Set 15 Flashcards
(199 cards)
2
Q
fiasco
A
total failure; ex: bottle
3
Q
founder
A
person who establishes (an organization or business)
4
Q
nexus
A
connection
5
Q
juncture
A
crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining
6
Q
conducive
A
helpful; contributive; v. conduce; ex. conduce to/towards
7
Q
cavalcade
A
procession of riders or horse-drawn carriages; parade; ex: cavalry
8
Q
irremediable
A
incurable; uncorrectable; impossible to remedy
9
Q
taint
A
contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace of something bad; ex. tainted reputation; n. stain; touch of decay or bad influence; ex: touch
10
Q
molecule
A
the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance
11
Q
careen
A
lurch; sway from side to side; move with irregular swinging movement; stagger
12
Q
disavowal
A
denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; v. disavow; ex: disclaim
13
Q
purveyor
A
furnisher of foodstuffs; caterer; v. purvey: supply (eg. food); furnish; ex: provide
14
Q
ambiguous
A
unclear or doubtful in meaning; having more than one possible interpretation
15
Q
mode
A
prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; ex. in the latest mode; ex. simple mode of life
16
Q
assail
A
assault
17
Q
incredulity
A
tendency to disbelief
18
Q
travesty
A
copy or example of something that completely misrepresents the true nature of the real thing; comical parody or imitation; treatment aimed at making something appear ridiculous; ex. travesty of justice; OP. paragon
19
Q
striated
A
marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; ex. striated rocks; v. striate; n. stria: thin groove or line
20
Q
malodorous
A
foul-smelling
21
Q
commonwealth
A
nation governed by the people; republic; people of a nation
22
Q
draw
A
choosing of a lot or card
23
Q
delete
A
erase; strike out
24
Q
lunatic
A
insane; ex. lunatic asylum
25
Q
atheistic
A
denying the existence of God; n. atheism
26
perspicuous
(of something) plainly expressed; easy to understand; ex. perspicuous comments
27
virtuoso
highly skilled artist (esp. in music); ex. piano virtuoso
28
avert
prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
29
canvass
determine or seek opinions, votes, etc.; go through (a region) to solicit votes or orders; conduct a survey; n.
30
discernible
distinguishable; perceivable; ex. discernible improvement
31
heterodox
(of beliefs) against accepted opinion; unorthodox; unconventional
32
regeneration
spiritual rebirth; ex. regeneration of the prisoners; v. regenerate: give or obtain new life; reform spiritually
33
frantic
wild; distraught as from fear or worry; ex. frantic with fear
34
champion
support militantly; fight for; n. person who fights for or supports strongly (a principle, movement, person, etc.)
35
taciturn
habitually silent; talking little
36
sententious
pithy; terse; concise; aphoristic
37
cumbersome
heavy and awkward to carry or wear; burdensome; ex. cumbersome parcel/uniform
38
spare
give; use; refrain from harming; save from experiencing; exempt; ex. spare me 5 minutes; ex. Take this money and spare my life; ex. The emperor was spared the onus; adj. kept in reserve; free for other use; unoccupied; ex. spare time
39
amble
walking at an easy unhurried pace; v. walk slowly and aimlessly
40
recondite
abstruse; not easily understood; profound; secret
41
infallible
unerring; never making mistakes
42
cumulative
growing by addition; accumulative
43
ductile
malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
44
askance
with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); ex. look askance at
45
veer
change in direction; swerve
46
auroral
pertaining to the aurora borealis; ex: aurora australis
47
lubricate
apply a lubricant to; n. lubricant: substance that reduces friction
48
naivet\'e(naivety)
quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; adj. naive(na\"ive): ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous
49
astute
wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage
50
clangor
loud resounding noise; sound of repeated clanging
51
incredulous
withholding belief; skeptical; showing disbelief
52
luminous
shining (esp. in the dark); issuing light; ex. luminous paint/road signs
53
zany
comic; crazy; n. clown; comical person (given to outlandish behavior)
54
knell
tolling of a bell especially to indicate a funeral, disaster, etc.; sound of the funeral bell; v.
55
whittle
pare; cut away thin bits (from wood); fashion in this way; reduce gradually; trim
56
exhume
dig out of the ground; remove from a grave
57
homage
honor; tribute; great respect; ex. pay/do homage to
58
graphic
pertaining to the art of delineating; vividly described
59
derogatory
expressing a low opinion; disparaging; v. derogate: detract; disparage
60
apothecary
druggist; pharmacist
61
caucus
private meeting of a group of people in a political party to select officers or determine policy; ex: the Caucus club of Boston
62
rickety
(of buildings) likely to break or fall apart; of rickets; ex: rickets; ex: vitamin D
63
sphinx-like
enigmatic; mysterious
64
tarantula
venomous spider
65
charisma
divine gift; great popular charm or appeal; magnetism
66
alacrity
cheerful promptness without reluctance
67
felon
person convicted of a grave crime; ex: felony: serious crime
68
descry
catch sight of (something distant)
69
militia
army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers
70
groove
long narrow channel made in a surface to guide the movement of something; ex. groove of the record
71
unfrock
defrock; strip a priest or minister of church authority
72
iconoclastic
attacking cherished traditions; n. iconoclast: one who attacks traditional ideas; one who destroys sacred images
73
understate
state with less truth than seems warranted by the facts; ex. He understated the seriousness of the crime; n. understatement; OP. overstate
74
staid
serious and sedate; sober; ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
75
pliant
flexible; easily influenced
76
erudite
(of a person or book) learned; full of learning; scholarly; n. erudition
77
matriculate
enroll (in college or graduate school); ex: matrix
78
cadaverous
like a corpse; pale
79
irretrievable
impossible to recover or regain; ex: retrieve
80
atavism
resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; adj. atavistic
81
homely
not good-looking; unattractive
82
spatula
broad-bladed instrument used for spreading or mixing
83
modish
fashionable; conforming to the current fashion
84
emollient
soothing or softening remedy (for the skin); adj.
85
advocate
speak in favor of; support (an idea or plan); urge; plead for
86
run-down
(of a place) dilapidated; in a bad condition; (of a person) weak or exhausted
87
reduce
diminish; bring to a weaker or more difficult condition; demote; lower in rank; separate into components by analysis; ex. reduced to the ranks; ex. reduce the house to rubble; n. reduction
88
ecosystem
ecological community together with its environment
89
chancellor
legal official of high rank; ex: chancellery(chancellory): position of a chancellor
90
debonair
(of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; ex: of good disposition
91
procrastinate
postpone; delay or put off
92
astigmatism
eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism
93
stoic
stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; n. ex: stoicism
94
inanimate
lifeless; not animate
95
indigent
poor; destitute
96
vampire
ghostly being that sucks the blood of the living
97
sobriety
moderation (especially regarding indulgence in alcohol); seriousness
98
disputatious
argumentative; fond of argument
99
abide
dwell; abide by: comply with; put up with; tolerate; ex. abide by the rules; ex. I can't abide rude people.
100
deposition
testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
101
coax
persuade by flattery
102
bastion
stronghold; something seen as a source of protection; ex. the last bastion of male chauvinism
103
ethos
underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture; ex. the company ethos
104
conundrum
riddle; difficult problem
105
compute
reckon; calculate
106
spangle
small shiny metallic piece sewn to clothing for ornamentation
107
dismember
cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb
108
reciprocate
do or give something in return; repay in kind; give or take mutually; interchange; move backwards and forwards; ex. reciprocate his invitation by inviting him; n. reciprocity: reciprocal relationship; mutual interchange of advantages between two groups; ex. reciprocity in trading rights
109
implicit
understood but not stated; implied; unquestioning and complete; ex. implicit trust
110
rustle
make slight sounds like silk moving or being rubbed together
111
document
provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; n.
112
crescendo
increase in the volume or intensity as in a musical passage; climax; ex: crescent
113
renounce
abandon; give up (by formal announcement); disown; repudiate; ex. renounce one's claim to the property/one's religion; n. renunciation
114
agglomeration
collection; heap; v. agglomerate: gather into a rounded mass; n. aggolmeate: jumbled mass; heap
115
gloat
express evil satisfaction; look at or think about with evil satisfaction; view malevolently; ex. The thief gloated over the stolen jewels.
116
standstill
condition of no movement or activity; stop
117
genesis
beginning; origin
118
derivative
unoriginal; obtained from another source; ex. derivative prose style; n.
119
waylay
ambush; lie in wait for and attack
120
mingle
mix together in close association
121
litotes
understatement for emphasis; ex. ``not bad(=pretty good)''
122
incoherent
unintelligible; muddled; unable to express one's thoughts in an orderly manner; illogical; lacking cohesion; not coherent
123
pinch
squeeze between the thumb and a finger, or other edges; ex. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. n. amount that can be held between the thumb and a finger
124
flirt
behave in a way that attracts (sexual) attention; deal triflingly with; n. one (or woman) given to flirting; adj. flirtatious
125
abolish
cancel; put an end to
126
inculcate
teach (ideas or principles); instill
127
din
continued loud noise; v. make a din; instill by wearying repetition
128
reputable
respectable; having a good reputation
129
culvert
artificial channel for water; drain crossing under a road
130
ooze
(of a thick liquid) pass or flow slowly; n. mud or thick liquid as at the bottom of a river
131
coin
make coins; invent or fabricate (a word or phrase); n. coinage: word or phrase recently invented
132
sordid
filthy; foul; base; vile; ex. sordid bed/story
133
promote
advance in rank; advance; help to flourish; advocate; help actively in forming; publicize or popularize; ex. Milk promotes health; ex. promote a match/bill; ex. promote a new product
134
loom
appear or take shape (usually in an enlarged, indistinct, or distorted form); ex. The shadow of the gallows loomed threateningly. n. apparatus for making thread into cloth
135
succumb
yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; ex. succumb to the illness
136
balmy
soft and mild (of air); fragrant
137
vulgar
of the common people; deficient in refinement; not refined; coarse; ex. vulgar display of wealth; n. vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word; ex: vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout
138
infringe
violate (a law); encroach (the right of another person)
139
hardy
(of people or animals) sturdy; robust; (of plants) able to stand inclement(stormy) weather
140
fancy
imagination (of a whimsical or fantastic nature); capricious liking; v. imagine; be fond of; adj. decorative; elaborate
141
fervor
glowing ardor; intensity of feeling; quality of being fervent or fervid; zeal; intense heat
142
anguish
acute pain; extreme suffering
143
humdrum
dull; monotonous
144
siren
apparatus for making sounds; womanlike creature
145
serendipity
gift for finding valuable things by accident; accidental good fortune or luck; ex: The Three Princes of Serendip
146
monogram
design composed of one or more initials of a name; v.
147
manumit
emancipate; free from slavery or bondage
148
wallow
roll in mud; indulge in; (of a ship) roll in a rough sea; become helpless; ex. wallow in the mud/luxury
149
rotund
(of a person) fat and round
150
concomitant
that which accompanies; ex. Deafnes is a frequent concommitant of old age; adj. existing or happening together with something else
151
enrapture
please intensely; fill with rapture and delight
152
halfhearted
exhibiting little interest or enthusiasm
153
yield
amount produced; crop; income on investment; profit obtained from an investment; v. produce; give in; surrender
154
presentiment
premonition; foreboding; feeling something will happen; anticipatory fear
155
unwitting
not knowing; unaware; unintentional; ex. She was their unwitting accomplice; ex. unwitting insult; ex: wit: know
156
asteroid
small planet
157
vigil
keeping watch (during normal sleeping hours); ex. all-night vigil
158
hibernate
sleep throughout the winter; n. hibernation
159
impetus
moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus; impulse
160
avuncular
of or like an uncle
161
livid
lead-colored; black and blue (as from a bruise); ashen; enraged; extremely angry
162
ford
place where a river can be crossed on foot; v.
163
draconian
extremely severe; ex. draconian punishment; ex: Draco: Athenian politician
164
integral
complete; necessary for completeness; ex. integral part
165
saturate
soak thoroughly; imbue; impregnate; charge; fill to capacity
166
snivel
complain or whine tearfully; run at the nose; snuffle; ex. Don't come back sniveling to me.
167
rotundity
roundness; sonorousness of speech
168
precise
exact
169
faction
party; clique (within a large group); dissension
170
philanderer
faithless lover; flirt
171
consistency
absence of contradictions; uniformity; degree of thickness or firmness; ex. consistency of thick cream; ex: viscous
172
revulsion
sudden strong feeling of disgust; sudden violent change of feeling; negative reaction; ex. revulsion from the scenes of torture
173
capitulate
surrender; give up all resistance
174
suppress
put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle; overwhelm; inhibit the expression of; check; prevent from being published or made public; ex. suppress a smile; ex. suppress the magazine/truth
175
daze
stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; n.
176
awl
pointed tool used for piercing
177
ascendancy
controlling influence; position of controlling influence; ex: in the ascendant
178
confiscate
seize; take possession of (private property) by official order (usu. as a punishment); commandeer
179
fake
not genuine; n. one that is not genuine; impostor; sham; v. counterfeit; ex. fake the results of the experiment/the signature
180
catechism
book for religious instruction in question-and-answer form; religious instruction by question and answer; v. catechize
181
nugatory
worthless; futile
182
lurid
wild; sensational; graphic; gruesome; horrible; ex. lurid details of the murder
183
amphibian
able to live both on land and in water; n.
184
crass
very unrefined; grossly insensible; crude and undiscriminating; ex. crass behavior
185
dissonance
discord
186
rancor
long-lasting hatred; bitterness; ex. negotiation without rancor; adj. rancorous
187
supplant
take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
188
taunt
deride or provoke; challenge in derision; n.
189
touchstone
stone used to test the fineness of gold alloys; criterion; standard
190
corrosive
eating away by chemicals or disease; (of language) fierce
191
mollycoddle
pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively
192
ram
male sheep; v. strike or drive against with a heavy impact
193
repugnance
disgust; strong dislike; loathing; adj. repugnant: arousing disgust; repulsive
194
martial
warlike; of war; ex. martial art/law
195
abet
assist usually in doing something wrong; encourage
196
formidable
menacing; arousing fear; threatening; difficult to defeat; ex. formidable foe/question
197
license
official or legal permission; latitude of action or speech; excessive freedom that causes harm or damage; v.
198
veracious
(of a person) truthful
199
discerning
mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; v. discern: perceive
200
whit
small amount; smallest speck;
