Diligent, thorough, and extremely attentive to details; careful to avoid doing wrong.
216
What does 'Secular' mean?
Not connected with religious or spiritual matters.
217
What does 'Sedition' mean?
Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state.
218
What does 'Sinecure' mean?
Position requiring little work but giving status/financial benefit.
219
What does 'Soliloquy' mean?
An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when alone, especially by a character in a play.
220
What does 'Somnambulist' mean?
A sleepwalker.
221
What does 'Sophistry' mean?
The use of clever but false arguments, especially with intent to deceive.
222
What does 'Spartan' mean?
Showing indifference to comfort or luxury; austere.
223
What does 'Sporadic' mean?
Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places.
224
What does 'Stipulation' mean?
A condition or requirement specified as part of an agreement.
225
What does 'Stoic' mean?
Enduring pain/hardship without showing feelings.
226
What is a soliloquy?
An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when alone, especially by a character in a play.
227
What is a somnambulist?
A sleepwalker.
228
What is sophistry?
The use of clever but false arguments, especially with intent to deceive.
229
What does spartan mean?
Showing indifference to comfort or luxury; austere.
230
What does sporadic mean?
Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places.
231
What is a stipulation?
A condition or requirement specified as part of an agreement.
232
What does stoic mean?
Enduring pain/hardship without showing feelings.
233
What does subjugate mean?
To bring under domination or control, especially by conquest.
234
What is a subpoena?
A writ ordering a person to attend court.
235
What does succinct mean?
Briefly and clearly expressed.
236
What does supercilious mean?
Behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others.
237
What does surreptitious mean?
Kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of.
238
What is a sycophant?
A servile flatterer; yes-man.
239
What is a taboo?
A social or religious custom prohibiting discussion or practice of something.
240
What is a teetotaller?
One who never drinks alcohol.
241
What does temerity mean?
Excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
242
What is a theocracy?
Government by religious leaders/laws.
243
What is a truism?
A statement that is obviously true and says nothing new.
244
What does ubiquitous mean?
Present, appearing, or found everywhere.
245
What does unanimous mean?
Fully in agreement.
246
What is an understudy?
Actor learning another's role to act as substitute.
247
What does usurp mean?
To take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force.
248
What does utilitarian mean?
Designed to be useful rather than attractive; related to the greatest good for the greatest number.
249
What is a utopia?
An imagined place where everything is perfect.
250
What does uxorious mean?
Having or showing excessive fondness for one's wife.
251
What does vacillate mean?
To waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.
252
What does verbatim mean?
In exactly the same words as were used originally.
253
What does verbose mean?
Using more words than needed.
254
What is vernacular?
The language or dialect spoken by ordinary people in a region.
255
What is a veteran?
A person who has long experience in a particular field (esp. military).
256
What does vicarious mean?
Experienced in the imagination through the actions of another.
257
What is a virago?
A domineering, violent, or bad-tempered woman.
258
What is a virtuoso?
A person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit.
259
What does voluble mean?
Speaking or spoken incessantly and fluently.
260
What does voracious mean?
Wanting or devouring a very eager approach.
261
What does xenophobia mean?
Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.
