Random Flashcards
(15 cards)
\: very severe or cruel Full Definition Usage: often capitalized 1 law : of, relating to, or characteristic of Draco or the severe code of laws held to have been framed by him 2 : cruel; also : severe
dra·co·ni·an\drā-ˈkō-nē-ən, drə-\
adjective
Examples
The editorial criticizes the draconian measures being taken to control the spread of the disease.
Origin: Latin Dracon-, Draco, from Greek Drakōn Draco (Athenian lawgiver).
First use: 1775
of, relating to, or involving a confidence or trust: such as
a : held or founded in trust or confidence
b : holding in trust
c : depending on public confidence for value or currency
fiduciary
adjective
a fiduciary relationship> <a></a>
: of or relating to the underworld : infernal
Infernal: relating to hell.
chthonic THAH-nik
adjective
“In Greek mythology, the Eumenides were three goddesses tasked with protecting the cause of justice.… In Aeschylus’ tragedies, they are chthonic, ambiguous forces. They do not tire and they do not stop; their persistence … feels almost monstrous.” — Katy Waldman, Slate, July/August 2017
“Yet Dean’s music inducts us more gently, with a deep, almost chthonic orchestral rumble, punctuated by occasional drum and electronic sounds as we first see young Hamlet, head in his hands, almost paralysed at the edge of his father’s grave.” — John Carmody, The Australian, 14 June 2017
Did you know?
Chthonic might seem a lofty and learned word, but it’s actually pretty down-to-earth in its origin and meaning. It comes from chthōn, which means “earth” in Greek, and it is associated with things that dwell in or under the earth. It is most commonly used in discussions of mythology, particularly underworld mythology. Hades and Persephone, who reign over the underworld in Greek mythology, might be called “chthonic deities,” for example. Chthonic has broader applications, too. It can be used to describe something that resembles a mythological underworld (e.g., “chthonic darkness”), and it is sometimes used to describe earthly or natural things (as opposed to those that are elevated or celestial).
enjoying the company of other people
biology : tending to live in groups
Full Definition
1 a : tending to associate with others of one’s kind : social
b : marked by or indicating a liking for companionship : sociable
c : of or relating to a social group
2 a of a plant : growing in a cluster or a colony
b : living in contiguous nests but not forming a true colony — used especially of wasps and bees
gre·gar·i·ous\gri-ˈger-ē-əs\
adjective
gre·gar·i·ous·ly adverb
gre·gar·i·ous·ness noun
Examples
She is outgoing and gregarious.
a gregarious child who ran up to every person on the playground and wanted to be their friend
Origin: Latin gregarius of a flock or herd, from greg-, grex flock, herd.
First use: 1668
\: a forceful or angry speech Full Definition 1 : a speech addressed to a public assembly 2 : a ranting speech or writing 3 : lecture
ha·rangue\hə-ˈraŋ\
noun
Examples
He delivered a long harangue about the evils of popular culture.
launched into a long harangue about poor customer service without realizing that I wasn’t even an employee!
Origin: Middle French arenge, from Old Italian aringa, from aringare to speak in public, from aringo public assembly, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hring ring.
First use: circa 1533
Synonyms: diatribe, tirade, jeremiad, philippic, rant
: relating to the thing that is being thought about or discussed
Full Definition
: having a clear decisive relevance to the matter in hand
per·ti·nent\ˈpər-tə-nənt, ˈpərt-nənt\
adjective
per·ti·nent·ly adverb
Examples
he impressed the jury with his concise, pertinent answers to the attorney’s questions
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin pertinent-, pertinens, present participle of pertinēre see pertain.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: applicable, apposite, apropos, germane, material, pointed, relative, relevant, to the point
Antonyms: extraneous, immaterial, impertinent, inapplicable, inapposite, irrelative, irrelevant, pointless
: to avoid telling the truth by not directly answering a question
Full Definition
intransitive verb
: to deviate from the truth : equivocate
pre·var·i·cate\pri-ˈver-ə-ˌkāt, -ˈva-rə-\
Examples
Government officials prevaricated about the real costs of the project.
during the hearings the witness was willing to prevaricate in order to protect his friend
Origin: Latin praevaricatus, past participle of praevaricari to act in collusion, literally, to straddle, from prae- + varicare to straddle, from varus bowlegged.
very unwilling to spend money
: frugal to the point of stinginess
2 : sparing, restrained
par·si·mo·ni·ous\ˌpär-sə-ˈmō-nē-əs\
adjective
Examples
a parsimonious woman who insists that charity begins—and ends—at home
Origin: see parsimony.
First use: 1598
Synonyms: cheap, chintzy, close, closefisted, mean, mingy, miserly, niggard, niggardly, stingy, penny-pinching, penurious, pinching, pinchpenny, spare, sparing, stinting, tight, tightfisted, uncharitable, ungenerous
carelessly and foolishly wasting money, materials, etc. : very wasteful
Full Definition
1 : wildly extravagant
2 : completely given up to dissipation and licentiousness : shamelessly immoral
prof·li·gate\ˈprä-fli-gət, -ˌgāt\
adjective
Examples
She was very profligate in her spending.
profligate movie producers hoping to create the next blockbuster
Origin: Latin profligatus, from past participle of profligare to strike down, from pro- forward, down + -fligare (akin to fligere to strike); akin to Greek phlibein to squeeze.
First use: 1617
Synonyms: extravagant, high-rolling, prodigal, spendthrift, squandering, thriftless, unthrifty, wasteful
too much pride in your own worth or goodness
: an idea that shows imagination
Full Definition
1 a (1) : a result of mental activity : thought (2) : individual opinion
b : favorable opinion; especially : excessive appreciation of one’s own worth or virtue
2 : a fancy item or trifle
3 a : a fanciful idea
b : an elaborate or strained metaphor
c : an organizing theme or concept
con·ceit\kən-ˈsēt\
noun
Examples
His conceit has earned him many enemies.
the conceit that the crowd at the outdoor rock concert was a vast sea of people waving to the beat of the music
Origin: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from conceivre see conceive.
First use: 14th century
Synonyms: metaphor, figure of speech
having no result or effect : pointless or useless
Full Definition
1 : serving no useful purpose : completely ineffective
2 : occupied with trifles : frivolous
fu·tile\ˈfyü-təl, ˈfyü-ˌtī(-ə)l\
adjective
Examples
All our efforts proved futile.
a futile and foolish gesture
Origin: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin futilis brittle, pointless, probably from fu- (akin to fundere to pour) — more at found.
First use: circa 1555
Synonyms: abortive, barren, bootless, empty, fruitless, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, otiose, profitless, unavailing, unproductive, unprofitable, unsuccessful, useless, vain, in vain, no dice, not worth the candle, of no avail
demarche
noun
dé·marche
\dā-ˈmärsh, di-ˈ,ˈdā-ˌ\
variants:ordemarche
1a:acourseofaction:maneuver
b:adiplomaticorpoliticalinitiativeormaneuver
2:apetitionorprotestpresentedthroughdiplomaticchannels
dastard
1: coward
2: apersonwhoactstreacherouslyorunderhandedly
peacenik
noun
anopponentof war;specifically:one whoparticipatesinantiwar demonstrations
insinuation
noun
ausuallybad orinsultingremarkthatissaidin anindirectway
:the act ofsayingsomethingbad orinsultingin anindirectway
