Set 24 Flashcards
Fickle
A likeliness to casually change ones mind
Filibuster
Intentional obstruction, usually using prolonged speech making to delay legislative action
Filigree
An ornamental work, especially of delicate lace like patterns; resembling such a pattern
The decorative filigree of its design disguised the wrought iron fence’s practical purpose
*as a verb, to filigree means to adorn
Flag
To sag or droop, to become spiritless, to decline
The fan’s spirits flagged when the opposing team intercepted the ball in the last few minutes of the game and scored
Flip
Sarcastic, impertinent
One more flip answer out of you and you’re going to your room without supper
Florid
Flushed with color, ruddy, ornate
Glen always became a little florid when he drank; his face became bright red
Flout
To demonstrate contempt for
Alice flouted convention by showing up for the wedding in a bathing suit
Foment
To stir up, incite, rouse
Although they accused Kayla of fomenting the protest, she had actually been the one trying to calm everyone down
Forbearance
Patience, willingness to wait
Lacy hoped that her professor’s reputation for forbearance was well founded and that she would get an extension on her paper
- forbearance as a noun means an extension on a loan
- forbear means to refrain from and the past tense is forbore
Ford
To wade across the shallow part of a river or stream
I may have lost my shirt while trying to ford the river, but at least I still had my hat when I got to the other side
Fetter
To shackle, put in chains, restrain
Fran was fettered in her attempts to find the hotel by her inability to speak French
*fetters are literally shackles but can also be used figuratively
Responsibilities to her family and caring for her younger brothers and sisters were the fetters that kept Connie from pursuing her dream of acting
**unfettered means free or unhampered
