Wordsmart II Flashcards
(200 cards)
1
Q
Aboriginal
A
Native, dating back to the very beginning
2
Q
Aborigines
A
Earliest known human inhabitants of Australia
3
Q
Antedate
“A civilization that antedated the Roman Empire”
A
Precede in time
4
Q
Antediluvian
A
Incredibly old, “before the flood”
5
Q
Callow
A
Youthfully naive, inexperienced, or unsophisticated
6
Q
Fledgling
A
Inexperienced, very young, a baby bird
7
Q
Impromptu
A
Done without preparation or on the spur of the moment
8
Q
Inaugurate
A
To begin officially; to induct into office
9
Q
Incumbent
A
The candidate who already holds office in a political race; currently holding office; obligatory
10
Q
Neophyte
A
A beginner; a novice
11
Q
Overture
A
An opening move or preliminary offer; the music at the beginning of a concert or show
12
Q
Posterity
A
Succeeding or future generations collectively
13
Q
Progeny
A
Offspring or descendants
14
Q
Progenitor
A
Creator or parent of an offspring
15
Q
Emigrate
A
To leave one’s country for another; to expatriate
16
Q
Emigre
A
A person who leaves his or her country for another
17
Q
Immigrate
Emigrate- to leave a country to live in another
A
To enter a country to live there
18
Q
Evanescent
A
Fleeting; appearing and disappearing quickly, not long-lasting
19
Q
Galvanize
“Charities were galvanized by commercials about starving people.”
A
To cause people to become excited or concerned about an idea
20
Q
Impasse
A
A deadlock, a situation from which there is no escape
21
Q
Propagate
A
Spread and promote an idea or theory widely
22
Q
Quiescent
A
Still, quiet, at rest, motionless
23
Q
Reactionary
A
Ultra conservative, right-wing, backward-thinking; an ultra conservative person
24
Q
Supine
A
On one’s back
25
Absolve
To forgive, to free of sin, blame, or responsibility
26
Censure
Condemnation or severe punishment, especially in a formal statement
27
Clemency
Mercy, mildness or forgiveness with regard to punishment
28
Inclement
Severe, lacking mildness
29
Contraband
Any illegal substance that’s smuggled in
30
Culpable
Deserving of blame, guilty
31
Exculpate/Provide exculpatory evidence
To find someone not culpable; to clear from alleged fault or guilt
32
Disinterested
Unbiased or impartial
33
Interloper
An unwanted intruder or trespasser
34
Larceny
Theft or robbery
35
Malfeasance
ANY illegal act, generally associated with political figures
36
Peccadillo
A minor offense, petty crime
37
Penitent
Sorry, repentant, or contrite
38
Denizen
An inhabitant
39
Indigenous
native, originating in a given area, belonging naturally
40
Matriculate
To enroll, usually in college
41
Nomadic
Wandering from place to place, having no permanent home
42
Odyssey
A long, difficult journey
43
Peripatetic
WALKING or traveling about
44
Pilgrimage
A spiritual journey; a journey to a holy place
45
Emanate
“Warmth emanated from the fireplace.”
(Of something abstract but perceptible) To flow out; to issue from a source
46
Enigmatic/Inscrutable
“The Mona Lisa has a famously enigmatic smile.”
“Her face was inscrutable, and he could not guess her thoughts.”
Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious
47
Armistice
A truce, an agreement to lay down one’s weapons
48
Conciliatory
“The U.S. government was not in a conciliatory mood.”
Showing willingness to end a disagreement, or trying to make someone less angry
49
Decimate
To destroy, wipe out
50
Halcyon
“The halcyon days of the mid-1980s, when profits were soaring.”
Denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful
51
Incursion
A hostile invasion or raid
52
Martial
“Martial bravery”
Of or appropriate to war, warlike
53
Pastoral/Sylvan
Vernal-SPRING
Verdant- Green
Peaceful in a rustic, nature-oriented way
54
Propitious
Favorable, fortunate
55
Aspersion
Slanderous, damning remark
56
Convivial
Sociable, festive
57
Decorous
Orderly, proper, tasteful
58
Indecorous
“It was indecorous to publish her sister’s diary in the newspaper.”
Not in keeping with good taste and propriety; Improper
59
Decorum
Orderliness, propriety
60
Invidious
Insidious- Treacherous and sneaky
Causing ill will or animosity
61
Jocular
Given to joking or mischief
62
Rapacious
“Rapacious landlords”
Having an aggressive, predatory, and insatiable desire for possessions and power
63
Unctuous
Oily or insincere
64
Corporeal
“He was frank about his corporeal appetites.”
Having to do with the body, especially as opposed to their spirit.
65
Devout
Deeply religious or fervent
66
Extant
Still in existence
67
Incarnation
A concrete form of a quality or concept
68
Olfactory
Having to do with the sense of smell
69
Specter
A ghost, phantom, or something that haunts
70
Spectral
Ghostly
71
Bedlam
Chaotic, noisy uproar, comes from name of insane asylum
72
Genteel
Polite, refined, aristocratic, affecting refinement
73
Erotomania
An obsession with sex
74
Melee
A huge brawl, a violent and confused free-for-all
75
Nomenclature
A system of names, a terminology, or a designation
76
Subvert/Subversive
Attempting to change things in ways that are contrary to the thinking of the majority
77
Augur
“The end of the Cold War seemed to augur well.”
“The renewed violence this week hardly augurs well for smooth or peaceful change.”
To portend a good or bad outcome (more formal version)
78
Epilogue
An afterword in a book or a speech at the end of a play
79
Fatalist
One who believes events are predetermined and humans are powerless to change them
80
Foreboding
A bad feeling about the future
81
Harbinger
“Witch hazels are the harbingers of spring”
A person or thing that suggests the approach of something else
82
Perennial
Continual, happening again and again
83
Portent
“The envelope and its portentous contents”
“They believed that wild birds in the house were portents of death.”
A sign that something, especially something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen
84
Posthumously
Occurring after death
85
Presage
“I took a quick glance at the sky to reassure myself that the scudding clouds did not presage rain.”
To foreshadow or predict (less formal version)
86
Retrospective
A review of an artist’s work
87
Destitute
Utterly and completely without means, financial or otherwise
88
Impecunious
Without money, broke
89
Peculation
“Many other Forest wardens were accused of peculation, oppression or neglect.”
The fraudulent appropriation of funds or property entrusted to your care but actually owned by someone else, embezzlement
90
Impresario
A person who manages large-scale entertainments such as operas and concerts
91
Magnate
A rich, powerful and influential businessperson
92
Mendicant
A beggar
93
Plebeian
“He wondered what the people at the country club would think of his plebeian origins.”
Common, bourgeois, vulgar; a commoner
94
Proletariat
The industrial, blue-collar, or working class
95
Depose
To remove someone from office or a position of power
96
Diminution
“A permanent diminution of value.”
The act or process of diminishing
97
Diminutive
Small
98
Hubris
Arrogance or excessive pride
99
Oust
To eject, to throw out or reject
100
Sovereignty
“How can we hope to wrest sovereignty away from the oligarchy and back to the people?”
The authority of a state to govern itself or another state
101
Transcendent
Above and beyond ordinary experience; exceeding usual limits
102
Ubiquitous
Everywhere at the same time
103
Demarche
“Foreign policy demarches”
A change in a course of action or political initiative
104
Filibuster
To obstruct the passage of legislation by speaking in order to delay; the obstruction of the passage of legislation in this manner
105
Gerrymander
To arrange political districts in a way that favors one political party
106
Habeas Corpus
A writ demanding that a prisoner be brought forth in person
107
Hagiography
The biography of a saint; a biography that shows its subject in a very favorable light
108
Homologate
“One body of patrons elected the teacher, the others afterward homologating the appointment.”
To confirm officially or to agree
109
Interregnum
The period between the regimes of two sovereigns or administrations
110
Libation
A drink used in religious rituals; any intoxicating beverage
111
Numinous
Having divine, magical or supernatural characteristics
112
Omphaloskepsis
A meditation on one’s navel
113
Throttlebottom
A harmless incompetent in public office
114
Votary/Acolyte
“He was a votary of John Keats”
A devoted follower, adherent, or advocate of someone or something
115
Crapulent
Sick from overeating or drinking too much
116
Dyspeptic
Having indigestion, nauseated
117
Educe
To draw out something that is latent
118
Effluvium
Foul-smelling odor
119
Embroil
To entangle or involve in a difficult or complicated situation
120
Expunge
To erase, strike from a record
121
Extirpate
To destroy or remove; to pull up by the roots
122
Imbroglio
A complicated and difficult situation
123
Imbue
To fill or saturate with; to inspire profoundly
124
Poniard
A small slender dagger
125
Poultice
A substance used to draw out dirt and oil from beneath a surface, such as the skin
126
Prophylaxis
“Antibiotic prophylaxis is the use of antibiotics before surgery or a dental procedure to prevent a bacterial infection.”
The prevention of disease or infection by protective means
127
Putsch
A failed attempt to overthrow a government
128
Quaff
To drink large amounts with great enjoyment
129
Riposte
“I’d have made lamb chops had I known you’re a vegetarian,” Kris riposted.
A quick, clever reply to an insult or criticism.
130
Discomfit
“He was not noticeably discomfited by her tone”
Make someone feel uneasy
131
Pernicious
“The pernicious effects of air pollution”
Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
132
Sonorous
“He read aloud with a sonorous and musical voice”
Stentorian- loud, powerful sounds
An imposingly deep and full voice or other sound
133
Filiation
“Relationships based on ties of filiation as opposed to marriage”
The fact of being designated the child of a particular parent or parents; lineage
134
Succor
“The wounded had little chance of succor”
Assistance and support in times of hardship and distress
135
Nullity
“Frankly, such a question would be a nullity”
“She obtained a decree of nullity dissolving the marriage”
The state or quality of being null; nothingness; invalidity
136
Inimitable
“The inimitable ambience of Hawaii”
So good or unusual as to be impossible to copy; unique
137
Viaticum
Catholic Church’s Eucharist
138
Plaintive
“A plaintive cry”
Sounding sad and mournful
139
Farrier
A person whose job involves taking care of horses’ hooves and shoeing them if they need protection
140
Enfeeble
“Sickness has enfeebled me”
Make weak or feeble
141
Polyglot
“New Orleans has always been a polyglot city”
Knowing or using several languages
142
Metronome
A practice tool that produces a steady pulse or beat to help musicians play rhythms accurately
143
Abashed (pronounced like it looks)
“Harriet looked slightly abashed”
Embarrassed, disconcerted or ashamed
144
Entreaty
“His supervisors have ignored his entreaties”
An earnest or humble request
145
Dissolute
“A dissolute, drunken, disreputable rogue”
Unrestrained by moral or social conventions, often used to describe someone given to immoral or improper conduct or a lifestyle characterized by indulgence in vices
146
Felicitations
“May I offer my felicitations on your engagement”
Words expressing praise for an achievement or good wishes on a special occasion
147
Aide-de-camp
A military officer acting as a confidential assistant to a senior officer
148
Didactics
The theory and practice of teaching and learning
149
Inimical
“Actions inimical to our interests”
Something that obstructs or harms
150
Pillory
“He found himself pilloried by members of his own party”
Attack or ridicule publicly
151
Sophist
Someone who makes good points about an issue- until you realize those points aren’t entirely true; a person who reasons with clever but fallacious and deceptive arguments
152
Tarry (tar ee)
“He tarried in Baltimore on his way to Washington.”
To remain or stay in a place; loiter
153
Samovar
A highly decorated tea urn used in Russia
154
Syllogism
“This school of epistemology is highly advanced in syllogism and logical reasoning.”
Deductive reasoning- a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed premises
155
Epistemology
The philosophical study of the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge
156
Coquetry
“I like the way you laugh,” he said without coquetry.”
Flirtatious behavior or flirtatious manner
157
Stentorian
“He bellowed in a stentorian voice”
Very loud or powerful, especially in reference to a voice
158
Equable
“His equable manner makes everyone instantly feel comfortable”
Not easily irritated; steady
159
Trenchant
“The trenchant observation made us scratch our heads thoughtfully- and wince with embarrassment.”
Describes someone who thinks or says sharply worded things that cut right to the matter
160
Imputation
“There are grounds for inquiring into the imputations of misconduct against him.”
A charge or claim that someone has done something undesirable; an accusation
161
Preamble
“I gave him the bad news without preamble.”
An introductory statement
162
Aggrieved
“They were aggrieved at the outcome.”
Feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated
163
Taciturn
“After such gatherings she would be taciturn and morose”
Uncommunicative in speech; saying little
164
Disconsolate
“He’d met the man’s disconsolate widow”
Without consolation or comfort; unhappy
165
Lugubrious
“His face looked even more lugubrious than usual”
Looking OR sounding sad and dismal
166
Suppurate (sup yer aate)
“The lymph nodes may suppurate”
To form or give out a thick, yellow liquid because of infection
167
Recapitulate
“He began to recapitulate his story with care”
To summarize and restate the main points of something
168
Slaver (Rhymes with gather)
“The Labrador was slavering at the mouth.”
Let saliva run from the mouth
169
Fractious
“They fight and squabble like fractious children”
(Typically of children) Irritable and quarrelsome
170
Voluble
“A voluble game-show host”
Someone who speaks fluently, readily, or incessantly
171
Expectorate (aaate)
“A sign asks visitors not to expectorate in the sinks”
Cough or spit out phlegm from the throat or lungs
172
Seraphic
“A seraphic smile”
Resembling an angel
173
Beatific (bee uh tif Ik)
“A beatific smile”
Blissfully happy
174
Ad hoc
“The group was constituted ad hoc.”
Created or done for a particular purpose as necessary
175
Supplant
“Another discovery could supplant the original finding”
Supersede and replace
176
Ineffaceable
“The experience made an ineffaceable impression on my mind”
Unable to be erased or forgotten
177
Physiognomy (fizy on omee)
“A world where physiognomy was a respected practice.”
The supposed art of judging character from facial characteristics- now considered pseudo-science
178
Griot (gree oh)
Narrators of oral traditions
179
Redolent
“Names redolent of history and tradition.”
Strongly reminiscent or suggestive of
180
Miasma
“A miasma of stale alcohol hung around him like marsh gas.”
A highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor
181
Uninflected
“Her voice was flat and uninflected.”
Not varying in intonation or pitch
182
Bijou
“A bijou residence”
A small and elegant residence or business establishment
183
In extremis (in extree mis)
“They suddenly found themselves in extremis 20 miles out to sea.”
In an extremely difficult situation
184
Idolater (ey doll a ter)
“Throngs of idolaters gather just to watch the team buses arrive.”
A person that admires intensely and often blindly something that is not usually a subject of worship
185
Rube Goldberg machine
A complex, chain-reaction contraption designed to perform a simple task in an overly complicated and often humorous way
186
Tertiary
“The tertiary stage of the disease”
Third in order or level
187
Arrhythmic (soft a)
“The arrhythmic clip-clop of pony steps”
Not rhythmic; without regularity
188
Travail
“They finally succeeded after many months of travail.”
Labor involving pain and suffering
189
Polymorphous
“She is polymorphous in thought and flexible in action.”
Occurring in several different forms or stages
190
Balsam
“A mixture of olive oil and balsam”
An aromatic and usually oily and resinous substance flowing from various plants, used as a for base for fragrances and medical & cosmetic preparations
191
Maunder
“Dennis maundered on about the wine”
Talk in a rambling manner
192
Bardo
In Tibetan Buddhism, the intermediate state between death and rebirth; a middle state or intermediate realm
193
Impolitic
“It was impolitic to pay the slightest tribute to the enemy.”
Failing to possess or display prudence; unwise
194
Epistle
“Activists firing off angry epistles”
A letter
195
Polychrome
Something decorated or executed in many colors
196
Declamatory (rhymes with exclamatory)
“A long declamatory speech”
Vehement or impassioned in expression
197
Cetology
The branch of zoology that deals with whales, dolphins & porpoises
198
Disquisition
“Nothing can kill a radio show quicker than a disquisition on intertextual analysis”
A long or elaborate essay or discussion on a particular subject
199
Digressive
“A digressive account”
Characterized by digression; tending to depart from the subject
200
Braggadocio (bragga do shio)
“They were brash and full of braggadocio”
Vain and empty boasting
