That All Shall Be Saved Flashcards
(89 cards)
1
Q
petulant, adj.
A
(of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered: he was moody and petulant; a petulant shake of the head.
2
Q
mite, n.
A
- a small child or animal, especially when regarded as an object of sympathy: the poor little mite looks half-starved. 2. A very small amount: his teacher thought he needed a mite of discipline.
3
Q
epigrammatic, adj., epigram, n.
A
in the style of an epigram; concise, clever, and amusing: an epigrammatic style. N. a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way: a Wildean epigram. (a) a short poem, especially a satirical one, with a witty or ingenious ending.
4
Q
adduce, v.t.
A
cite as evidence: a number of factors are adduced to explain the situation.
5
Q
Philistine, n., (philistine), philistinism
A
a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture an the arts: [as modifier] a philistine government.
6
Q
impregnable, adj.
A
(of a fortified position) unable to be captured or broken into: a massive impregnable fortress. (a) unable to be defeated or overcome
7
Q
mercurial, adj.
A
- subject to sudden unpredictable changes in mood or mind: his mercurial temperament.
8
Q
sibylline, adj.
A
chiefly literary, relating to or characteristic of a sibyl; prophetic and mysterious: one glimpses them, uttering sibylline prediction of weal and woe. his fascinating, if sometimes sibylline, meditations on the nation.
9
Q
vatic, adj.
A
literary, describing or predicting what will happen in the future.
10
Q
wanton, adj.
A
- (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked: sheer wanton vandalism. 2. (especially of a woman) sexually immodest or promiscuous. 3. Growing profusely; luxuriant: where wanton ivy twines. (a) lively, playful.
11
Q
sardonic, adj.
A
grimly mocking or cynical: Starkey attempted a sardonic smile.
12
Q
saturnine, adj.
A
- (of a person or their manner) gloomy: a saturnine temperament. (a) (of a person or their features) dark in coloring and moody or mysterious. 2. archaic. relating to lead.
13
Q
dotard, n.
A
an older person, especially one who has become weak or senile.
14
Q
Shrill, adj.
A
derogatory (especially of a complaint or demand) loud and forceful: a concession to their shrill demands
15
Q
charlatan, n.
A
a person falsely claiming to have special knowledge or skill: a self-confessed con-artist charlatan.
16
Q
glib, adj.
A
(of words or a speaker) fluent but insincere and shallow: the glib phrases soon roll off the tongue.
17
Q
equivocal, adj.
A
open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous: the equivocal nature of her remarks. (a) (of a person) using ambiguous or evasive language: he has always been equivocal about the meaning of his lyrics. (b) uncertain or questionable in nature: the results of the investigation were equivocal.
18
Q
well-to-do, adj.
A
wealthy; prosperous: a well-to-do family.
19
Q
bourgeoisie, n.
A
[treated as singular or plural] the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes: the rise of the bourgeoisie at the end of the eighteenth century; the landed gentry were replaced by a local bourgeoisie. (a) (in Marxist contexts) the capitalists class who own most of society’s means of production; the conflict of interest between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. –ORIGIN early 18th century; French, from Latin burgus ‘castle’ (in Medieval Latin ‘fortified town’), ultimately of Germanic origin and related to borough. Compare with burgess.
20
Q
comity, n., formal
A
- An association of nations for their mutual benefit. (a) (also comity of nations) [mass noun] the mutual recognition by nations of the lass and customs of others. 2. [mass noun] courtesy and considerate behavior towards others: a show of public comity in the White House.
21
Q
subterfuge, n.
A
[mass noun] deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal: he had to use subterfuge and bluff on many occasions. [count noun] I hated all the subterfuges, I hated lying to you.
22
Q
extirpate, v.t.
A
eradicate or destroy completely: timber wolves were extirpated from New England more than a century ago.
23
Q
recension, n.
A
a revised edition of a text: under the Carolingians, new recensions of the code were made. (a) [mass noun] the revision of the text.
24
Q
blinkered, adj.
A
(of a horse) wearing blinkers (blinders): Aboyeur’s blinkered head showed in front soon after the start. (a) having or showing a narrow or limited outlook: a blinkered attitude.
25
exposition, n.
1. a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory: a systematic exposition of the idea of biodiversity. (a) music. the part of a movement, especially in sonata form, in which the principal themes are first presented. 2. a larger public exhibition of art or trade goods: the exposition will feature exhibits by 165 companies. 3. [mass noun] archaic. the action of making something public: the country squires dreaded the exposition of their rustic conversations.
26
purveyor, n.
a person who sells or deals in particular goods: a purveyor of large luxury vehicles. (a) a person or group who spreads or promotes an idea, view, etc.: a purveyor of traditional Christian values.
27
sedentary, adj.
(of a person) tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive: we all walk a certain amount every day even if we are sedentary. (a) (of work or a way of life) characterized by much sitting and little physical exercise: a sedentary lifestyle spells bad news for hips and thighs. (b) (of a position) sitting; seated: he spoke from a sedentary position. (c) zoology & anthropology. inhabiting some locality throughout life; not migratory or nomadic: a tribe of sedentary agriculturalists. (d) zoology. (of an animal) sessile.
28
sessile, adj.
biology. (of an organism, e.g., a barnacle) fixed in one place; immobile: parrotfish inadvertently graze upon sessile invertebrates when cropping algae; overall body shape is consistent with a sessile habit. (a) botany & zoology. (of a plant or animal structure) attached directly by its base without a stalk or peduncle: sporongia may be stalked or sessile.
29
zoonatic, adj., zoonasis, n.
a disease which can be transmitted to humans from animals. –ORIGIN, late 19th century: from zoo- 'of animals' + Greek nosos 'disease'
30
berth, n., v.t.
1. a ship's allotted place at a wharf or dock: the vessel had left its berth. 2. a fixed bunk on a ship, train, or other means of transport: I'll sleep in the upper berth. [in combination] a fourth-berth caravan. 3. informal (often in sporting context) a position in an organization or event: he looked at home in an unfamiliar right-back berth. v.t. 1. moor (a ship) in its allotted place: they planned to berth HMS Impregnable at Portsmouth. 2. (of a passenger) provide a sleeping place for (someone). –PHRASES give a wide berth, steer a ship well clear of (something) while passing it: ships are advised to give the islands a wide berth. (a) stay away from (someone or something): I'd sworn to give women a wide berth.
31
stela, /ˈstēlə/, n., pl. stelae
archaeology. an upright stone slab or column typically bearing a commemorative inscription or relief design, often serving as a gravestone. Also stele. –ORIGIN, from GREEK stēlē, 'standing block'
32
slavish, adj.
servile or submissive: he noted the slavish, feudal respect they had for her. (a) showing no attempt at originality: a slavish adherence to protocol.
33
petulant, adj.
(of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered: he was moody and petulant; a petulant shake of the head.
34
syncretism, n.
[mass noun] 1. the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought: interfaith dialogue can easily slip into syncretism. 2. linguistics. the merging of different inflectional varieties of a word during the development of a language.
35
sapiential, adj. /ˌsāpēˈen(t)SH(ə)l/
literary. relating to wisdom: I saw them as sapiential metaphors, far more meaningful than their didactic pretext.
36
proximate, adj.
1. (especially of the cause of something) closest in relationship; immediate: the fact that a storm may show up the poor condition of a flat roof does not signify that storm was the proximate cause of damage to it. (a) closest in space or time: the failure of the proximate military power to lend assistance. 2. nearly accurate; approximate: he would try to change her speech into proximate ladylikeness.
37
disingenuous, adj.
not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does: this journalist was being somewhat disingenuous as well as cynical.
38
topiary, n.,
[mass noun] the art or practice of clipping trees or shapes into ornamental shapes: [as modifier] a specialist in topiary art. (a) shrubs or trees clipped into ornamental shapes: a cottage surrounded by topiary and flowers.
39
pall, v.i.
become less appealing or interesting through familiarity: the novelty of the quiet life palled.
40
soirée, n.
an evening party or gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music. –ORIGIN, French, from soir 'evening'.
41
suasive, adj.
formal. serving to persuade. (a) grammar. denoting a class of English verbs, for example insist, whose meaning includes the notion of persuading and which take a subordinate clause whose verb may either be in the subjunctive or take a modal.
42
tentative, adj.
not certain or fixed; provisional: a tentative conclusion. (a) done without confidence; hesitant: he eventually tried a few tentative steps around his hospital room.
43
reprise, n.
a repeated passage in music. (a) a repetition or further performance of something: a stale reprise of past polemic. v.i., repeat (a piece of music or a performance): he reprises his role as the vigilante architect.
44
approbation, n.
[mass noun] formal. approval or praise: a term of approbation.
45
probation, n.
law. the release of any offender from detention subject to a period of good behavior under supervision: I went to court and was put on probation. (a) a process of testing or observing the character or abilities of a person who is new to a role or job: for an initial period of probation your manager will closely monitor your progress.
46
rhapsodize, v.i.
speak or write about someone or something with great enthusiasm and delight: he began to rhapsodize about Gaby's beauty and charm.
47
refractory, adj.
formal. 1. stubborn or unmanageable: his refractory pony. 2. resistant to a process or stimulus: some granules are refractory to secretory stimuli; it will treat ores considered refractory to normal flotation methods.
48
credulous, adj.
having or showing too great readiness to believe things: a ceremony staged for credulous tourists.
49
concomitant, adj.
formal. naturally accompanying or associated: she loved travel with all its concomitant worries; concomitant with his obsession with dirt was a desire for order.
n. , a phenomenon that naturally accompanies or follows something: he sought promotion without the necessary concomitant of hard work.
50
callow, adj.
(of a young person) inexperienced and immature: earnest and callow undergraduates.
51
recondite, adj.
(of a subject or knowledge) little know; abstruse: the book is full of recondite information.
52
indurate, v.t.
harden: these sedimentary deposits, under the weight of the upper beds, would quickly indurate.
53
ostentatious, adj.
characterized by pretentious or showy display; designed to impress: a simple design that is glamorous without being ostentatious.
54
impregnable, adj.
(or a fortified position) unable to be captured or broken into: a massive and impregnable fortress. (a) unable to be defeated or overcome: Liverpool used their good fortune to forge an impregnable lead.
figurative. the seat I was offered appeared to be an impregnable stronghold.
55
parsimony, n.
[mass noun] extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources: a great tradition of public design has been shattered by government parsimony. –PHRASES, principle of parsimony (also law of parsimony), the scientific principle that things are usually connected or behave in the simplest or most economical way, especially with reference to alternative evolutionary pathways. Compare with Ockham's Razor.
56
prolepsis, n.
1. the anticipation of possible objections in rhetorical speech. 2. the representation of a thing as existing before it actually happens, as in 'he was a dead man when he entered': the destruction of the Vendôme Column and his part in it are foreshadowed in moments of haunting prolepsis.
57
intransigent, adj.
unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something: her father had tried persuasion, but she was intransigent. n., an intransigent person.
58
vertiginous, adj.
extremely high or steep: vertiginous drops to the valleys below. (a) relating to or affected by vertigo.
59
midden, n.
a dunghill or refuse heap. (a) short for kitchen midden, n., a prehistoric refuse heap which marks an ancient settlement, chiefly containing bones, shells, and stone implements.
60
siccative, n.
a drying agent used as a component of paint.
61
indolent, adj.
1. wanting to avoid activity or exertion; lazy: they were indolent and addicted to a life of pleasure. 2. medicine (of a disease or condition) causing little or no pain (a) (especially of an ulcer) slow to develop, progress, or heal; persistent.
62
indiscerptible, adj.
not discerptible; not subject to being separated into parts; indivisible.
63
exorbitant, adj.
(of a price or amount charged) unreasonably high: some hotels charge exorbitant rates for phone calls.
64
insolent, adj.
showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect: she hated the insolent tone of his voice.
65
craven, adj.
contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly: a craven abdication of his moral duty.
n., archaic, a cowardly person.
66
facile, adj., /ˈfasəl/
1. (especially of a theory or argument) appearing neat and comprehensive only by ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial. "facile generalizations". (a) having a superficial or simplistic knowledge or approach: a man of facile and shallow intellect. 2. (especially of success in sports) easily achieved; effortless. "a facile victory"
67
beguiling, adj.
charming or enchanting, often in a deceptive way: a beguiling mixture of English, French, and Italian.
68
sordid, adj.
involving immoral or dishonorable actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt: the story paints a sordid picture of bribes and scams. 2. dirty or squalid; the overcrowded housing conditions were sordid and degrading.
69
apophatic, adj.
theology (of knowledge of God) obtained through negating concepts that might be applied to him. The opposite of cataphatic.
70
cataphatic, adj.
theology (of knowledge of God) obtained through defining God with positive statements. The opposite of apophatic.
71
dissemble, v.i.
conceal or disguise one's true feelings or beliefs: an honest, sincere person with no need to dissemble. (a) v.t., disguise or conceal (a feeling or intention): she smiled, dissembling her true emotion.
72
captious, adj.
formal. tending to find fault or raise petty objections: a captious teacher.
73
acerbic, adj.
1. (especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright: his acerbic wit. 2. archaic and technical. tasing sour and bitter.
74
diabolism, n.
worship of the devil.
75
largesse, n.
generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others: presumably public money is not dispensed with such largesse to anyone else. (a) money or gifts given generously: the distribution of largesse to the local population.
76
countervailing, adj.
offsetting an effect by countering it with something of equal force: the dominance of the party was mediated by a number of countervailing factors.
77
obsequious, adj.
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree: they were served by obsequious leaders.
78
sanguinary, adj.
mainly archaic. involving or causing much bloodshed: they lost heavily in sanguinary campaigns that followed.
79
encomium, n., pl. encomiums or encomia
formal. a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
80
sanguine, adj.
1. optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad or difficult situation: he is sanguine about prospects for the global economy; the committee takes a more sanguine view. (a) (in medieval science and medicine) of or having the consistency associated with the predominance of blood among the bodily humors, supposedly marked by a ruddy complexion and an optimistic disposition. (b) archaic. (of the complexion) florid or ruddy. 2. literary & heraldry. blood-red. 3. archaic. bloody or bloodthirsty.
n. , [mass noun] a blood-red color. (a) deep-brown crayon or pencil containing iron oxide. (b) heraldry. a blood-red stain used in blazoning.
81
ruddy, adj.
1. (of a person's face) having a healthy red color: a cheerful pip-smoking man of ruddy complexion. (a) having a reddish color: the ruddy evening light. 2. British informal. used as a euphemism for 'bloody': young people today, they're a ruddy shower.
v. t., make ruddy in color: a red flash ruddied the belly of a cloud.
82
supercilious, adj.
behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others: a supercilious lady's maid.
83
supereminent, adj.
old-fashioned term for pre-eminent.
84
pre-eminent, adj.
surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way: the world's pre-eminent expert on asbestos.
85
efflux, n.
[mass noun] technical. the flowing out of a substance or particle: the same active efflux of sodium from the cytoplasm to the external medium. (a) material that is flowing out: the routing for the jet efflux also needs to be considered.
86
recalcitrant, adj.
having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline: a class of recalcitrant fifteen-year-olds.
n., a person with an obstinately uncooperative attitude: a stiff-necked recalcitrant and troublemaker.
87
tendentious, adj.
expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, especially a controversial one: a tendentious reading of history.
88
baleful, adj.
threatening harm; menacing: Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction. (a) having a harmful or destructive effect: the baleful influence of Rasputin.
89
insipid, adj.
lacking flavor; weak or tasteless: mugs of insipid coffee. (a) lacking vigor or interest: many artists continued to churn out insipid, shallow works.
