SAT 2 Flashcards
(39 cards)
Acrid
sharp or biting to the taste or smell; bitterly pungent; irritating to the eyes, nose, etc.: acrid smoke from burning rubber. | extremely or sharply stinging or bitter; exceedingly caustic: acrid remarks. | unpleasantly pungent or sharp to the smell or taste | sharp or caustic, esp in speech or nature
Epistle
a letter, especially a formal or didactic one; written communication. | (usually initial capital letter) one of the apostolic letters in the New Testament. | (often initial capital letter) an extract, usually from one of the Epistles of the New Testament, forming part of the Eucharistic service in certain churches. | a letter, esp one that is long, formal, or didactic | a literary work in letter form, esp a dedicatory verse letter of a type originated by Horace | (New Testament) any of the apostolic letters of Saints Paul, Peter, James, Jude, or John | a reading from one of the Epistles, forming part of the Eucharistic service in many Christian Churches
Heresy
opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system. | the maintaining of such an opinion or doctrine. | Roman Catholic Church. the willful and persistent rejection of any article of faith by a baptized member of the church. | any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs, customs, etc. | an opinion or doctrine contrary to the orthodox tenets of a religious body or church the act of maintaining such an opinion or doctrine | any opinion or belief that is or is thought to be contrary to official or established theory | belief in or adherence to unorthodox opinion
Poignant
keenly distressing to the feelings: poignant regret. | keen or strong in mental appeal: a subject of poignant interest. | affecting or moving the emotions: a poignant scene. | pungent to the smell: poignant cooking odors. | sharply distressing or painful to the feelings | to the point; cutting or piercing: poignant wit | keen or pertinent in mental appeal: a poignant subject | pungent in smell
Respite
a delay or cessation for a time, especially of anything distressing or trying; an interval of relief: to toil without respite. | temporary suspension of the execution of a person condemned to death; reprieve. | to relieve temporarily, especially from anything distressing or trying; give an interval of relief from. | to grant delay in the carrying out of (a punishment, obligation, etc.). | a pause from exertion; interval of rest | a temporary delay | a temporary stay of execution; reprieve | (transitive) to grant a respite to; reprieve
Acrophobia
a pathological fear of heights. | abnormal fear or dread of being at a great height
Debility
a weakened or enfeebled state; weakness: Debility prevented him from getting out of bed. | a particular mental or physical handicap; disability. | weakness or infirmity
Epistolary
contained in or carried on by letters: an epistolary friendship. | of, pertaining to, or consisting of letters. | relating to, denoting, conducted by, or contained in letters | (of a novel or other work) constructed in the form of a series of letters
Languid
lacking in vigor or vitality; slack or slow: a languid manner. | lacking in spirit or interest; listless; indifferent. | drooping or flagging from weakness or fatigue; faint. | without energy or spirit | without interest or enthusiasm | sluggish; inactive
Poised
(of a person) composed, dignified, and self-assured. | being in balance or equilibrium: a balloon poised on the nose of a seal. | teetering or wavering: to be poised on the brink of disaster. | hovering or suspended in or as in midair: a bird poised in flight; a helicopter poised overhead. | a state of balance or equilibrium, as from equality or equal distribution of weight; equipoise. | a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession: to show poise in company. | steadiness; stability: intellectual poise. | suspense or wavering, as between rest and motion or two phases of motion: the poise of the tides. | the way of being poised, held, or carried. | the state or position of hovering: the poise of a bird in the air.
Resplendent
shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid: troops resplendent in white uniforms; resplendent virtues. | having a brilliant or splendid appearance
Epitomized
to contain or represent in small compass; serve as a typical example of; typify: This meadow epitomizes the beauty of the whole area. | to make an epitome of: to epitomize an argument. | to be a personification of; typify | to make an epitome of
Hidebound
narrow and rigid in opinion; inflexible: a hidebound pedant. | oriented toward or confined to the past; extremely conservative: a hidebound philosopher. | (of a horse, cow, etc.) having the back and ribs bound tightly by the hide. | restricted by petty rules, a conservative attitude, etc | (of cattle, etc) having the skin closely attached to the flesh as a result of poor feeding | (of trees) having a very tight bark that impairs growth
Languish
to be or become weak or feeble; droop; fade. | to lose vigor and vitality. | to undergo neglect or experience prolonged inactivity; suffer hardship and distress: to languish in prison for ten years. | to be subjected to delay or disregard; be ignored: a petition that languished on the warden’s desk for a year. | to pine with desire or longing. | to assume an expression of tender, sentimental melancholy. | the act or state of languishing. | a tender, melancholy look or expression. | to lose or diminish in strength or energy | (often foll by for) to be listless with desire; pine
Obsequious
characterized by or showing servile complaisance or deference; fawning: an obsequious bow. | servilely compliant or deferential: obsequious servants. | obedient; dutiful. | obedient or attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner | (rare) submissive or compliant
Polemical
a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc. | a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist. | Also, polemical. of or pertaining to a polemic; controversial. | of or involving dispute or controversy | an argument or controversy, esp over a doctrine, belief, etc | a person engaged in such an argument or controversy
Equivocate
to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, usually to avoid commitment or in order to mislead; prevaricate or hedge: When asked directly for his position on disarmament, the candidate only equivocated. | (intransitive) to use vague or ambiguous language, esp in order to avoid speaking directly or honestly; hedge
Ponderous
of great weight; heavy; massive. | awkward or unwieldy: He carried a ponderous burden on his back. | dull and labored: a ponderous dissertation. | of great weight; heavy; huge | (esp of movement) lacking ease or lightness; awkward, lumbering, or graceless | dull or laborious: a ponderous oration
Timorous
full of fear; fearful: The noise made them timorous. | subject to fear; timid. | characterized by or indicating fear: a timorous whisper. | fearful or timid | indicating fear or timidity
Adroit
expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body. | cleverly skillful, resourceful, or ingenious: an adroit debater. | skilful or dexterous | quick in thought or reaction
Largess
generous bestowal of gifts. | the gift or gifts, as of money, so bestowed. | Obsolete. generosity; liberality. | the generous bestowal of gifts, favours, or money | the things so bestowed | generosity of spirit or attitude
Pontificate
the office or term of office of a pontiff. | to perform the office or duties of a pontiff. | to speak in a pompous or dogmatic manner: Did he pontificate about the responsibilities of a good citizen? | to serve as a bishop, especially in a Pontifical Mass. | to speak or behave in a pompous or dogmatic manner Also (less commonly) pontify (?p?nt??fa?) | to serve or officiate as a pontiff, esp in celebrating a Pontifical Mass | the office or term of office of a pontiff, now usually the pope
Reticent
disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved. | reluctant or restrained. | not open or communicative; not saying all that one knows; taciturn; reserved
Adulation
excessive devotion to someone; servile flattery. | obsequious flattery or praise; extreme admiration