Week 2 Flashcards

(169 cards)

1
Q

Urbane

A

Civil and courteous

The urbane man allowed the lady to go before him

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2
Q

Equanimity

A

Mental calmness and composure

She accepted both the good and the bad news with equanimity

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3
Q

Platitude

A

Cliche

She began uttering liberal platitudes, and bored everyone there

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4
Q

Assent

A

Express approval or agreement

Roosevelt assented to the agreement

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5
Q

Corporeal

A

Physical, worldly

Jesus was the corporeal incarnation of God

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6
Q

Surmise

A

Suppose that something is true without evidence; also a conjecture
They surmised that something must be wrong; they were upset to have their surmise confirmed when a monster came out of the creaking closet

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7
Q

Vociferous

A

Crying out noisily and passionately

He proclaimed the news with a vociferous announcement

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8
Q

Clamorous

A

Loud and confused noise

He bellowed a clamorous shout, heard by everyone in the neighborhood

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9
Q

Vehement

A

Showing strong feeling and passion

Her voice was low but vehement- you could tell she really wanted to make the deal

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10
Q

Jostle

A

Push, elbow, or bump roughly; struggle or compete forcefully for
The people in the crowd jostled over one another for attention

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11
Q

Garrulous

A

Excessively talkative, esp on trivial matters

The garrulous man spent hours talking about game of thrones

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12
Q

Stingy

A

Unwilling to give or spend money

The stingy miser refused to donate a penny

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13
Q

Effusive

A
Expressing strong (usually positive) feelings in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner
He offered an effusive welcome, which included a lot of hugging
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14
Q

Frugal

A

Economical in use or expenditure- not wasteful

The frugal man decided to save for a car rather than spend money on coffee every day

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15
Q

Taciturn

A

Shy and unwilling to talk

The taciturn girl ran away when the doorbell rang

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16
Q

Miserly

A

Extremely stingy, like a miser

Scrooge was a miserly old man

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17
Q

Reticent

A

Disposed to be silent or not to speak freely, reserved

She was extremely reticent about her personal affairs

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18
Q

Munificent

A

very liberal in giving, extremely generous

He performed a munificent gesture by giving him 200 dollars for his birthday

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19
Q

Risqué

A

Daringly close to indelicate or impropriety

He told risqué stories and jokes that i found hilarious, but that others were appalled at.

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20
Q

Servile

A

Having or snowing an excessive willingness to serve or please others
He bowed his head in a servile manner

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21
Q

Fawning

A

Displaying exaggerated artery or affection, obsequious

He displayed fawning adoration to get on his teachers good side

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22
Q

Sporadic

A

Occurring at irregular intervals or only in a few places

The boy was hospitalized because of his sporadic heartbeat

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23
Q

Docile

A

Ready to accept control or instruction- submissive

The docile workers did pretty much anything they were told to

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24
Q

Expedient

A

Convenient and practical, though possibly immoral or improper
Either side could break the agreement if it were expedient to do so

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25
Incontrovertible
Not able to be denied or disputed | The proof was incontrovertible- he was definitely guilty
26
Impervious
Not permitting penetration or passage; incapable of being influenced, persuaded, or affected He had an impervious conscience- peer pressure would never get to him
27
Bolster
Support or strengthen- prop up | The fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence
28
Dogged
Persistent in effort; stubbornly tenacious | His dogged determination, or his doggedness, would not let him quit the race, despite his injuries
29
Vacillation
To vacillate- to waver in mind or opinion; to be indecisive or irresolute His tendency to vacillate makes him a poor leader.
30
Incontrovertible
Not able to be denied or disputed | The proof was incontrovertible- he was definitely guilty
31
Pretentious
Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc than is actually possessed When they discovered that he really couldn't play the piano, as he had boasted, they realized he was a pretentious fraud.
32
Ostentatious
Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display to impress or attract notice He bought the books to display ostentatiously and never bothered to read a single page.
33
Pretension
A claim to something, or the desire to impress His extravagant pretensions only served to attract attention He spoke simply, without pretensions
34
Stymie
To prevent or hinder the progress of | The changes to the rules stymied the projects progress
35
Spurious
Not being what it purports to be- false or fake | The claim that the player would be transferred to the rival club turned out to be a spurious one
36
Conscientious
Wishing to do what is right | The conscientious judge didn't let her personal beliefs interfere with her decisions
37
Idyllic
Charmingly simple or rustic- relating to an idyll (happy, peaceful picturesque scene, used its lot in poems or prose composition) He led an idyllic life in Tahiti
38
Pristine
Having its original purity- uncorrupted or unsullied | Pristine copies of an old magazine
39
Eclectic
Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources Her musical tastes are eclectic
40
Dogmatic
Inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true | the humble man gives his own opinion without trying to be dogmatic
41
Sanguine
Optimistic or positive, esp in an apparently bad situation | The sanguine investor bought stock, even though the market was predicted to go down
42
Dogmatism
Tendency to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true without consideration of evidence or opinion of others The culture was dominated by dogmatism- what the king said was true, and that was that
43
Doctrinaire
Seeking to impose a doctrine in all circumstances without regard to practical consideration The doctrinaire pharaoh told everyone to build him a massive pyramid without excuses
44
Intransigence
Refusal to compromise or agree- inflexibility | The intransigent king told his soldiers to attack the rebels, despite his generals' warnings
45
Collude
To act together through a secret understanding, esp with evil or harmful intent The protestors colluded to devise a plan that would get their boss fired
46
Bedlam
Scene or state of wild uproar or confusion | The bedlam could not be quelled, even by the police
47
Expurgate
To amend by removing words, passages, etc deemed offensive or objectionable Most children read an expurgated version of the book
48
Exasperate
To annoy extremely | He exasperated him by poking him constantly
49
Sedentary
Characterized by or requiring a sitting posture | He chose a sedentary occupation where he could work at his own comfortable desk
50
punctilious
showing great attention to detail or correct behavior | he was very punctilious in setting up for the evening's guests.
51
philistine
a person who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts, or who has no understanding of them. the philistine man thought the modern painting was really made by a toddler
52
befuddle
to make someone unable to think clearly | the coach, befuddled by the hot moms, made stupid tactical errors and caused his team a loss
53
obdurate
stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action the obdurate coach had a stubborn demeanor and an insistence on training his way
54
avaricious
having or showing extreme greed for wealth or material gain | he realized that his new avaricious neighbors cared only about money
55
sullen
bad tempered and sulky, gloomy | the sullen boy would constantly yell at everyone
56
vitriolic
filled with bitter criticism or malice | the supposedly civil debate quickly escalated to a vitriolic level- both sides were bashing on each other
57
occlusion
a state of being closed, shut, blocked, etc. | The police officers have blocked off the road to occlude the bomb from the public.
58
execrable
extremely bad or unpleasant. | the cheap wine was execrable
59
anathema
a person or thing detested or loathed | that particular subject was anathema to him
60
myopic
unable to act prudently- shortsighted | the government still has a myopic attitude to public spending
61
bemuse
puzzle, confuse, bewilder someone | the man was bemused by the decision made by the court
62
capacious
roomy, spacious | the capacious room was very comfortable
63
slipshod
characterized by a lack of care, thought, or organization. | he'd caused many problems with his slipshod management
64
raze
completely destroy | villages were razed to the ground
65
complacent
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements you can't afford to be complacent about security
66
predilection
a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favor of something the kid had a predilection for Asian food, so he asked his parents to go eat at Chu's cafe
67
conundrum
a confusing and difficult problem or question. | the conundrums facing doctors today must be addressed with more attention
68
fervid
fervent | his fervid zeal to hear that his brother was in town was so great that he literally sprinted home to meet him
69
myriad
a great number | in recent years, there has been a myriad of technological advancements.
70
jocular
fond of or characterized by joking; humorous or playful | he was in a very jocular mood- he wouldn't stop fooling around
71
jaded
tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something the restaurant had dishes that tempted even the most jaded of appetites
72
enervating
causing one to feel drained of energy or vitality. | the humidity was so enervating that he had to take a nap
73
grubby
dirty, grimy | when he came home from the game, his face was all grubby
74
obfuscate
to render obscure or unintelligible | the teacher, rather than simplifying the topic, obfuscated it
75
rebuff
to reject someone in an abrupt or ungracious manner | after proposing to her, the man was harshly rebuffed
76
efface
to erase a mark | with time, the words are effaced by the frost and the rain
77
onerous
involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome. he found his duties increasingly onerous
78
inane
silly/stupid | the man always badgered him with inane questions
79
unctuous
greasy, oily; ingratiating he left an unctuous mess he wanted to please the guests, but not in an unctuous way
80
execrate
to express great loathing for something | he really execrated his job
81
byzantine
excessively complicated | the halls were very byzantine, almost mazelike
82
quixotic
unrealistic and impractical | the project was quixotic- there was no way it could be completed on time
83
circumscribe
restrict something with limits | their words were monitored and circumscribed strictly
84
circumspect
wary and unwilling to take risks | the officials were very circumspect in their statements
85
circumvent
go around an obstacle | he circumvented the muddy pit
86
circumlocute
to speak in a roundabout or indirect way | he circumlocuted to delay his punishment
87
vilify
speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner. | the poor man was vilified in the press- his reputation was forever blemished
88
beseem
to seem to fit | that conduct beseems a gentleman
89
sundry
various or diverse | I wasn't sure what the weather would be like so I packed a sundry of clothes
90
preclude
to prevent from happening | the construction workers precluded the passage of vehicles on the road, causing mass traffic
91
indiscriminate
done at random or without careful judgement | the murderer killed indiscriminately- anyone who crossed his path was sure to die
92
discordant
disagreeable to the ear; not in harmony the sound of his screaming was discordant; the discordant comments showed the mixed feelings people had towards that particular store
93
jarring
incongruous in a striking or shocking way | the guitarist struck a jarring note, and everyone was shocked. The car came to a sudden, jarring stop.
94
discerning
mentally quick and observant | the popular boy was discerning enough to tell who his real friends were and who was just trying to flatter him
95
digression
departure from the main subject | the teacher's digressions were more interesting than the lesson's actual topics
96
diffuse
wordy and poorly organized; spread out the diffuse books were poorly written and not concise. when a cloud covers the sun, the lighting is diffuse, or spread evenly across the sky.
97
detterent
something that discourages | does the threat of capital punishment serve as a deterrent to potential killers?
98
deride
laugh at scornfully | the reviewers unanimously derided his new play
99
deprecate
express strong disapproval of | the old-fashioned lady deprecated modern tendencies to address new acquaintances by their first name
100
deliniate
set forth in detail | the author delineated the character concisely and deftly
101
deleterious
injurious (esp. to health) | smoking is deleterious to your health
102
deference
courteous regard for another's wishes; respect owed to a superior in deference to his request, he wore a dress to his funeral. the president's wife expected the wives of lesser politicians to treat her with deference.
103
decry
express strong disapproval of | the speaker strongly decried the lack of respect in society today
104
debunk
expose as false or exaggerated the reporters debunked the article, explaining that the bombing had in fact not killed thousands of people, but only a few hundred.
105
cursory
hastily done doctors are warned not to perform cursory tests; they must perform extensive, meticulous ones in order to fully grasp the patient's situation.
106
criterion
decisive factor | what criterion did the judge use to select the winning essay?
107
credulity
tendency to believe too easily | i take advantage of my brother's credulity by making him believe everything i tell him
108
corroborate
support with evidence | Tom corroborated the girl's story by telling what he witnessed, which helped the teacher believe it.
109
contention
angry disagreement; point made in debate or argument; competition some people seek out quarrels and contention for the heck of it; some people contend that the SAT is pointless; the team was in contention for the Champions League
110
contend
argue earnestly; struggle in rivalry the professor contended that the SAT is pointless the two teams contend against one another
111
constraint
embarrassed awkwardness; repression of feelings | the children felt constraint after having met their new teacher
112
complacency
satisfaction with one's person, possessions, or accomplishment you may be in first place, but the competitors are catching up! This is no time for complacency
113
cogent
strongly appealing to reason, well argued | the cogent arguments caused the jury to rule in favor of the defendant
114
coercion
use of force to compel someone to obey | they tortured him with physical and psychological coercion to force him to give the secret recipe.
115
insidiously
intended to trap or beguile | Dracula motioned him to come his way insidiously
116
disparaging
expressing the opinion that something is of little worth | the rumors disparaged his reputation
117
indulgent
having or indicating a tendency to be overly generous to or lenient with someone her parents were very indulgent- they always bought her whatever she wanted
118
Acme
high point; zenith | he had reached the acme of his career
119
Ajar
slightly open | the window was left ajar
120
Apex
High point, pinnacle, zenith | he had reached the apex of his career
121
bevy
a large group | he was surrounded by a bevy of beautiful girls
122
bilk
to steal; to embezzle | he bilked millions of dollars from a company fund in a large scheme
123
boor
a rude person | he punched the big, obnoxious boor
124
curt
terse, abrupt; brief, almost to the point of rude | "nothing" he replied curtly when asked what he was up to
125
dolt
``` an obtuse (annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand) person; a stupid person he wondered if the doctor was being dolt on purpose or just to annoy him ```
126
dupe
to trick | the journalist was duped into publishing an untrue story
127
fawn
``` to flatter subserviently everyone fawned the new class president, because they knew that if they got on his bad side, he'd make their lives a living hell ```
128
foil
to baffle a plan; to thwart he felt bad, so he foiled the plan to trick the poor kid into eating something disgusting by telling him what his friends were planning
129
gait
a manner or rate of walking | the athlete kept an easy gait to start the marathon
130
gale
a strong wind; gut | he felt a strong gale blow, foreshadowing the storm to come
131
garb
clothing, attire | the tribe wore a very unique style of garb
132
glib
easeful with speaking, storytelling, sometimes to the point of insincerity and shallowness his glib made him popular around the neighborhood
133
glut
to oversupply; to stuff | he glutted his stomach with food
134
hale
healthy | he was almost 80, but still hale and hearty
135
iota
a very small amount | nothing she said would make an iota of a difference- there was no way to make the situation better
136
laud
to praise, adulate | the obituary lauded him as a great serviceman, husband, and father
137
onus
a duty or burden | the onus is on you- you have to take the initiative
138
opus
a great work, usually of music | his opus would go down in history
139
tact
finesse in dealing with people | he broke the bad news with tact and consideration
140
tome
a very big book | a weighty tome
141
tout
to display ostentatiously (flaunt), or to solicit business | he touted his fruits at the market to get people to buy them
142
tyro
neophyte, beginner, fledgling | he was a tyro at chess
143
whet
to sharpen, to stimulate an interest in he whetted the knife he whetted his interest in soccer
144
wily
crafty, sly | his wily opponents knew how to get the referee on their side
145
bungler
a person who bungles things (carry out incompletely), an amateur they were the new bunglers of the company, sure to be fired within the week
146
capricious
subject to fickle changes in mood | the administration was capricious, and often brutal
147
charlatan
a fake, a fraud | the charlatan claimed to be the best at chess
148
chimerical
unreal, imaginary, visionary | he imagined himself living in a futuristic, chimerical paradise
149
circuitous
indirect, longer than the most direct way | he took the long, circuitous way to the town so they could see more views
150
surreptitious
kept secret, clandestine | a surreptitious affair
151
copious
abundant in supply or quality | he took copious notes
152
curtail
reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on | civil liberties were curtailed by the communist government
153
dearth
rarity, paucity | there is a dearth of evidence
154
demagogue
a speaker who appeals to emotions, fears, or prejudices | Trump is a demagogue who irrationally conveys fear of Mexican takeover to gain votes
155
deride
to express contempt for; ridicule | critics derided his ideas
156
deject
to make sad or dispirited, depress | nothing dejects a trader like the interruption of his profits
157
despondent
low in spirits, forlorn | Marilyn was despondent after her husband of fifty years died
158
devoid
entirely lacking | her voice was devoid of emotion
159
diatribe
a forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something- a tirade Because Sheila was unhappy with the administration, she launched a lengthy diatribe against the board during lunch.
160
diffident
modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence. | the diffident youngster didn't think he could pass the test
161
digress
to deviate | he digressed from the subject to bring up his recent trip
162
dilettante
a person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge. he took a dilettante approach to coding- he thought it was interesting, but he didn't commit himself to learning
163
inexorable
impossible to stop or prevent | the inexorable march of new technology
164
folly
lack of good sense, foolishness | he got in huge trouble for an act of sheer folly during school.
165
indomitable
impossible to subdue or defeat | she had an indomitable spirit
166
artifice
trickery, deceit | it was with great artifice that he tricked his brother into paying him 5 dollars for a bet they never made
167
demure
reserved, modest, and shy | a demure little wife who sits at home minding the house
168
whimsy
playfully quaint or fanciful behavior or humor. | the film is an awkward blend of whimsy and moralizing
169
delve
reach inside and search for something | she delved in her pocket