Vocab 1 Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is a riposte?
A quick retort or verbal thrust.
Example: I tried to think of a witty riposte to his smart-alecky question.
What does risqué mean?
Indelicate or borderline inappropriate.
Example: He was in violation of the dress code with his risqué kilt.
What is a fait accompli?
An accomplished fact or irreversible action.
Example: The CEO had her doubts about the deal, but her signature on the contract made it a fait accompli.
What does soignée mean?
Fashionable, sophisticated, or well-groomed.
Example: The soignée starlet posed for pictures on the red carpet.
What is a pastiche?
A hodgepodge or collection of mismatched parts, often borrowed from other artists.
Example: The cathedral in the Piazza San Marco in Venice is a pastiche of different architectural styles from several centuries.
What is a matinee?
A performance occurring in the daytime, usually early afternoon.
Example: I like to go to the matinee because the tickets are cheaper.
What does insouciant mean?
Nonchalant, coolly unconcerned, or indifferent.
Example: Mrs. Winthrop walked her dog, Bubbles, with her usual insouciance, allowing him to jump on strangers and trample the gardens of her neighbors.
What does faux mean?
False, fake, or artificial.
Example: The PETA members don’t even like it if you wear a faux leopard coat.
What does gauche mean?
Awkward, clumsy, or lacking social polish.
Example: The garrulous woman was considered gauche for talking during the funeral service.
What is anomie?
A feeling of alienation and purposelessness caused by a lack of standards, values, and ideals.
Example: The dark, brooding student, lost in his thoughts, could not conceal his anomie.
What does angst mean?
Neurotic fear or anxiety often accompanied by depression.
Example: Overwhelmed with angst over his impending graduation from college, Arthur stayed in bed all day and suffered insomnia at night.
What is schadenfreude?
Pleasure or joy derived from the misfortune of others.
Example: Although she didn’t want to admit to her schadenfreude, Abby was happy to hear that everyone else failed the math test; as the only one to pass she would appear smart to her teacher.
What does weltanschauung mean?
Perspective or world view.
Example: If we all lived by the weltanschauung of today’s teenagers, love, culture, and religion could be determined by the Internet.
What is weltschmerz?
Sadness over the evils of the world.
Example: Woody Allen’s films are filled with weltschmerz, forcing audiences to ponder evil in the world, even as they laugh about it.
What is a wunderkind?
A remarkably talented child or young person.
Example: A musical wunderkind, Sarita was playing violin at Carnegie Hall by the time she was nine.
What does wanderlust mean?
A strong desire to travel.
Example: Overcome by wanderlust, Bob quit his job to travel the world and take photographs of mountains.
What does bildungsroman mean?
a novel about the moral, psychological and intellectual development of a youthful main character
What does gestalt mean?
Physical, psychological, symbolic patter of elements so unified that its properties cannot be derived from the sum of its parts
What is a leitmotif?
This is a noun used in discussing music and literature
What is zeitgeist?
Spirit of the age, the taste and outlook that is characteristic of a particular time period or generation
