Set 14 Flashcards
1
Q
befuddle
A
befuddle
2
Q
gawk
A
gawk
3
Q
machismo
A
machismo
4
Q
wharf
A
wharf
5
Q
enfeeble
A
enfeeble
6
Q
ephemeral
A
ephemeral
7
Q
sop
A
sop
8
Q
gibbous
A
gibbous
9
Q
mollify
A
mollify
10
Q
piazza
A
piazza
11
Q
sag
A
sag
12
Q
dry run
A
dry run
13
Q
disenfranchise
A
disenfranchise
14
Q
jostle
A
jostle
15
Q
granite
A
granite
16
Q
ecumenical
A
ecumenical
17
Q
paragon
A
paragon
18
Q
spillway
A
spillway
19
Q
sojourn
A
sojourn
/ˈsɒdʒɜːn $ ˈsoʊdʒɜːrn/
verb
FORMAL
to stay somewhere temporarily
…He sojourned in Paris for three months.
…They sojourned at various monasteries during their pilgrimage.
noun
FORMAL
a temporary stay or visit
…Her sojourn in Italy lasted six weeks.
…The writer’s brief sojourn in the countryside inspired his novel.
> c. 1300, sojournen, “stay temporarily, dwell for a time; visit as a temporary resident;” also “reside permanently, dwell;” from Old French sojourner, based on Latin sub- ‘under’ + late Latin diurnum ‘day’.
> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Dictionary of English, Etymonline
20
Q
expository
A
expository
21
Q
sheepish
A
sheepish
22
Q
morose
A
morose
23
Q
amortize
A
amortize
24
Q
bawdy
A
bawdy
25
eloquent
eloquent
26
strung up
strung up
27
wheedle
wheedle
28
derrick
derrick
29
whipsaw
whipsaw
30
increment
increment
31
twelfth
twelfth
32
intone
intone
33
ravishing
ravishing
34
dopey
dopey
35
olfactory
olfactory
36
thickheaded
thickheaded
37
whip up
whip up
38
dictum
dictum
39
tart
tart
40
connoisseur
connoisseur
41
fecund
fecund
42
courteous
courteous
43
jumpy
jumpy
/ˈdʒʌmpi/
adjective
**1** nervous, anxious, or easily startled; If you are **jumpy**, you are nervous or worried about something: NERVOUS, on edge, edgy, tense, anxious, ill at ease, unrelaxed, in a state of nerves, in a state of agitation, fretful, uneasy, restless, fidgety, worked up, keyed up, overwrought, wrought up, strung out; *British* nervy; *informal* with butterflies in one's stomach, a bundle of nerves, jittery, like a cat on a hot tin roof, twitchy, in a state, in a stew, uptight, wired, het up, all of a dither, all of a doodah, all of a lather, in a tizz/tizzy, stressed out, white-knuckled; *British informal* strung up, stressy, windy, like a cat on hot bricks; *North American informal* spooky, squirrelly, antsy
...She felt jumpy before the big presentation.
...The sudden noise made him jumpy.
**2** characterized by abrupt stops and starts or an irregular course: JERKY, jolting; lurching, bumpy, jarring; fitful, convulsive
...a jumpy pulse
...The film had a jumpy quality due to poor editing.
...His jumpy handwriting showed his nervousness.
\> Collins English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus
44
bullyrag
bullyrag
45
equable
equable
46
filigree
filigree
47
blasphemy
blasphemy
48
anorexic
anorexic
49
ovoid
ovoid
50
indictment
indictment
51
relegate
relegate
52
regale
regale
53
stir
stir
54
hearth
hearth
55
juvenile
juvenile
56
bedlam
bedlam
57
biped
biped
58
moreish
moreish
59
bloodcurdling
bloodcurdling
60
perpetuity
perpetuity
61
doozy
doozy
62
askance
askance
63
plucky
plucky
64
ordeal
ordeal
65
gaiety
gaiety
66
prim
prim
/prɪm/
adjective
**1** very formal, proper, or easily shocked by anything improper; If you describe someone as **prim**, you disapprove of them because they behave too correctly and are too easily shocked by anything rude: PRUDISH, particular, formal, proper
...She always dressed in a prim and modest style.
...His prim manners made him seem old-fashioned.
**2** neat, tidy, and well-groomed; If you describe something as **prim**, you mean that it is very neat, tidy, or sensible.
...The prim garden had perfectly trimmed hedges.
...Her prim appearance gave the impression of strict discipline.
verb
to purse or tighten one's lips in a formal or disapproving manner
...She primmed her lips at the rude remark.
...He primmed his mouth, refusing to respond.
\> "formal, stiffly precise in speech or manners," 1709, the sole surviving sense of a word attested first as a verb (1680s) "to assume a formal, precise demeanor," a cant word of uncertain origin, perhaps from French prim "thin, small, delicate" (Old French prim "fine, delicate"), from Latin primus "finest," literally "first" (see **prime** (adj.)).
\> Later, "deck out with great nicety, dress to effect, form or dispose with affected preciseness" (1721). It also is attested as a noun from 1700, "formal, precise, or stuck-up person." Related: Primly; primness.
\> Collins English Dictionary, Etymonline
67
spunky
spunky
68
throes
throes
69
forefinger
forefinger
70
punch-drunk
punch-drunk
71
punctilious
punctilious
72
impenetrable
impenetrable
73
bile
bile
74
antagonism
antagonism
75
excoriate
excoriate
76
ebullient
ebullient
77
mainstay
mainstay
78
sagacity
sagacity
79
reel
reel
80
vacuity
vacuity
81
credulous
credulous
82
lineal
lineal
83
rite
rite
84
piety
| /ˈpaɪəti/
(n.) devotion and reverence to religious practices; devoutness
##Footnote
Her piety was evident in her daily prayers and regular attendance at religious services.
\> late Middle English: from Latin pius ‘dutiful, pious’
\> Oxford Dictionary of English
85
fait accompli
fait accompli
86
dissipate
dissipate
87
oodles
oodles
88
holler
holler
89
siesta
siesta
90
gash
gash
91
muzzy
muzzy
92
cutlery
cutlery
93
commandment
commandment
94
excrete
excrete
95
gravel
gravel
96
cistern
cistern
97
listless
listless
98
hearsay
hearsay
99
narrowly
narrowly
100
consort
consort
101
arrogate
arrogate
102
peal
peal
103
alight
alight
104
prig
prig
105
infatuate
infatuate
/ɪnˈfætʃueɪt/
to inspire with a foolish or extravagant love or admiration
→ infatuated with
...He was completely **infatuated with** his new hobby, spending hours on it every day.
...Kristen Stewart plays a small-town gym owner who becomes **infatuated with** a body builder played by Katy O’Brian.
—Brian Tallerico, *Vulture*, 5 Feb. 2025
\> 1530s, "turn (something) to foolishness, frustrate by making foolish," from Latin infatuatus, past participle of infatuare "make a fool of," from in- "in" (from PIE root **en** "in") + fatuus "foolish" (see **fatuous**). Specific sense of "inspire (in someone) a foolish passion beyond control of reason" is from 1620s. Related: Infatuated; infatuating.
\> Merriam-Webster, Etymonline
106
vilify
vilify
107
heartthrob
heartthrob
108
acerbic
acerbic
109
heathen
heathen
110
off the wagon
off the wagon
111
clerical
clerical
112
relent
relent
113
teething problems
teething problems
114
warm to sb/sth
warm to sb/sth
115
get on with sth
get on with sth
116
fob sb off
fob sb off
117
shunt
shunt
118
sort sth/sb out
sort sth/sb out
119
truancy
truancy
120
shoot off
shoot off
121
ostentatious
ostentatious
122
scrub up well
scrub up well
123
tell sb off
tell sb off
124
beef
beef
125
demur
demur
126
fill sb in
fill sb in
127
rub off
rub off
128
get up to sth
get up to sth
129
polemic
polemic
130
take for a spin
take for a spin
131
catholic
catholic
132
lay sb/sth out
lay sb/sth out
133
inquire
inquire
134
iron sth out
iron sth out
135
be cooking (with gas)
be cooking (with gas)
136
brush off
brush off
137
unruly
unruly
138
ineffable
ineffable
139
monopolize
monopolize
140
unkempt
| /ʌnˈkɛmpt/
(adj.) untidy or disheveled in appearance; If you describe something or someone as **unkempt**, you mean that they are untidy, and not looked after carefully or kept neat.
##Footnote
- His hair was unkempt and filthy.
- His unkempt hair and wrinkled clothes made it clear he had just rolled out of bed.
- the unkempt grass
- He looked unkempt.
\> "uncombed, disheveled," 1570s, from un- (1) "not" + kempt "well-combed, neat," from variant past participle of Middle English kemben "to comb," from Old English cemban "to comb," from Proto-Germanic *kambijan, from *kamb- "comb" (from PIE root *gembh- "tooth, nail." ).
\> Collins English Dictionary, Etymonline
141
faff about
faff about
142
retrograde
retrograde
143
pew
pew
144
hash sth out
hash sth out
145
to have eyes like saucers
to have eyes like saucers
to be looking at someone or something with wide eyes, likely due to surprise or awe.
...We all **had eyes like saucers** when Mom and Aunt Judy started screaming at each other during dinner.
\> The Free Dictionary
146
wake/woke/woken
wake (past tense woke /wəʊk $ woʊk/, past participle woken /ˈwəʊkən $ ˈwoʊ-/)
awake (past tense awoke /əˈwəʊk $ əˈwoʊk/, past participle awoken /əˈwəʊkən $ əˈwoʊ-/)
**Register**
- In everyday English, people usually use **wake up** rather than **awake**:
- I **woke up** at 4 o'clock this morning.
\> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
147
drive a wedge between
drive a wedge between
148
by the same token
by the same token
149
elicit
elicit
150
passerby
passerby
151
isle
isle
152
gruelling
gruelling
153
gratify
gratify
154
irreparable
irreparable
155
when push comes to shove
when push comes to shove
156
confederate
confederate
157
doleful
doleful
158
footsie
footsie
159
canine
canine
160
unbeknownst
unbeknownst
161
romp
romp
162
runner-up
runner-up
163
playwright
playwright
164
dinky
dinky
165
opine
opine
166
megalomaniac
megalomaniac
167
arcane
| /ɑːrˈkeɪn/
(adj.) known or understood by only a few; mysterious or obscure: Something that is **arcane** is secret or mysterious: MYSTERIOUS, secret, hidden, concealed, covert, clandestine, enigmatic, dark; esoteric, obscure, abstruse, recondite, little known, recherché, inscrutable, impenetrable, opaque, incomprehensible, cryptic, occult
##Footnote
- The professor's lecture covered arcane philosophical concepts that few students could grasp.
- He was the only person who understood all the arcane details of the agreement.
- This argument may seem arcane to those not closely involved in the world of finance.
\> "hidden, secret," 1540s, from Latin arcanus "secret, hidden, private, concealed," from arcere "to close up, enclose, contain," from arca "chest, box, place for safe-keeping," from PIE root *ark- "to hold, contain, guard" (source also of Greek arkos "defense," arkein "to ward off;" Armenian argel "obstacle;" Lithuanian raktas "key," rakinti "to shut, lock").
\> Collins English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Etymonline
168
strapping
strapping
169
by and large
by and large
170
fever pitch
fever pitch
171
unfettered
unfettered
172
aisle
aisle
173
dissent
dissent
174
trifling
trifling
175
stanza
stanza
176
intrepid
intrepid
177
despotic
despotic
178
dulcet
dulcet
179
veritable
veritable
180
elective
elective
181
fool's errand
fool's errand
182
demote
demote
183
fiendish
fiendish
184
ruffle someone's feathers
ruffle someone's feathers
185
typecast
typecast
186
schmooze
schmooze
187
patron
patron
188
par for the course
par for the course
189
spiel
spiel
/ʃpiːl, spiːl/
noun
a speech, especially one that is long and spoken quickly and is intended to persuade the person listening about something
...The salesman launched into his well-rehearsed spiel about the car's features.
...I had to listen to her usual spiel about why I should take the job.
...The teacher gave his standard spiel about academic honesty.
...She delivered her spiel about the importance of voting.
verb
to speak at length, especially in a persuasive or rehearsed manner
...He spieled about his new business idea for hours.
...The tour guide spieled facts about the city's history.
\> "glib speech, pitch," slang, 1896 (Ade), probably from the verb (1894, in a San Francisco context) meaning "to speak in a glib manner," earlier "to play circus music" (1870, in a German-American context), from German spielen "to play," from Old High German spilon (cognate with Old English spilian "to play"). The noun also perhaps from German Spiel "play, game." Related: Spieler.
\> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Cambridge Dictionary, Etymonline
190
underling
underling
191
unsolicited
| /ˌʌnsəˈlɪsɪtɪd/
(adj.) not asked for or requested
##Footnote
She received a lot of unsolicited advice after announcing her career change.
192
face plant
face plant
193
dignitary
dignitary
194
powder keg
powder keg
195
Pollyanna
Pollyanna
196
square off
square off
197
snap at sb
snap at sb
198
the jury is (still) out on sth
the jury is (still) out on sth
199
chafe
chafe
/tʃeɪf/
verb
**1** to become or make sore by rubbing
...The rough collar chafed his neck.
...Her shoes chafed against her heels.
**2** FORMAL
to feel impatient or annoyed; If you **chafe at** something such as a restriction, you feel annoyed about it: BE IMPATIENT, BE ANNOYED, be angry, be irritated, be incensed, be exasperated, be frustrated; fume, brood, fuss, upset oneself; *informal* blow one's top, blow a fuse
...He had **chafed at** having to take orders from another.
...The young officer chafed under the strict rules.
...He was chafing under the company's new ownership.
**3** to warm by rubbing, especially with the hands
...The nurse chafed the patient's cold hands.
...He chafed his arms to keep warm.
**4** to rub against something repeatedly
...The rope chafed against the railing.
...The sail was chafing against the mast.
noun
irritation of the skin caused by rubbing
...The runner developed a painful chafe on his thigh.
...She applied cream to prevent chafe during the bike ride.
\> From Middle English chaufen (“to warm”), borrowed from Old French chaufer (modern French chauffer), from Latin calefacere, calfacere (“to make warm”), from calere (“to be warm”) + facere (“to make”).
\> Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Collins English Dictionary, Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, Wiktionary
200
gravy
gravy
/ˈɡreɪvi/
noun
**1** a sauce made from the juices of cooked meat
...She poured hot gravy over the roast.
...The mashed potatoes were swimming in gravy.
**2** INFORMAL•NORTH AMERICAN
something pleasing, especially money or success, that is unearned or unexpected
...The bonus he received in addition to his salary was pure gravy.
...This business took care of all our expenses, and the revenue from other ads and subscriptions was gravy.
...Any profit above their goal would be gravy.
\> Middle English (denoting a spicy sauce): perhaps from a misreading (as gravé) of Old French grané, probably from grain ‘spice’, from Latin granum ‘grain’.
\> Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary of English
