Word Test 5 Flashcards
(50 cards)
1
Q
Assuage
A
- to make unpleasant feelings less strong.
2
Q
Facile
A
- ignoring the true complexities of an issue; superficial. - (especially of success in sport) easily achieved; effortless.
3
Q
Absolve
A
- declare (someone) free from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
4
Q
Damning
A
- of a circumstance or piece of evidence) strongly suggesting guilt or error. - extremely critical.
5
Q
Agency
A
- a business or organization providing a particular service on behalf of another business, person, or group. - action or intervention producing a particular effect. - Etymology: Latin ag- (root of agere “to do, act, manage”)
6
Q
Unfurl
A
- (of a flag, sail, etc.) to become open from a rolled position.
7
Q
Abase
A
- to make yourself seem to be less important or to not deserve respect.
8
Q
Allure
A
- the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating; attraction, charm, or excitement.
9
Q
Perverse
A
- showing a deliberate and obstinate desire to behave in a way that is unreasonable or unacceptable. - contrary to the accepted or expected standard or practice. - Etymology: First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, Middle French pervers, “wicked, unnatural,” from Latin perversus “facing the wrong way, askew”.
10
Q
Presupposition
A
- something that you believe is true without having any proof; something that is assumed in advance.
11
Q
Preponderance
A
- the quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance.
12
Q
Tesselate
A
- (of shapes) to fit together in a pattern with no spaces in between
13
Q
Epithet
A
- an adjective or phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned. - an epithet used as a term of abuse. - Etymology: First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin epitheton “adjective; word used attributively,” from Greek epítheton “something added, adjective, epithet”.
14
Q
Progenitor
A
- the parent or direct ancestor of a person, animal, or plant. - a person who originates a cultural or intellectual movement.
15
Q
Animus
A
- hostility or ill feeling.
16
Q
Enmity
A
- strong dislike or hate.
17
Q
Badinage
A
- humorous or witty conversation.
18
Q
Contentious
A
- causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial. - involving heated argument.
19
Q
Perturbed
A
- feeling anxiety, worried or concern; unsettled. - Etymology: 1325–75; Middle English perturben (
20
Q
Crude
A
- in a natural or raw state; not yet processed or refined. - simple and not skilfully done or made. - rude and offensive.
21
Q
Verity
A
- the quality of being true - a belief, idea, or principle that is generally accepted as being true and is of fundamnetal importance.
22
Q
Salacious
A
- having or conveying undue or inappropriate interest in sexual matters.
23
Q
Meditate
A
- focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation. - think deeply about (something). - plan mentally; consider.
24
Q
Supplanted
A
- supersede and replace; to take the place of (something or someone).
25
Juncture
- a particular point in time.
26
Vacuous
- having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless. - Etymology: 1645–55; from Latin vacuus “empty”.
27
Tact
- the ability to say or do the right thing without making anyone unhappy or angry; skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues.
28
Incessant
- continuing without pause or interruption (especially in an annoying or unpleasant way).
29
Dichotomy
- a difference between two completely opposite ideas or things; a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
30
Anathema
- something or someone that one vehemently dislikes or disapproves of.
31
Vapid
- offering nothing that is stimulating or challenging; bland. - showing no intelligence or imagination.
32
Self-deprecating
- modest about or critical of oneself, especially humorously so.
33
Deprecating
- showing that you think something is of little value or importance. - showing that you do not approve of something. - Etymology: First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin dēprecātus “prayed against, warded off”.
34
Flagrant
- (of a bad action, situation, person, etc.) shocking because of being so obvious.
35
Strife
- angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict.
36
Tentative
- not certain or fixed; provisional. - done without confidence; hesitant. - Etymology: First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin tentātīvus, equivalent to Latin tentāt(us) (past participle of tentāre, variant of temptāre “to test”.
37
Alarmist
- someone who exaggerates a danger and so causes needless worry or panic; intentionally showing only the bad and dangerous things in a situation.
38
Despot
- a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way - Etymology: mid 16th century: from French despote, via medieval Latin from Greek despotēs ‘master, absolute ruler’.
39
Pariah
- an outcast. - a person who is not accepted by a social group, especially because he or she is not liked, respected, or trusted. - Etymology: early 17th century: from Tamil paṛaiyar, plural of paṛaiyan ‘(hereditary) drummer’; a member of an indigenous people of southern India originally functioning as ceremonial drummers but later having a low caste.
40
Embattled
- having a lot of problems or difficulties.
41
Prolix
- (of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.
42
Abrasive
- showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh.
43
Diaspora
- a group of people who spread from one original country to other countries, or the act of spreading in this way. - Etymology: Greek, from diaspeirein ‘disperse’, from dia ‘across’ + speirein ‘scatter’.
44
Tumult
- a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people. - a state of confusion or disorder. - Etymology: 1375–1425; late Middle English tumult(e)
45
Dismay
- a feeling of unhappiness and disappointment; feeling of conern and distress.
46
Gouge
- to make a hole in something in a rough or violent way.
47
Undergird
- to support something by forming a strong base for it.
48
Dearth
- a scarcity or lack of something.
49
Cardinal
- of great importance.
50
Extemporaneous
- spoken or done without preparation.
