Set 13 Flashcards
1
Q
depot
A
depot
2
Q
opaline
A
opaline
3
Q
antler
/ˈæntlər/
A
(n.) one of the branched horns on the head of a deer, elk, moose, or similar animal, typically found only on males and shed and regrown annually
- The male deer’s antlers grow larger each year until they reach their prime.
- Ancient hunters often used antlers to make tools and weapons.
> late 14c., “first tine or branch of the horns of a deer,” from Anglo-French auntiler, Old French antoillier (14c., Modern French andouiller) “antler,” which is perhaps from Gallo-Roman cornu *antoculare “horn in front of the eyes,” from Latin ante “before” (from PIE root ant- “front, forehead,” with derivatives meaning “in front of, before”) + ocularis “of the eyes” (from Latin oculus “an eye,” from PIE root okw- “to see”).
> Etymonline
4
Q
recoup
A
recoup
5
Q
squalor
/ˈskwɒlər/
A
(n.) a state of being extremely dirty and unpleasant, especially due to poverty or neglect: DIRT, dirtiness, squalidness, filth, filthiness, grubbiness, grime, griminess, muck, muckiness, slumminess, foulness, vileness, poverty, wretchedness, dinginess, meanness, nastiness, seediness, shabbiness, sordidness, sleaziness; NEGLECT, decay, dilapidation; informal scruffiness, scuzziness, crumminess, grunge, grunginess, rattiness, tackiness; British informal grottiness
They lived in squalor after losing their home.
> 1620s, “state or condition of being miserable and dirty” (OED describes it as “a combination of misery and dirt”), from Latin squalor “roughness, dirtiness, filthiness,” from squalere “be filthy” (see squalid). The figurative use, in reference to moral qualities or states, is by 1860.
> Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus, Etymonline
6
Q
under the gun
A
under the gun
7
Q
set back on one’s heels
A
set back on one’s heels
8
Q
scion
A
scion
9
Q
clear the air
A
clear the air
10
Q
plodding
A
plodding
11
Q
bald
A
bald
12
Q
lecherous
A
lecherous
13
Q
insouciant
A
insouciant
14
Q
credence
A
credence
15
Q
profligate
A
profligate
16
Q
indenture
A
indenture
17
Q
belated
A
belated
18
Q
beatific
A
beatific
19
Q
minnow
A
minnow
20
Q
unedifying
A
unedifying
21
Q
hothouse
A
hothouse
22
Q
pudgy
A
pudgy
23
Q
preface
A
preface
24
Q
depraved
A
depraved
25
sheathe
sheathe
26
maroon
maroon
27
disrobe
disrobe
28
trundle
trundle
/ˈtrʌndl/
verb
**1** (with reference to a wheeled vehicle or its occupants) to move or cause to move slowly and heavily, typically in a noisy or uneven way
...Ten vintage cars trundled past.
...The truck was trundling along the escarpment of the Zambesi valley.
...A few horse-drawn carts still trundle through the dilapidated mining villages.
...The train eventually trundled in at 7.54.
...We trundled a wheelbarrow down to the river and collected driftwood.
**2** (of a person) to move slowly or heavily; to walk in a slow, heavy, or awkward way
...She could hear him coughing as he trundled out.
...He trundled into the room after a long day.
...The children trundled off to bed reluctantly.
**3** to develop or operate slowly
...The negotiations have been **trundling on** for months and there's still no end in sight.
noun
an act of moving slowly or heavily
...The trundle of the wagon echoed in the valley.
...I could hear the trundle of the train in the distance.
\> "small wheel, broad and massive, used to support heavy weights," 1540s (implied in trundle bed), possibly from Middle English trendle "wheel, suspended hoop" (early 14c.), from Old English trendel "ring, disk" (see **trend** (v.)). It also is probably in part from or influenced by Old French trondeler "to roll down, fall down," which is of Germanic origin. Also compare **truckle**.
\> Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Cambridge Dictionary, Etymonline
29
aft
aft
30
ashen
ashen
31
ferocity
ferocity
32
get off the ground
get off the ground
33
aphrodisiac
aphrodisiac
34
horoscope
horoscope
35
anemia
anemia
36
prosthesis
prosthesis
37
arch
arch
38
spasmodic
spasmodic
39
pat
pat
40
flush
flush
41
arbor
arbor
42
approbation
approbation
43
compensatory
compensatory
44
incontestable
incontestable
45
roust
roust
46
longhand
longhand
47
preen
preen
/priːn/
verb
**1** (of a bird) to clean and arrange feathers with its beak
...The swan preened its feathers by the lake.
...Birds often preen after bathing.
**2** to spend time making oneself look attractive in a self-satisfied way
...She preened in front of the mirror.
...The actor preened for the cameras.
**3** to take pride in oneself or one’s achievements
...He preened after receiving the award.
...It did not prevent them from **preening themselves on** their achievement.
\> late 14c., of a person, "to trim, to dress up," probably a variation of Middle English proynen, proinen, of a bird, "trim the feather with the beak;" of a person, "to dress or groom oneself carefully" (see **prune** (v.)). Middle English prene "to pin, pierce, fasten with a pin" probably influenced the form of this word.
\> Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline
48
bide one's time
bide one's time
49
beseech
beseech
50
incent
incent
51
marginal
marginal
52
unfledged
unfledged
53
euphemism
euphemism
54
readout
readout
55
soar
soar
56
tithe
tithe
57
smutty
smutty
58
no less
no less
59
doldrums
doldrums
60
mordant
mordant
61
matron
matron
62
deadhead
deadhead
63
waspish
waspish
64
brunt
brunt
65
uncharitable
uncharitable
66
tactful
tactful
67
leaven
leaven
68
inclement
inclement
69
odious
odious
70
mirthless
mirthless
71
ribaldry
ribaldry
72
prissy
prissy
73
telegenic
telegenic
74
pious
pious
75
libertine
libertine
76
chaperone
chaperone
77
have a ball
have a ball
78
desiccate
desiccate
79
elucidate
elucidate
80
cut and dried
cut and dried
81
officiated
officiated
82
shanty
shanty
83
hotbed
hotbed
/ˈhɒtbed/
noun
**1** a place or environment that promotes rapid development or growth of something, especially something undesirable
...The slums became a hotbed of crime.
...Silicon Valley is a hotbed of technological innovation.
...The university campus became a hotbed of political activism.
...The region has long been a hotbed of artistic talent.
...That neighborhood is known as a hotbed of revolutionary ideas.
**2** (horticulture) a bed of soil heated by fermenting manure or other material, used for growing plants
...The gardener prepared a hotbed for starting early vegetables.
...Hotbeds were common before modern greenhouses.
\> also hot-bed, 1620s, "bed of earth heated by fermenting manure for growing early plants," from **hot** (adj.) + **bed** (n.). Generalized sense of "place that fosters rapid growth" is from 1768.
\> Etymonline
84
incense
incense
noun /ˈɪnsɛns/
**1** an aromatic substance that produces fragrant smoke when burned
...Buddhist temples often burn incense during ceremonies.
...The sweet smell of incense filled the meditation room.
**2** the smoke or perfume produced by burning this substance
...The incense drifted through the temple halls.
...The room was filled with fragrant incense.
verb /ɪnˈsɛns/
to make very angry; to infuriate: ENRAGE, infuriate, anger, madden, send into a rage, outrage, inflame, exasperate, antagonize, provoke, irritate greatly, rile, gall; informal make someone see red, make someone's blood boil, make someone's hackles rise, get someone's back up, hack off, drive mad/crazy, drive up the wall; *British informal* wind up, get on someone's wick, nark, get up someone's nose; *North American informal* burn up, tick off, gravel; *vulgar slang* piss off; *British vulgar slang* get on someone's tits
...The unfair treatment incensed the employees.
...His rude comments incensed the entire community.
\> late Middle English (in the general sense ‘inflame or excite someone with a strong feeling’): from Old French incenser, from Latin incendere ‘set fire to’.
\> Oxford Dictionary of English
85
opulent
opulent
86
vapor
vapor
87
vicinity
vicinity
88
latent
latent
89
threnody
threnody
90
rehabilitate
rehabilitate
91
hasty
hasty
92
convulse
convulse
93
bourgeois
bourgeois
94
parish
parish
95
touch and go
touch and go
96
gauzy
gauzy
97
brigade
brigade
98
fastidious
fastidious
/fæˈstɪdiəs/
adjective
very attentive to detail and difficult to please; overly concerned with cleanliness or precision: SCRUPULOUS /ˈskruːpjələs/, punctilious, painstaking, meticulous, assiduous, sedulous, perfectionist, fussy, finicky, dainty, over-particular; critical, overcritical, hypercritical, hard/difficult/impossible to please; pedantic, precise, exact, hairsplitting, exacting, demanding; *informal* nitpicking, choosy, picky; *British informal* pernickety
...She was fastidious about keeping her workspace organized and spotless.
\> From Latin fastidiosus "disdainful, squeamish, exacting," from fastidium "loathing, squeamishness; dislike, aversion; excessive nicety," which is of uncertain origin; perhaps from *fastu-taidiom, a compound of fastus "contempt, arrogance, pride," and taedium "aversion, disgust."
\> Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline
99
saline
saline
100
adamantine
adamantine
101
cul-de-sac
cul-de-sac
102
ornamental
ornamental
103
tuck in
tuck in
104
scope out
scope out
105
brandish
brandish
106
kapok
kapok
107
cognizant
cognizant
108
eviscerate
eviscerate
109
desolation
desolation
110
prompting
prompting
111
osteoporosis
osteoporosis
112
gawp
gawp
113
refreshment
refreshment
114
headway
headway
115
fortitude
fortitude
116
obtuse
obtuse
117
mediocrity
mediocrity
118
unbowed
unbowed
119
gallant
gallant
120
crestfallen
crestfallen
121
fixed
fixed
122
entomb
entomb
123
conciliatory
conciliatory
124
saunter
saunter
125
shambles
shambles
126
ruckus
| /ˈrʌkəs/
(n.) a noisy commotion or disturbance
##Footnote
The children caused a ruckus in the living room, knocking over furniture as they played.
127
prolific
prolific
128
benediction
benediction
129
voluptuous
voluptuous
130
celebrant
celebrant
131
novitiate
novitiate
132
didactic
didactic
133
wheel
wheel
134
alarmist
alarmist
135
nigh
nigh
136
valise
valise
137
unhinged
unhinged
138
apprentice
apprentice
139
tavern
tavern
140
waxen
waxen
141
vouchsafe
vouchsafe
142
quicksilver
quicksilver
143
demurrer
demurrer
144
statutory
statutory
145
ferry
ferry
146
slacken slacken
/ˈslækən/
verb
**1** to become or make less tense, fast, or severe
...The rope slackened as the wind died down.
...The driver slackened his pace on the wet road.
**2** to decrease in strength or activity
...Business began to slacken during the summer.
...His enthusiasm slackened when he saw the amount of work.
**3** to loosen or make looser
...She slackened her grip on the railing.
...The knot slackened after repeated tugging.
147
propitious
propitious
148
scurvy
scurvy
149
rubble
rubble
150
derision
derision
151
guile
guile
152
immanent
immanent
153
hydrology
hydrology
154
roster
roster
155
dumbfound
dumbfound
156
sate
sate
157
pulverize
pulverize
158
proselytize
proselytize
159
burlesque
burlesque
160
solicitude
solicitude
161
pedant
pedant
162
protean
protean
163
drive a wedge
drive a wedge
164
cladding
cladding
165
vigil
vigil
166
off one's feed
off one's feed
167
gallows
gallows
168
drench
drench
169
prostrate
prostrate
170
deliverance
deliverance
171
razz
razz
172
pedagogic
pedagogic
173
crone
crone
174
twang
twang
175
intercession
intercession
176
kibitz
kibitz
177
botany
botany
178
unquestionable
unquestionable
179
diaphanous
diaphanous
180
celibate
celibate
181
ravish
ravish
182
groove
groove
183
lilting
lilting
184
luxuriate
luxuriate
185
thimble
thimble
186
inkling
inkling
187
perchance
perchance
188
midget
midget
189
retch
retch
190
unearth
unearth
191
plunk
plunk
192
gratis
gratis
193
malinger
malinger
194
ruffle
ruffle
/ˈrʌfəl/
verb
A *ruffle* is a pleated piece of decorative fabric often used as trim on clothes, like the *ruffles* on a pirate’s shirt. To *ruffle* is to make someone lose their composure. Argh.
The word *ruffle* is mysterious, but it might be from the Low German word *ruffelen* which means "to wrinkle." A ruffle on the bottom of a dress is like a fancy wrinkle. To ruffle someone is to upset them, and they’ll need to get straightened out. Often, this word is used in the expression "*ruffle* their feathers." Hearing bad news will ruffle most people's feathers. An unruffled person and an unruffled shirt will both be smoother.
**1** (also **ruffle something** ↔ **up**) to disturb the smoothness or regularity of
**1a** : DISARRANGE, tousle, dishevel, rumple, run one's fingers through, make untidy, tumble, riffle, disorder; mess up, make a mess of, tangle; *North American informal* muss, muss up.
...He **ruffled** her **hair** affectionately.
**1b** : MAKE RIPPLES IN, ripple, riffle, roughen
...A light wind ruffled the water.
**2** (of a bird) to erect (its feathers) in anger or display
...On his departure to the high wires, the starling ruffled his feathers and flirted his wings.
**3** to upset or annoy: ANNOY, irritate, irk, vex, nettle, needle, anger, exasperate; disconcert, unnerve, fluster, flurry, agitate, harass, upset, disturb, discomfit, put off, put someone off their stroke, throw off balance, make nervous, discompose, discountenance; *informal* rattle, faze, throw, get to, put into a flap, throw into a tizz, rile, niggle, aggravate, bug, miff, peeve, discombobulate, shake up; *British informal* wind up, nark, get across
...The comment ruffled her calm demeanor.
...He ruffled some people with his constant complaining.
**ruffle somebody’s feathers**
to cause someone to become annoyed or upset
...The criticism ruffled his feathers.
...She's never let a client ruffle her feathers
...Tampering with the traditional approach would ruffle a few feathers.
noun
**1** a strip of fabric gathered or pleated for decoration
...The dress had delicate ruffles along the hem.
...She added ruffles to the curtains.
**2** a disturbance, upset, or irritation
...The announcement caused a ruffle in the usually calm office.
...There was a slight ruffle in their friendship.
\> From Middle English ruffelen, perhaps from Old Norse hrufla (“to graze, scratch”) or Middle Low German ruffelen (“to wrinkle, curl”). Further origin unknown. Related to Middle Dutch ruyffelen, German Low German ruffeln. See English ruff.
\> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster, Vocabulary.com, Wiktionary
195
chastity
chastity
196
a welter of sth
a welter of sth
197
rash
rash
198
scrub
scrub
199
gape
gape
/ɡeɪp/
verb
*Gape* is closely related to the word, gap, which means a space between things. When you gape at something, there is a lot of space between your teeth because your mouth is open in disbelief. You'll often hear mothers telling children not to gape. The fact is it's rude to stare at someone that way, even if they are a Sasquatch on the way to dance class.
**1** to stare with one's mouth open in amazement, wonder, or shock
...The children gaped at the magician's trick.
...Tourists gaped at the enormous skyscrapers.
**2** to open wide (especially the mouth)
...The fish gaped as it struggled for air.
...The wound gaped open, requiring stitches.
**3** to form or show a wide opening
...The curtains gaped, letting in the morning light.
...Her old shoes gaped at the sides.
noun
**1** a wide opening; a breach or gap
...There was a gape between the floorboards.
...The gape in the fence needed to be repaired.
**2** the act of staring with an open mouth
...Her gape of astonishment made everyone laugh.
...He gave a gape of surprise at the unexpected news.
\> Middle English: from Old Norse gapa; related to **gap**.
\> Oxford Dictionary of English, Vocabulary.com
200
static
static
/ˈstætɪk/
adjective
**1** not moving or changing; staying in one place or form
...The economy remained static for several months.
...The patient's condition was static throughout the night.
**2** (of electricity) involving stationary electric charges
...Static electricity made her hair stand on end.
...The carpet creates static charges in dry weather.
**3** lacking in movement, development, or vitality
...The plot of the movie was too static.
...Their relationship had become static and boring.
noun
**1** crackling or hissing noise on a radio, telephone, or other electronic device
...There was too much static to hear the radio clearly.
...The phone call was full of static.
**2** static electricity
...The balloon stuck to the wall due to static.
...Her sweater crackled with static when she took it off.
**3** INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
angry or critical talk or behavior; heated opposition or criticism
...The reception was going sour, breaking up into static.
...He was getting a lot of static about his decision.
\> Oxford Dictionary of English, Merriam-Webster
201
miser
| /ˈmaɪzər/
(n.) a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible: PENNY-PINCHER, pinchpenny, cheese-parer, Scrooge; HOARDER, saver, collector, gatherer, accumulator, magpie, squirrel; ascetic, puritan; *informal* SKINFLINT /ˈskɪnˌflɪnt/, meanie, money-grubber, cheapskate; *North American informal* tightwad; *British vulgar slang* tight-arse; *North American vulgar slang* tight-ass
##Footnote
The old miser refused to turn on the heat, even in the middle of winter.
\> 1540s, "miserable person, wretch," from Latin miser (adj.) "unhappy, wretched, pitiable, in distress," a word for which "no acceptable PIE pedigree has been found" [de Vaan]. The oldest English sense now is obsolete; the main modern meaning of "money-hoarding person" ("one who in wealth conducts himself as one afflicted with poverty" - Century Dictionary) is recorded by 1560s, from the presumed unhappiness of such people. The older sense is preserved in **miserable**, **misery**, etc.
\> Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline
