Part 1 Flashcards by Kathy Guo

brevity

(BREV-ih-tee)

n. briefness in speech or writing
* brevity = abbreviate

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concise

(cun-SISE)

adj. using few words in speech or writing

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laconic

(luh-CAHN-ik)

adj. using few words in speech

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pithy

(PIH-thee)

adj. brief and full of meaning
* Pithy = pit (central part) of the topic

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quiescent

(kwy-EH-sunt)

adj. quiet; still; inactive
* quiescent = quiet

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reticent

(RET-ih-sunt)

adj. not talking much

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succinct

(suk-SINKT)

adj. clearly and briefly stated

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taciturn

(TAS-ih-turn)

adj. silent; sparing of words
* taciturn = tacitus in latin is quiet

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terse

(TURS)

adj. very concise, sometimes to the point of rudeness

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bombastic

(bom-BAS-tic)

adj. using language in a showy way

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circumlocution

(sir-kum-low-Q-shun)

n. speaking in circles

circumlocution = circle
circumloction = root word loq- or loc- means speech

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colloquial

(kuh-LOW-kwee-ul)

adj. pertaining to common everyday speech

colloquial = common
colloquial = root word loq- or loc- means speech

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diffuse

(dih-FEWS)

adj. spread out, not concise; wordy

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digress

(die-GRES)

vb. to wander off from the subject or topic spoken about.

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eloquence

(EH-low-KWENS)

n. speech that can influence people’s feelings
* eloquence = root word loq- or loc- means speech

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garrulous

(GAR-u-lus)

adj. talkative
* garrulous gorillas

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grandiloquent

(gran-DIH-luh-kwent)

adj. using big and fancy words when speaking for the purpose of impressing others

grandiloquent = grand
grandiloquent = root word loq- or loc- means speech

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loquacious

(low-KWAY-shus)

adj. very talkative
* loquacious = root word loq- or loc- means speech

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prattle

(PRA-tl)

vb. to speak on and on in a foolish manner
* prattle = baby rattle

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ramble

(RAM-bul)

vb. to talk on and on pointlessly

rant

(RANT)

vb. to talk very loudly, even wildly

rhetorical

(re-TOR-uh-kul)

adj. relation to speech that is used to persuade or have some effect

verbose

(vur-BOSE)

adj. using too many words; wordy

verbose = suffix -ose means having the quality of
verbose = verbus in latin means words

voluble

(VOL-you-bul)

adj. talking a great deal with ease
* voluble = great volume (mass)

arrogant | (ER-uh-gunt)

adj. overly proud; haughty

braggart | (BRA- gurt)

n. one who boasts a great deal * **brag**gart = one who **brag**s a lot

complacement | (kum-PLAY-snt)

adj. self-satisfied; smug * **compl**ac**ement** = self-**complement**ing

contemptuous | (kun-TEMP-choo-us)

adj. lacking respect; scornful

disdainful | (dis-DANE-ful)

adj. full of bitter scorn and pride

egotistical | (ee-guh-TIS-tih-kul)

adj. excessively self-absorbant; conceited * **ego**tistical = "ego" means "self"

haughty | (HAW-tee)

adj. having great pride in oneself and dislikes others * "It's naughty to be haughty!"

insolent | (IN-suh-lunt)

adj. rude in speech or behavior

narcissistic | (nar-suh-SIS-tik)

adj. having to do with extreme self-adoration and a feeling of superiority to others * narcisstic = a Greek man, Narcissus, falls in love with his own reflection

ostentatious | (ahs-tun-TAY-shus)

adj. having to do with showing off

presumptuous | (prih-ZUM-choo-us)

adj. too forward or bold

pretentious | (pri-TEN-shus)

adj. claiming or pretending increased importance * **preten**tious = **preten**d

supercilious | (soo-pur-SIH-lee-us)

adj. looking down on others; proud and scornful * **super**ilious = self **super**iority

swagger | (SWA-gur)

vb. to walk around in a proud, showy manner

banal | (buh-NAL)

adj. dull or stale because of overuse * You can spell "bla" from banal...boring...

cliché | (klee-SHAY)

n. an idea or expression that has become stale due to overuse

derivative | (diy-RIH-vuh-tiv)

adj. unoriginal; taken from something already existing

hackneyed | (HAK-need)

adj. Lacking significance due to overuse

insipid | (in-SIH-pud)

adj. lacking flavor or taste; unexciting

lackluster | (LAK-luhs-ter)

adj. lacking vitality, energy, or brightness; boring * **lackluster** = **lack**ing **luster**, or without shine or brilliance

mundane | (muhn-DAYN)

adj. commonplace; ordinary

platitude | (PLA-tuh-tood)

n. an obvious remark uttered as if it were original * p**lat**itudes are f**lat** and dull

prosaic | (pro-ZAY-ik)

adj. dull; commonplace * make with black and grey tiles are the pr**osaic** m**osaic**s

trite | (TRITE)

adj. unoriginal and stale due to overuse

vapid | (VA-pid)

adj. lacking freshness and zest * **vap**id = e**vap**orating **v**itality