Vocab, Deck 1 Flashcards
(199 cards)
1
Q
lassitude
A
lack of energy, fatigue.
lassi = sounds like lazy
tude = attitude.
Lazy attitude. Get it? Get it?
Mn: Lassie was too lazy to save Timmy, so he drowned..
2
Q
boorish
A
rude.
3
Q
implacable
A
not capable of being pacified
4
Q
incongruity
A
being unsuitable or inappropriate
5
Q
aver
A
assert confidently or declare; law term
synonyms: assert, allege
6
Q
guileless
A
without deceit, innocent
7
Q
austere
A
stern, severe
think of “austerity” measures in Greece.
8
Q
deterrent
A
discourages
9
Q
mendacious
A
dishonest, untrue
“mendacious propaganda”
10
Q
anarchy
A
state of disorder
“an”= against, “arch”= rule
11
Q
abeyance
A
temporary disuse or suspension, inactivity
12
Q
disabuse
A
persuade someone that an idea or belief is mistaken
“he quickly disabused me of my belief”.
13
Q
eulogy
A
expression of praise; funeral
“eu” meaning “well” (ie, euphoria), “log” meaning “speaking”
14
Q
misanthrope
A
one who hates mankind
“miso” means “to hate”, and “anthro” means “human”
15
Q
amalgamate
A
combine
“gam” meaning “marriage, to join”
16
Q
harangue
A
long and aggressive speech
He complied with my request and made a lengthy harangue to his village.
kind of like a filibuster?
17
Q
equanimity
A
calmness of temperament
equa like even, or level.
anim like mind, or spirit.
(according to this root, “animal” means “spirit”. cool, yeah? also recently realized that “creature” means “product of creation”. so mystic!)
18
Q
facetious
A
joking
19
Q
conciliatory
A
intended to placate or pacify
to bring together or unite in feelings, make friendly. from the root “council”.
20
Q
levity
A
lack of seriousness, lightness
levi = light.
like “levitate” = to rise by virtue of lightness.
21
Q
caustic
A
burning; biting
22
Q
dogmatic
A
laying down principles as absolutely true, like dogma. duh.
23
Q
desiccate
A
to make very dry
24
Q
dirge
A
a funeral song.
25
indigence
extreme poverty
sadly, just remember that "indigenous people are often indigent" ;(
26
efficacy
power to produce desired effect, effectiveness
27
deference
humble submission and respect
28
extrapolation
to infer an unknown from something that is known, conjecture.
29
apprise
inform, or teach
from the same root as "apprehend" or "apprentice".
30
obsequious
fawning, attentive, being a kiss-ass
She's constantly followed by obsequious assistants who will do anything she tells them to.
31
intractable
stubborn, not easily controlled or directed
```
tract = pull.
like extract (pull out), retract (pull back).
```
32
malleable
capable of being shaped; impressionable
mallet = hammer. this is blacksmith type shit.
33
approbation
approval or praise.
same root as "approve"
34
foment
stir up or instigate something. provoke.
"they accused him of fomenting political unrest".
Think of foam being created when something is stirred.
35
endemic
found among a group of people in an area
en = in.
dem = people.
36
converge
come together
37
enervate
weaken, drain in energy.
literally meaning "cut the nerves from"
e = from ex, out
nerve = sinew, nerve.
38
paucity
scarcity, shortage.
few = old english pronunciation of "pau" meaning not many
39
fatuous
foolish, stupid, silly.
40
dichotomy
split in two
41
laconic
brief and to the point
Lakonikos, from Lakon "person from Lakonia," the district around Sparta in southern Greece in ancient times, whose inhabitants were famously proud of their brevity of speech. When Philip of Macedon threatened them with, "If I enter Laconia, I will raze Sparta to the ground," the Spartans' reply was, "If."
42
forestall
to prevent in advance, anticipate and delay
43
ambiguous
unclear in meaning
ambi = both, both sides
guous = "agere" = to act
44
cacophonous
bad sounding
caco = bad
phon = sound
fun fact about caco, it is the opposite of calli, which means beautiful.
so calligraphy is beautiful handwriting, and cacography is shitty handwriting.
45
decorum
good taste in manners
46
disparate
essentially different, unrelated
47
daunt
intimidate
Studying for the GRE feels like a "daunting" task.
48
felicitous
well-suited for the occasion, appropriate.
from "felicity" = happiness. like, a happy fit?
49
invective
insulting and abusive. an attack of words.
Mneumonic: ENVY + ACTIVE = wanting to attack and abuse.
an overbearing, bullying boss who is fond of sending invective e-mails to long-suffering assistants
50
anachronism
misplaced in time
51
irresolute
uncertain how to act; weak.
cannot come to a resolution.
52
aberrant
abnormal or deviant.
mneumonic: beer + ant = walking all abnormally.
53
ameliorate
improve
54
diatribe
harsh criticism or scolding.
dia = away (like diaspora)
tribe = to wear, or rub.
mneumonic = two tribes, fighting.
55
diffuse
wordy; spread out
56
flout
to mock or show disdain.
Flout = from the word flute. Imagine playing a rude little flute on your nose when you mock someone.
57
inundate
to flood, cover with water. or to overwhelm as if in a flood.
From unda = wave.
Like "undulate"
58
inure
to accustom to difficulty or pain, toughen or harden.
"inured to cold"
It´s "in ur" system, bro.
59
attenuate
to make thin, to weaken, to lessen.
60
opprobrium
disgrace, infamy, dishonor.
Mn: taking "opium" is shameful!\<
He saw no reason why “secretary” should suddenly become a term of opprobrium among the politically correct.
61
catalyst
accelerates a reaction
62
dissonance
inharmonious or harsh sound.
dis = lack of, apart, bad?
son = sound
63
apathy
lack of caring
64
diffidence
lack of confidence or trust.
dis = lack of, away from
fide = trust
basically means the opposite of confidence.
65
autonomous
self-governing
66
garrulous
wordy, verbose, overly talkative.
67
imperturbable
calm, not vulnerable to disruption.
im = not
perturb = disturb
68
appease
pacify
69
maverick
rebel.
literal meaning is a calf or cow without its owner's brand.
fun fact: so called for Samuel A. Maverick (1803-1870), Texas cattle owner who was negligent in branding his calves.
70
document
provide written evidence.
71
banal
commonplace; trite
72
exculpate
clear from blame.
ex = out
culp = blame
73
equivocate
to use ambiguous or unclear expressions, generally to mislead.
means "equal voice", in the same way that Fox News is "fair and balanced".
74
dissolution
1. separate into parts (dissolve)
2. also meaning loose morals, for some reason.
75
fallacious
false; misleading.
containing a fallacy.
76
admonish
to warn.
ad = "to"
monere = "advise or warn"
Monitor apparently means one that gives warning. So Monitor Lizards were named so because they supposedly gave warnings of crocodiles!?
77
burnish
polish.
"burnished steel of his sword".
From the root word of "brown" and "brunette". originally meant "to brown".
Similar to varnish, maybe.
78
eclectic
from different sources.
79
exacerbate
worsen
ex = thoroughly
acer = harsh, bitter, acidic
80
discrete
separate, unconnected.
81
deride
ridicule.
"rid" in both of these words means "to laugh".
82
delineate
to draw out, depict, portray.
"de" = completely
"line" =... lines
83
gregarious
sociable.
greg = herd (think of "congregation")
gregarious means you live in a herd and you like it a lot.
84
assuage
alleviate, relieve.
Kind of like Julian Assange, relieving the world of corruption.
85
irascible
irritable.
"ire" = anger.
is this why the Irish are always angry?
86
appropriate
acquire.
ad = "to"
prop = take as one's own, like property.
87
obviate
make unecessary, to do away with.
"to obviate the risk of serious injury".
Harry Potter: "obliviate" = memory charm, do away with memories.
88
empirical
based on experience.
89
intransigent
refuses any compromise.
he has remained intransigent, refusing all suggestions for improvement of the process
think of transaction as an agreement by both parties. intransigent means incapable of a transaction.
90
default
failure to act.
default on a loan.
91
denigrate
blacken, defame, criticize unfairly.
"de" = complete
"nigr" = black
92
castigate
to punish.
mn: punish someone by putting them in a caste.
93
lucid
bright, clear, easy to understand.
from lux = light.
94
convoluted
complicated, mixed up.
con = together
volv = roll (like revolution).
95
ingenuous
naive, trusting, innocent.
96
indolent
lazy.
in = without
dol = pain (like spanish "dolor")
97
contentious
quarrelsome, wants to fight.
think of "contenders" being competitive.
98
officious
wants to get involved in your business.
Mn: office gossip!
99
magnanimous
generous in forgiveness.
magna = large
animus = soul, spirit
you got a big soul, so you're quick to give and forgive.
100
alacrity
cheerful readiness, promptness, eagerness.
maybe think of electricity, being ready to light your home.
101
compendium
a brief summary of a larger work.
"He published a compendium of folk tales."
102
ebullient
showing excitement.
bull = bubble.
So this means bubbly.
103
gainsay
deny.
gain = from "against". So you're going against what is being said.
104
inherent
firmly est. by nature or habit
105
dormant
sleeping.
dorm = sleep.
106
impassive
without feeling.
im = without
pass / path = feeling
107
mitigate
to lessen in force or intensity.
Mitt-gate: the more Mitt Romney speaks, the more mitigated his chances at the presidency.
108
chicanery
deception.
.... Chicanos are tricky, man.
109
distill
purify
110
derivative
unoriginal; from other source
de = from
riva = river
original meaning is to lead of water from its source, as a river.
111
inchoate
recently begun, but not fully formed.
112
obdurate
stubborn, hardened.
dura = hard
(Spanish, duro = difficult, hard)
113
elegy
funeral song.
similar to eulogy?
114
abstemious
sparing in eating/drinking; temperate, sober.
abs = refrain from
tem = drink (like Spanish tomar = to drink).
essentially, one who abstains.
115
coda
end of music or literary composition; conclusion.
116
conundrum
riddle
117
discordant
conflicting.
From "discord", conflict.
118
impair
make worse.
119
insipid
lack flavor; dull.
"insipid soup".
120
abscond
depart secretly and hide.
usually used in the context of outlaws, like "the thief absconded with the cash from the safe"
121
discredit
defame.
opposite of credit.
122
distend
swell out
dis = apart
tend = stretch (like tendon)
123
implode
burst inward
124
neophyte
recent convert; beginner.
neo = new
phyte = plant.
125
perennial
long-lasting
per = through (like perforate)
ann = years
so lit. through the years.
126
iconoclast
one who attacks cherished traditions
icon = images, lit. images of Jesus
clast = to break
127
anomalous
abnormal
an = not
(h)omo = same
128
ambivalence
conflicting emotional attitudes
ambi = both
valen = strength (ie, valor)
129
alleviate
relieve
130
condone
forgive.
from "donare" = to give. Like in "donation".
131
erudite
learned; scholarly
ex = out, ex
rude = unlearned, rough
132
ascetic
rigorously self-disciplined.
"the ascetic monk lived a solitary life"
133
fawning
trying to please by flattery
134
disingenuous
insincere.
Not ingenuous. Easy enough.
135
inert
inactive
"inert gas" doesn't react.
136
grandiloquent
using high sounding language.
grand = big
loqu = to speak (ie, soliloquy)
So, talking big with big words.
137
discerning
mentally quick and observant, able to distinguish well.
138
disjointed
lacking coherence.
Without joints, or connections between the points.
139
esoteric
hard to understand, belonging to an inner circle.
140
goad
encourage or drive a certain point.
Goad actually means a stick with an electrically charged end for driving cattle and ox.
141
ephemeral
short-lived
142
elicit
drawn out by discussion
143
embellish
1. to beautify with ornamentation.
2. to enhance a story with fake elements
bell = pretty (like bella, bellisima)
144
partisan
one-sided; commited to a party
145
disparage
to degrade socially.
word origin = to reduce in social rank
dis = away
parage = parentage or rank
so lit. push away from social rank
146
diverge
go in different ways
di = two, apart
verge = bend
147
engender
to bring about, create.
"Hate engenders violence"
gend = to beget
148
burgeon
go forth; send out buds, to grow.
"a burgeoning economy"
149
beneficent
kindly; doing good.
ben = good
150
mollify
to sooth, appease, soften in temper.
"mollify with a lollipop"
151
complaisant
trying to please, compliant.
(overlapped with "complacent" until 19th century)
152
penury
severe poverty.
"The surplus faded away and they were reduced to penury."
153
adulterate
to corrupt, falsify.
ad = to
alter = .. to alter
"unadulterated" films are usually uncensored.
154
desultory
lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusaism.
aimless.
Farsi: BINAMAK!
155
artless
ingenuous, open and honest.
originally meant without art, as in unskilled.
this came to mean natural and untainted. then eventually honest and naive.
156
aggregate
gather.
greg = herd or flock
157
digression
wandering away from the subject.
dis = apart
gress = to step, to go.
158
pedantic
showing off learning; bookish.
ped = teach
159
latent
potential but undeveloped, lying hidden or secret, dormant.
"herpes remains latent in your cells, until your immune system weakens".
160
dupe
1. noun, a deceived person.
2. verb, to deceive someone.
161
loquacious
talkative.
loqui = to speak (ie, eloquent, soliloquy)
162
morose
gloomy.
..emo.
163
pathological
pertaining to disease.
stems from "pathology", which is the studie of diseases.
path = suffering
logy = study
164
connoisseur
an expert, a judge, well-versed.
165
craven
cowardly.
"a craven refusal to deliver the unwelcome news personally"
166
contention
rivalry, competition.
"He is in contention for the Olympic medal."
167
contrite
showing severe remorse.
"being contrite is not enough to spare you an arrest if you're caught shoplifting"
168
discrepancy
difference
169
effrontery
shameless boldness.
e = out
frontem = forehead
lit. meaning putting out the forehead in confidence or boldness
170
dissemble
to hide under a false apperance. disguise, conceal
dis = not
semb = similar
171
audacious
daring, confident, adventurous, bold.
from "audacity"
172
arduous
hard
"an arduous journey across miles of desert"
173
bombastic
pompous, empty of meaning.
root of the word means "cotton padding" (from persian "pambak").
From stuffing and padding for clothes, the meaning was extended to mean poofy speech.
174
exigency
urgent situation.
sounds like a fucked up french pronunciation of "emergency".
175
antipathy
dislike, aversion
anti = against
path = feeling
176
analogous
comparable.
177
immutable
unchangeable.
im = not
mutable = changeable, from mute = change, likem utate.
178
occlude
shut; close.
clud = from claud, claus (ie, claustrophobic = fear of being shut or closed in)
179
confound
to confuse.
Harry Potter: "confundus" charm is the the confusing charm.
180
buttress
an external prop or support.
181
euphemism
mild expression rather than unplesant one
A woman walks into the bar and asks the bartender for a euphemism. He gives it to her.
182
coagulate
congeal.
183
laud
to praise.
kind of like "applaud"
184
belie
1. to lie, misrepresent. (The newspaper belied the facts.)
2. to show to be false (His trembling hands belied his calm voice.)
185
compliant
obeying, obliging.
186
emulate
imitate.
Nintendo NES emulators.
187
divest
to strip or deprive of.
dis = away
vest = clothing
lit. take clothing away
188
fervor
intensity of feeling.
kind of like fever.
189
commensurate
proportionate.
mensur = measure.
190
insensible
unconscious.
in = not
sensible = conscious, felt by the senses
191
abate
to reduce in amount or intensity.
"We waited for the wind to abate."
192
capricious
unpredictable, impulsive.
Root is from the astrological sign Capricorn. Capricorns are mood-swingy and can't make up their minds apparently.
193
malinger
fakes illness to escape work.
"His boss suspected him of malingering because of his frequent absences from work."
194
cogent
convincing.
"the results of the DNA fingerprinting were the most cogent evidence for acquittal"
"a cogent argument"
195
aesthetic
artistic
196
insularity
isolated, narrow-minded.
insula actually means island (ie, peninsula). so.. isolated.
think of insulation, a layer that separates you from the outside.
197
assiduous
careful attention and diligence, attending.
"They were assiduous in their search for all the latest facts and figures."
Roots: ad = to
sid = sit
meaning always sitting, busy, constantly occupied.
198
bolster
support
"She came with me to bolster my confidence."
199
onerous
burdensome, oppressive, causing hardship.
"had the onerous and stressful job of notifying the families of soldiers killed in action"
