Vernacular Flashcards
(204 cards)
1
Q
Pyrrhic
A
achieved at excessive cost; costly to the point of negating or outweighing expected benefits
2
Q
Insatiable
A
always wanting more: not able to be satisfied
3
Q
foist
A
to force someone to accept (something not good or not wanted)
4
Q
surreptitious
A
done in a secret way
5
Q
paragon
A
a person or thing that is perfect or excellent in some way and should be considered a model or example to be copied
6
Q
intrepid
A
feeling no fear: very bold or brave
7
Q
regal
A
of, relating to, or suitable for a king or queen
8
Q
disdain
A
a feeling of strong dislike or disapproval of someone or something you think does not deserve respect
9
Q
disparage
A
to lower in rank or reputation
10
Q
sleight
A
deceitful craftiness
11
Q
impunity
A
freedom from punishment, harm, or loss
12
Q
overt
A
easily seen: not secret or hidden
13
Q
congenial
A
suitable or appropriate, friendly: existing or associated together
14
Q
fawn
A
to try to get the approval of an important or powerful person by giving that person praise, special attention, etc
15
Q
prudent
A
having or showing careful good judgment
16
Q
quizzical
A
showing that you do not understand something or that you find something strange or amusing. Mildly teasing or mocking
17
Q
bungle
A
to make mistakes in doing something
18
Q
espouse
A
to express support for
19
Q
consummate
A
of the highest degree. Complete in every detail: perfect
20
Q
ostensible
A
seeming or said to be true or real but very possibly not true or real: plausible rather than demonstrably true or real
21
Q
countenance
A
admit as acceptable or possible
22
Q
parismony
A
the quality of being very unwilling to spend money
23
Q
preeminent
A
more important, skillful, or successful than others
24
Q
precarious
A
not safe, strong, or steady. Depending on the will or pleasure of others
25
vagary
an unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someones behavior
26
surly
ruse and unfriendly. menacing or threatening in appearance
27
rancor
an angry feeling of hatred or dislike for someone who has treated you unfairly
28
surly
rude and unfriendly. menacing or threatening in appearance
29
odious
causing hatred or strong dislike
30
auspicious
conductive to success; favorable
31
conducive
making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible
32
profligate
recklessly extravagant in the use of resources. a licentious, dissolute person; high rolling
33
avaricous
having or showing an extreme greed or wealth or material gain
34
emasculate
make (a person, idea, or piece of legislation) weaker or less effective. weakness, cripple, etc
35
vassal
a holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance
36
condenscension
an attitude of patronizing superiority; disdain
37
disdain
the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of ones consideration or respect; contempt
38
awry
away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course; amiss; wrong
39
ineptitude
lacking skill or ability
40
nuance
a very small difference in color, tone, meaning, ect
41
beguile
to attract or interest someone. to trick or deceive someone
42
prudent
having or showing careful, good judgment
43
unabashed
not embarrassed or ashamed about openly expressing strong feelings or opinions
44
infidelity
lack of belief in a religion. unfaithfulness to a moral obligation
45
ruse
a trick or act that is used to fool someone
46
espouse
to express support for a cause, belief, ect
47
aristocracy
government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class
48
contempt
a feeling that someone or something is not worthy of any respect or approval
49
pithy
having substance and point. using few words in a clever and effective way
50
taciturn
tending to be quite; not speaking frequently
51
assail
to attack violently with blows or words
52
virulent
full of hate or anger. marked by a rapid, severe, and destructive course
53
eccentric
deviating from an established or usual pattern or style. tending to act in strange or unusual ways
54
enthrall
to hold spellbound. to hold the attention of someone by being very exciting, interesting, or beautiful
55
ostentatious
displaying wealth, knowledge, etc in a way that is meant to attract attention, admiration, or envy
56
anathema
something or someone that one vehemently dislikesy
57
impugn
to assail by words or arguments: oppose or attack as false or lacking integrity
58
quitessence
the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class
59
posterity
all future generations
60
visceral
coming from strong emotions and not from logic or reason
61
decrepit
wasted and weakened by old age
62
laborious
devoted to labor. requiring a lot of time and effort
63
miserly
hating to spend money
64
folly
lack of good sense or judgment. foolish behavior
65
superfluous
exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
66
haughty
having or showing the insulting attitude of people who think they are better than other people
67
dapper
neat and trim in appearance. very spruce and stylish
68
meek
not violent or strong. enduring injury with patience and without resentment (lowly, humble modest)
69
charlatan
a person who falsely pretends to know or be something in order to deceive people
70
pragmatic
practical as opposed to idealistic
71
aggrandize
to make greater
72
palatial
very large and impressive: like a palace
73
cajole
to obtain form someone by gentle persuasion.
74
innocuous
not likely to bother, offend, or injure anyone
75
vehement
marked by forceful energy; intensely emotional
76
inredulous
unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true
77
fief
something over which one has rights or exercises control
78
vie
to compete with others in an attempt to get or win something
79
sangfroid
the ability to stay calm in difficult or dangerous situations
80
capricious
changing often and quickly. not logical or reasonable: based on an idea, desire, etc that is not possible to predict
81
melancholy
a sad mood or feeling
82
daunt
to make someone afraid or less confident
83
sagacious
having or showing an ability to understand difficult ideas and situations and to make good decisions. insightful, perceptive, prudent, wise, sage, sapient
84
fractious
tending to be troublesome. full of anger and disagreement
85
juxtapose
to place different things together in order to create an interesting effect or to show how they are the same or different
86
temerity
excessive confidence or boldness; audacity
87
avarice
extreme greed for wealth or material gain
88
consortium
an association, typically of several business companies. an alliance, coalition
89
unctuous
excessively or ingratiatingly flattering
90
de facto
in fact, or in effect
91
incur
become subject to (something unwelcome or unpleasant) as a result of ones own behavior or actions
92
bsesiege
to surround a city, bulding with soldiers and try to take control of it. to gather around someone in an aggressive or annoying way. overwhelm someone with too many questions or requests fo rthings
93
perfidious
not able to be trusted: showing that someone cant be trusted: disloyal
94
fickle
changing often
95
carte blanche
permission to do something in any way you chose to do it
96
dissuade
to convince someone not to do something
97
pilfer
to steal things that are not very valuable or to steal a small amount of something
98
autonomy
the state of existing or acting separately from others
99
allay
to make something less severe or strong
100
scrupulous
having moral integrity: acting in strict regard for what is considered the right or proper
101
zeal
a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something
102
eminent
successful, well known and respected. standing out so as to be readily perceived or noted: conspicuous
103
sentiment
an attitude or opinion. feelings of love, sympathy, kindness. an attitude, thought, or judgment prompted by feeling.
104
tumultous
loud, excited, and emotional
105
elusive
hard to find or capture
106
prudence
careful good judgment that allows someone to avoid danger or risks
107
prattle
to take for very long about something that is not important or interesting
108
brazen
acting or done in a very open and shocking way without shame or embarrassment. marked by contemptuous boldness
109
circuitious
not said or done simply or clearly
110
obsequious
too eager to help or obey someone important. marked by a fawning attentiveness
111
apt
having a tendency. appropriate or suitable. quick to learn
112
malevolent
having, showing, or arising from intense often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred
113
benevolence
disposition to do good. an act of kindness
114
sublime
to elevate or exalt especially in dignity or honor
115
bludner
to make a stupid or careless mistake. to move unsteadily or confusedly
116
prerogative
a right or privilege
117
placate
to smoothly mollify especially by concessions. to cause someone to feel less angry about something
118
integral
essential to completeness: important or necessary
119
consummate
very good or skillful. complete in every detail
120
portentuous
giving a sign or warning that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen
121
indelibly
impossible to remove or forget
122
prosaic
dull or ordinary
123
raucous
disagreeably harsh or unpleasant
124
strident
marked by harsh, insistent, and discordant sound
125
protean
having a varied nature or ability to assume different forms
126
disseminate
to disperse throughout
127
dupe
one that is easily deceived or cheated
128
subterfuge
a deceptive device or stratagem
129
artifice
dishonest or insincere behavior or speech that is meant to deceive someone
130
corollary
something that incidentally or naturally accompanies or parallels: result
131
panacea
a remedy for all ills or difficulties
132
secular
not overtly or specifically religious
133
beau monde
the world of high society and fashion
134
pagan
one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods
135
prodigious
amazing or wonderful. resembling or befitting a prodigy
136
imprudent
lacking discretion, wisdom, or good judgment
137
impetuous
marked by impulsive vehemence or passion. acting or done quickly and without thought
138
feign
to give a false appearance of: induce as a false impression
139
usurp
to seize and hold in possession by force or without right
140
bravado
a pretense of bravery. confident or brave talk or behavior that is intended to impress othe rpeople
141
reprieve
to delay the punishment of (as a condemned prisoner). to prevent something from being closed, destroyed, etc for a period of time
142
aplomb
complete and confident composure or self-assurance
143
elicit
to draw forth or bring out
144
clairvoyant
able to see beyond the range of ordinary perception
145
despot
a ruler with absolute power and authority
146
vestige
the smallest possible amount of something
147
bevy
a large group or collection
148
harem
a group of women associated with one man
149
sumptuous
extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent
150
opulent
very wealthy
151
demagogue
a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
152
coupe de grace
a deathblow or death shot administered of end the suffering of one mortally wounded. a decisive finishing blow, act, or event
153
craven
lacking the least bit of courage
154
fascimile
an exact copy
155
lascivious
filled with or showing sexual desire
156
bourgeois
relating to the social middle class
157
vanguard
the forefront of an action or movement
158
impecunious
having very little or no money usually habitually
159
deign
to do something that you think you should not have to do because you are too important
160
ascetic
relating to or having a strict and simple way of living that avoids pleasure
161
austere
morally strict
162
aegis
the power to protect, control, or support something or someone. control or guidance especially by an individual, group, or system
163
petulant
insolent or rude in speech or behavior
164
nolens volens
willy nilly
165
miser
a mean grasping person especially one who is extremely stingy with money
166
volition
the power of choosing or determining. a choice or decision made
167
soiree
a party or reception held at night
168
ignoramus
an utterly ignorant person
169
bombast
pretentious inflated speech or writing.
170
couch
to say or express something in a particular way. to lay oneself down for rest or sleep
171
pugnacious
having quarrelsome or combative nature
172
truculent
feeling or displaying ferocity. easily annoyed or angered and likely to argue
173
ambivalence
simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings toward and object, person, or action
174
precedent
prior in time, arrangement, or significance
175
pillory
a means for exposing one to public scorn or ridicule
176
caricature
exaggeration by means of ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics. someone or thing that is very exaggerated in a funny or foolish way
177
arduous
hard to accomplish or achieve
178
pariah
one that is despised or rejected
179
magnanimous
showing or suggesting nobility of feeling and generosity of mind
180
sovereign
one that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere. an acknowledged leader
181
arbiter
a person with the power to decide a dispute
182
egregious
conspicuously bad
183
harangue
a ranting speech or writing
184
ferverent
glowing; exhibiting or marked by great intensity or feeling: zealous
185
austerity
marked by simple or unadorned. morally strict
186
somber
so shaded as to be dark and gloomy
187
voracious
having a huge appetite: ravenous. excessively eager
188
opaque
hard to understand or explain
189
boisterous
very noisy and active in a lively way. noisily turbulent: rowdy
190
stolid
having or expressing little or no sensibility
191
succor
something that furnishes relief
192
ecclesiastical
of or relating to the christian church or clergy
193
carom
a rebounding especially at an angle
194
zeitgeist
the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of anera
195
tenuous
not certain, definite, or strong: flimsy, weak, or uncertain
196
wretched
deeply afflicted, dejected, or distressed in body or mind
197
ornate
elaborately or excessively decorated
198
phalanx
an organized body of persons
199
ephermal
lasting a very shorty time
200
poignant
evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret
201
amicable
characterized by friendly goodwill: peaceable
202
cantankerous
bad tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative
203
licentious
promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters. degenerate, immoral, naughty, wanton, decadent
204
concupiscent
filled with sexual desire; lustful
