Week 5 Flashcards
(50 cards)
brevity
the quality or state of being brief in duration
Brevity = briefness (you can’t get any shorter than that)
expedient
appropriate to a purpose; convenient; speedy
It was more expedient to use FedEx than to use the post office
transient
passing quickly in time or space
Jack Dawson enjoyed his transient lifestyle; with nothing but the clothes on his back and the air in his lungs, he was free to travel wherever he wanted
augment
to make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity; to supplement
The model Angele Franju is rumored to have augmented her studies in chemistry with a minor in German literature
bolster
to hearten, support, or prop up
The class bolstered Amerlia’s confidence; she had no idea she already knew so much.
burgeon
to grow and flourish
The burgeoning Burgess family required a new house because its old one only had one bedroom
copious
plentiful; having a large quantity
She took copious notes during class, using up five large notebooks.
distend
to sweel out or expand from internal pressure, as when overly full
The ballon distended as it was filled with helium, much like Mike’s stomach after Mike ate an entire turkey on Thanksgiving.
grandiose
great in scope or intent; grand
The party was grandiose affair; hundreds of richly dressed guests danced the night away.
prodigious
enormous
Steven Spielberg’s prodigious talent has made Spielberg the most successful film producer and director of our time.
profundity
great depth of intellect, feeling, or meaning
The actor’s profundity surprised the director, who had heard that he was a bit of an airhead.
redouble
to make twice as great; to double
Rita redoubled her efforts to become president of her class by campaigning twice as hard as before.
scintillating
brilliant
The writer’s scintillating narrative diverted Isabel’s attention away from her other guests.
averse
strongly disinclined
Ava proved so averse to homework that she would break out in hives at the mere mention of it
conspicuous
easy to notice; obvious
The red tuxedo was conspicuous among all the classic black ones. What was he thinking?
demure
modest and reserved
Muriel was the most demure girl in the class, always sitting quietly in the back of the room and downplaying any compliments she received.
diffidence
timidity or shyness
Lea’s diffident nature often prevented her from speaking out in class
docile
submissive to instruction; willing to be taught
The SAT class was so docile that the teacher wondered if she was in the right room.
innocuous
having no adverse effect; harmless
The plants were as innocuous as they looked; we suffered no ill effects from eating their leaves.
placid
calm or quiet; undisturbed
Lake Placid was the place to go for those in need of a quiet vacation
quiescent
quiet, still, or at rest; inactive
Quinn’s quiescent behavior made him an ideal roommate
concord
agreement
The class was in concord about the necessity to perform Hamlet, rather than King Lear, in the spring show.
concur
to agree
The board concurred that the con artist who had stolen their money had to be convicted
dogmatic
stubbornly attached to insufficiently proven beliefs
Avik was dogmatic in his belief that the power lines were giving his dog headaches
