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1
Q

mottled

A

Marked by spots. “His tongue, a mottled fish…”

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2
Q

larded

A

Embellished. Covered thickly with. “His speech was larded with Kissinger quotes.”

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3
Q

propitious

A

indicative that there’s a good chance of success. > these could be propitious times for ET

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4
Q

demiglace

A

a French brown sauce. veal based

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5
Q

cacophony

A

harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

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6
Q

libretto

A

the text of an opera or other long vocal work&raquo_space;> libro Italian for book from Latin liber

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7
Q

stoic

A

a person enduring pain without complaint

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8
Q

pugnacious

A

quick to argue.&raquo_space;> mnemonic, like a pug with its chest forward, arguing

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9
Q

posse comitatus

A

the ability law enforcement officers to conscript any able-bodied man to assist them in the pursuit of a felon

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10
Q

oenophile

A

wine lover

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11
Q

jacose

A

(formal) playful or humorous. jacosely

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12
Q

cultural counter-signaling

A

two separate cultures in a single identity

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13
Q

brinksmanship

A

taking things to an extreme/risk.&raquo_space; political brinksmanship

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14
Q

crass

A

lacking refinement or sensitivity.&raquo_space; the crass assumptions

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15
Q

audacity

A

rude, disrespectful of the norms. willing to take bold risks

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16
Q

pike

A

to withdrawal from a commitment

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17
Q

dapper

A

neat in appearance, particularly for a guy

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18
Q

disintermediation

A

reduction in the number of intermediaries be tween producer and consumer

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19
Q

impressario

A

person financing/organizing plays/operas

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20
Q

salubrious

A

health-giving, healthy, pleasant&raquo_space; salubrious weather, salubrious escape

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21
Q

perfunctory

A

a half-hearted effort

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22
Q

desultory

A

lacking purpose or enthusiasm. unfocused. switching from one thing to another half-heartedly> a desultory conversation (multiple loose threads lacking interest)

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23
Q

gingerly

A

carefully. cautiously> he sat gingerly> the preliminaries were taken at a gingerly pace

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24
Q

denouement

A

the resolution of the final part of a play, where all the pieces are drawn together

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25
Q

vagary

A

inexplicable change of situation, condition or behavior> the vagaries of weather

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26
Q

imprimatur

A

official sanction from the church to print something» latin for “let it be printed”> they had the imprimatur from the rating agencies to issue debt

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27
Q

risible

A

laughable» giving a rise

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28
Q

chiaroscuro

A

painting technique using high contrast with fine strokes to give dimensionality

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29
Q

perforce

A

necessary» “by force” of necessity. (old french “par force”)> amateurs, perforce, had to settle for less expensive solutions

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30
Q

bonhomie

A

The feeling of good natured easy friendliness in a group.» noun» french “good person”

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31
Q

jingoism

A

extreme patriotism. hawkishness. war-like foreign policy

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32
Q

boisterous

A

rowdy, noisy, energetic> boisterous conviviality of the tavern

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33
Q

contrition

A

or penitent. feeling of remorse> the court was concerned by her lack of contrition

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34
Q

contraindication

A

medical condition under which a medicine should not be used

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35
Q

demur

A

to raise doubts or show reluctance» latin completely delay> normally she’d have accepted the challenge, but demurred

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36
Q

insouciance

A

indifference. casual lack of concern» french, saucier means to worry. insouciance. “no worry”

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37
Q

sunder

A

split apart> split a-sunder> the crunch of bone when it’s sundered

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38
Q

carom

A

to strike and rebound; to ricochet

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39
Q

magnanimous

A

very generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or someone less powerful» latin for great (magnum) soul (animus)

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40
Q

febrile

A

feverish illness or nervous excitement> a febrile imagination

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41
Q

verdant

A

green with grass and vegetation» pronounced as if the a weren’t there> the verdant countryside

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42
Q

platitude

A

a trite remark with moral content used too often to be interesting» plat = flat in French

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43
Q

perfidy

A

infidelity. not trustworthyhe promise of acting in good faith with every intention of breaking once the other side has acted> shocked by the lawyers perfidiousness

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44
Q

lingua franca

A

a bridge language allowing to people speaking other languages to communicate

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45
Q

sordid

A

involving ignoble actions or motivearousing moral contempt. Dirty, dishonest, base, gross, squalid. > a sordid picture of bribes and scams > the sordid conditions of the apartment building

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46
Q

louche

A

disreputable or sordid, often in an appealing way; or, decadence. can also be a verb referring to a drink that’s cloudy > the louche world of the art and drugs > the louche neighborhood where people went looking for drugs and prostitutes&raquo_space; french for squinting.

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47
Q

rakish

A

(rake-ish) dashing, jaunty, slightly disreputable appearancea trim appearance suggestive of speed. carelessly unconventional > a rakish car with streamlined angles&raquo_space; mnemonic: like a rake, streamlining the leaves in the grass

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48
Q

debonair

A

confident, stylish, charming

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49
Q

jaunty

A

cheerful, happy, lively confident

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50
Q

scourge

A

a person or thing causing great trouble> the scourge of homelessnessor as a verb: to cause great trouble> political methods used to scourge and oppress workers

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51
Q

fortuitous

A

a fortunate accident or something happening by chance rather than design> the pairing of the two may not simply be fortuitous

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52
Q

aversion

A

strong dislike or something arousing a strong dislike> an aversion to exercise

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53
Q

immiscible

A

unable to be blended together

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54
Q

alacrity

A

a brisk and cheerful readiness> she accepted the invitation with alacrity

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55
Q

bitch-slap

A

to deliver a stinging blow to someone to humiliate them

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56
Q

preternatural

A

beyond what is normal> autumn arrived with preternatural speed

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57
Q

peripatetic

A

itinerant. nomadic> he led a peripatetic lifestyle

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58
Q

talk a blue streak

A

american idiom. to say a lot rapidly. > he started talking a blue streak about race cars

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59
Q

inter alia

A

among other things

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60
Q

ipso facto

A

implied by some fact alone> the enemy of one’s enemy may ipso facto be a friend

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61
Q

extant

A

surviving» the a is silent.> the original manuscript is no longer extant

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62
Q

affidavit

A

written statement confirmed by oath used as evidence in court

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63
Q

plaintiff

A

the person instigating a claim

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64
Q

white knuckled

A

marked by a tense nervousness

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65
Q

boorish

A

rough and bad-mannered

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66
Q

brusque

A

abrupt and offhanded> she could be brusque and impatient

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67
Q

bucolic

A

relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside> a lovely church in a bucolic setting

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68
Q

effulgent

A

Radiant, shining brightlyOr, emanating joy or goodness

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69
Q

anomie

A

A breakdown in social values and purpose that leads to unrest and instability. Personal unrest

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70
Q

petulant

A

To become angry when not getting your way. Childishly bad tempered and sulky.

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71
Q

churlish

A

Impolite. Uncivil. Ungracious. Difficult to work with. Lacking social graces. Like a bumpkin > churlishly complained at the dinner party

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72
Q

cabal

A

a secret clique> a cabal of dissidents

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73
Q

cabaret

A

nightclub or restaurant entertainment (the audience is eating/drinking at tables)> she was in the cabaret

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74
Q

capriccio

A

a short, freeform lively piece of music.a work of art mixing fantasy and reality> he wrote a wonderful capriccio that got airtime

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75
Q

catechism

A

a series of fixed questions and answers used for instruction» mnemonic from greek kata (down) echein (sound). to sound down, to indoctrinate

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76
Q

catharsis

A

purgation. releasing strong, repressed emotions> the therapy was cathartic

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77
Q

chalet

A

a small wooden house typically found in the alps

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78
Q

surly

A

bad-tempered and unfriendly> he left with a surly expression

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79
Q

cognitive dissonance

A

holding inconsistent thoughts in your mind simultaneously

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80
Q

contemptible

A

despicable, deserving of contempt

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81
Q

convalescence

A

time spent recovering from an illness> I read the entire new yorker during the convalescence> a convalescent home

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82
Q

reprise

A

a repeated passage. or, to repeat&raquo_space; french to take up again

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83
Q

coquette

A

a flirtatious woman

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84
Q

pettifogging

A

placing undo emphasis on petty details> pettifogging attorneys are the bane of civil society

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85
Q

philistine

A

a person hostile to culture and the arts

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86
Q

piety

A

quality of being religious or reverent. A belief accepted with unthinking reverence> the accepted pieties of our time

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87
Q

piquant

A

pleasantly stimulating or exciting. sharp or appetizing taste. Engagingly provocative.&raquo_space; from french for bitter or prick

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88
Q

platitudinous

A

hackneyed. too often used to be interesting or thoughtful

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89
Q

polemic

A

noun. a strong verbal or written attack on somethingthe art or practice of controversial debate> a feminist polemic> the history of science has become embroiled with religious polemics

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90
Q

officious

A

Domineering about petty mattersOverly enthusiastic in offering help> an officious bystander.> the officer told them to move on, an officious, spiteful man

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91
Q

portentous

A

A warning or portent, or somethings self-consciously solemn and self-important > his portentous pontification

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92
Q

solemn

A

formal and dignified. serious. deeply sincere.> a solemn procession

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93
Q

preening

A

to congratulate or pride ones’s selfderogatorily used – e.g., preening by primping then admiring your appearance

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94
Q

prima facie

A

based on first impression; accepted as correct until shown otherwise

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95
Q

prosaic

A

lacking poetic beauty. commonplace or unromantic> preoccupied with prosaic day-to-day concerns

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96
Q

protean

A

changing frequently.or, able to do many things – versatile.> he was a protean composer> hard to comprehend the protean subject

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97
Q

prurient

A

encouraging excessive interest in sexual matters

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98
Q

psychosomatic

A

interaction of body and mind. a physical illness aggravated by a mental condition (like stress)> most of Heinrich’s problems were psychosomatic

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99
Q

puckish

A

mischievously playful. naughty> puckish sense of humor

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100
Q

purgatory

A

a place inhabited by sinners to expunge their sins before going to heavencleansing or purifying

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101
Q

putative

A

generally reputed to be> the putative father&raquo_space; from latin putatus to think

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102
Q

quixotic

A

impractically idealistic> a vast, perhaps quixotic project

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103
Q

rapscallion

A

a mischievous person» mnemonic, perhaps from rascal

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104
Q

ratiocinative

A

judgment formed through logic> infuriatingly, cold, precise ratiocinating engine of a brain fuelled by a wholly egocentric passion.

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105
Q

redoubtable

A

formidable, esp of an opponent> a redoubtable debater» mnemonic: an opponent causing you fear or doubt

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106
Q

regale

A

to lavishly supply with food or drink. to entertain or amuse with talk> regaled her with colorful accounts of the west

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107
Q

repose

A

a state of rest or tranquility or harmony. composure.> he’d lost none of his grace or repose> the diamond reposes in the Louvreas a verb, to lie something to rest

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108
Q

revue

A

light theatrical entertainment – a series of short sketches dealing satirically with topical issues» mnemonic french for review

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109
Q

sagacious

A

shrewd. having good judgment> sagacious enough to avoid outright confrontation» mnemonic as a sage

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110
Q

salacious

A

treating sexual matters indecently.conveying undo interest in sex> salacious stories> a salacious grin» mnemonic: salivate. lust.

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111
Q

lecherous

A

showing offensive sexual desire> she ignored his lecherous gaze

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112
Q

sangfroid

A

composure or coolness (sometimes excessive) in dangerous or trying situations» mnemonic: French sang (blood) froid (cold)

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113
Q

saunter

A

walk in a slow manner without hurry> Adam sauntered into the room

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114
Q

scrivener

A

a clerk or notary» mnemonic

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115
Q

sententious

A

moralistic, pompously moralizing > he tried to encourage his troops with sententious rhetoric

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116
Q

simulacrum

A

ersatz. an unsatisfactory imitation or substitute> a bland simulacrum of American soul music» mnemonic: simulate

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117
Q

sine qua non

A

something absolutely essential. an indispensable ingredient> grammar is the sine qua non of language teaching» latin “without which not”

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118
Q

snootful

A

enough alcohol to make one drunkas much as one can take of something> they’re tongue-tied until they’ve had a snootful> he’d had a snootful of the role

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119
Q

sobriquet

A

a nicknamea pseudonym is a kind of disguise and is mischievous. a sobriquet is a neutral nickname often bestowed by someone else

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120
Q

solecism

A

a grammatical mistake or breach of good mannerssolecistic> the solecism of asking how much the gift cost

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121
Q

solipsism

A

the philosophy that only one’s own existence and mind is for certain

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122
Q

soupçon

A

a small amount of something

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123
Q

staid

A

sedate, respectful, unadventurous> the staid business of law

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124
Q

subterfuge

A

trickery or deceit used to achieve a goal> the propagandists used a photographic subterfuge, using hybrid images and subliminal meanings> the subterfuge that causes unwary employees to open virus-laden emails

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125
Q

Kuleshov Effect

A

juxtaposition of an expressionless face and a set of imagery leading to (1) an inferred causality (he’s looking at x) and (2) assignment of an appropriate emotion to the expression (he’s angry, sad, lustful, etc.)

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126
Q

cant

A

hypocritical and sanctimonious talk of moral or political subjectOr, as adjective, something that’s fashionable or current> the cant word of our day> the cant liberal case against all censorship

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127
Q

indolence

A

laziness. refusal to engage in physical activity

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128
Q

pallid

A

pale, especially because of sickness

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129
Q

impudent

A

Failing to show proper respect. Rude. Not courteous.

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130
Q

importunate

A

Making repeated, annoying requests or demands. Causing annoyance or trouble.

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131
Q

stolid

A

Inexpressive, unemotional. Dull, stupid, impassive

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132
Q

irascible

A

easily angered> an irascible man

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133
Q

supercilious

A

behaving as though one thinks one is superior to others» mnemonic from latin for eyebrow supersilium

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134
Q

surfeit

A

an excessive amount of something> a surfeit of food and drink

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135
Q

surfeited

A

to no longer desire something for having had too much of it> surfeited with shopping» mnemonic sur – super – feit Latin “do”

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136
Q

svelte

A

slender and elegant

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137
Q

svengali

A

a person who exercises a controlling influence over another, often for a sinister purpose

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138
Q

synecdoche

A

figure of speech where the whole is used to represent a part (Cleveland won by 6 points – meaning the Cleveland baseball team)» pronounced synekdekee

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139
Q

tendentious

A

promoting a cause, typically a controversial one> a tendentious reading of history

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140
Q

trenchant

A

cutting, vigorous, incisive expression.Strong, clear and effective.> the minister’s trenchant prose

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141
Q

umbrage

A

annoyance> to take umbrage at an unworkable …

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142
Q

veneer

A

an attractive facade that disguises true feeling or appearance

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143
Q

brogue

A

mens leather shoe with decorative perforations in the leather

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144
Q

indignation

A

anger or annoyance at perceived unfair treatment

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145
Q

ribald

A

Referring to sexual matters in an amusingly rude or irreverent way

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146
Q

claque

A

A group hired to applaud. Hired group of sycophants. Servile flatterers.

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147
Q

addlepated

A

lacking in common sense; having a muddled mind> he made the addlebrained decision to install an uncertain rookie at point guard.

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148
Q

decorous

A

in keeping with good taste and propriety> dancing with decorous separation distance between partners

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149
Q

celebrant

A

a person celebrating something. or the Eucharist performing a rite

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150
Q

acolyte

A

an assistant or follower. in a religious context, assisting the celebrant

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151
Q

metier

A

an activity at which one excels. > her real metier was operaan outstanding characteristic> subtlety is his metier

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152
Q

tetchy

A

irritable and short-tempered» touchy

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153
Q

consigliere

A

an advisor, especially to the crime boss

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154
Q

flophouse

A

a cheap hotel/hostel

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155
Q

frisson

A

a sudden feeling of fear or excitement» FREEson

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156
Q

inebriate

A

a drunkard

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157
Q

importune

A

to ask someone persistently to do somethingto offer services as a prostitute

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158
Q

disaffected

A

dissatisfied with people in authority and no longer willing to support the

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159
Q

shambolic

A

in shambles. disorganized, mismanaged

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160
Q

pantheon

A

a group of respected, famous or important people> pantheon of political power players

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161
Q

demur

A

to be reluctant or raise doubts

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162
Q

filigree

A

ornamental work of fine usually precious wire> their filigreed minds

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163
Q

tableau

A

a group of motionless figures/models representing a scene from a story

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164
Q

accost

A

to confront boldly and aggressively

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165
Q

lifer

A

a person spending their life in a particular profession

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166
Q

doppelgänger

A

apparition or a double of a living person

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167
Q

apparition

A

the appearance of something remarkable or unexpecteda ghost

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168
Q

biff

A

to strike roughly and sharply> he biffed me on the nose

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169
Q

sui generis

A

unique. one of a kind> the suis generis nature of animals

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170
Q

soliloquy

A

speaking one’s thoughts aloud even if no one is there to hear. often done in a play

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171
Q

dissident

A

one opposed to official policy in an authoritarian state

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172
Q

effuse

A

to give off something (light, smell, etc.)talk in an unrestrained manner> the subject he often effused about

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173
Q

showboater

A

a show-off making public appearances

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174
Q

tapenade

A

finely chopped capers, olives, anchovies

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175
Q

gaunt

A

frail, grim from old age. desolate in appearance

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176
Q

doyenne

A

the most respected/prominent woman in a field

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177
Q

patois

A

the dialect of a common people of a regionjargon or informal speech used by a particular group> the raunchy patois of inner-city kids

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178
Q

atelier

A

a workshop or studio used by an artist or designer

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179
Q

crucible

A

a place or occasion of severe test or trial. or, a ceramic container where metals and other substances are melteda place where different elements interact to produce something new> crucible of combat> crucible of new Romantic movement

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180
Q

vicissitude

A

a change of circumstance or fortune, typically one that’s unwelcomeor alternation between something pleasant and unpleasant> it tells you nothing about how they handle the vicissitudes of life

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181
Q

malinger

A

exaggerate or fein illness to escape work

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182
Q

zeitgeber

A

time grabber – is a process that entrains biological rhythms. music is a bodily zeitgeber

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183
Q

acrostics

A

cross-word style poem or word puzzle. letters in each line form a word

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184
Q

jejune

A

naive, simplistic, superficial. or, dry and uninteresting> predictable and usually jejune opinions> it’s a jejune poem brooding about the author

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185
Q

rumpus

A

same as ruckus – a noisy disturbance

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186
Q

travesty

A

false, absurd, distorted representation of something

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187
Q

libretto

A

the full text and stage directions for a play or opera

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188
Q

sequestration

A

taking legal possession of an asset until a debt is paid

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189
Q

solemnity

A

seriousness, state of being dignified.solemn: formal and dignified

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190
Q

lobotomize

A

to reduce the mental capacity of someone

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191
Q

phantasmagoria

A

a sequence of real or imaginary images like those seen in a dream> an epic phantasmagoria of catastrophe

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192
Q

acrimonious

A

angry or bitter. typically of a debate (an acrimonious debate)

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193
Q

opera buffa

A

Comedic informal Italian opera

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194
Q

vamp

A

upper part of the shoe. Or a woman who seduces and exploits men (vampire)

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195
Q

sui generis

A

one of a kind.&raquo_space; Mnemonic: not french. Latin. literally “of its own kind”

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196
Q

rubicon

A

a point of no return> on the way to political union, we are now crossing the Rubiconoriginally comes from the name of a stream that separated Italy and Gaul that Caesar crossed in 49 BC leading his army to war with Rome.

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197
Q

prodigal

A

adj: spending money (or other resources) in a reckless, wasteful way. adj: having or giving something on a lavish scale. > prodigal habits die hardnoun: prodigal son or daughter is a person who leaves home behaving prodigally, then returns repentant

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198
Q

obstreperous

A

noisy, difficult to control

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199
Q

octothorpe

A

the pound/hash sign

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200
Q

descant

A

talk tediously or at length

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201
Q

ossified

A

Dense, rigid, turned to bone, no longer changing. “The ossified european institutions”

202
Q

mendacity

A

unthruthfulness> people publicly castigated for past mendacity

203
Q

cloying

A

to disgust or sicken someone with an excess of sweetness> a romantic, cloying tale

204
Q

cardigan

A

sweater with buttons

205
Q

callow

A

insecure, immature. a young person> she toyed with him when he was a callow young man

206
Q

inane

A

silly or stupid, trivial

207
Q

skeuomorph

A

A skeuomorph is a derivative object that retains ornamental design cues to a structure that was necessary in the original. Skeuomorphs may be deliberately employed to make the new look comfortably old and familiar, such as copper cladding on zinc pennies or computer printed postage with circular town name and cancellation lines. An alternative definition is “an element of design or structure that serves little or no purpose in the artifact fashioned from the new material but was essential to the object made from the original material.”

208
Q

chignon

A

french “sheenyoh(n)”.a knot or coil of hair behind the head – a “bun”

209
Q

simpatico

A

congenial. a person who gets along well with others

210
Q

aria

A

long solo voice in an opera or oratorio

211
Q

prima donna

A

Lead female singer in an opera. Outside of opera, means a temperpental woman with an inflated sense of importance

212
Q

apres mois le deluge

A

said by King Louis XV. After him, the french revolutionBecause there’s no verb, it has 2 meanings 1. After me there will be a flood 2. After me, let the flood come - it makes no difference to me (or, after I’m gone, I won’t care)

213
Q

voyage dans l’imaginare

A

voyage of the imagination

214
Q

ne’

A

Born as – formerly known as.

215
Q

ascerbic

A

Sharp and forthright, often of a wit

216
Q

gratis

A

Provided without charge. Adverb (issued gratis) or adjective (gratis issue).

217
Q

triage

A

the process of determining the most important people or things from amongst a large number that require attention.search words: prioritize. prioritizing. military.

218
Q

super

A

super is short for superlative. Of the highest quality.

219
Q

pantomime

A

(pant-eh-mime) Dancers express meaning through gestures accompanied by music, or an absurdly exaggerated behavior. Mnemonic: mime. “he made a pantomime of checking his watch”

220
Q

idiom

A

A characteristic mode of expression in art or music. The “neo-impressionist idiom.” Or a phrase in speech whose meaning differs from the literal word meanings.

221
Q

albatross

A

an encumbrance or source of frustration (think of the bird and the difficulty of getting rid of it – the albatross)

222
Q

ingenue

A

an unsophisticated young woman.

223
Q

sanguine

A

pronounced SANG-win. optimistic in a bad situation. historically, full of blood/life

224
Q

acrimony

A

Ill feeling or bitterness. “meeting ended with acrimony on both sides”

225
Q

ne plus ultra

A

without equal – the top, cannot go further

226
Q

abstemious

A

not self-indulgent when eating/drinking.

227
Q

anal-retentive

A

excessively orderly/fussy.

228
Q

trustafarian

A

A rich person who adopts a bohemian lifestyle and lives in a less affluent area

229
Q

castigate

A

to reprimand. > he was castigated for not setting a good example

230
Q

lackey

A

uniformed manservant

231
Q

diktat

A

an order imposed without prior consent

232
Q

lark

A

To do something “on a lark” is to do something mischievous or daring for fun

233
Q

savoir-faire

A

Ability to speak appropriately in social situations» mnemonic: savoir=know, faire=do. Know what to do.

234
Q

savoir-vivre

A

Knowing the ways of the world and polite society. Knowing how to live. Mnemonic: savoir=know, vivre=life. Know how to live.

235
Q

swashbuckler

A

A person who engages in daring and romantic adventures with bravado and flamboyance.

236
Q

cowed

A

to cow – to cause someone to submit by intimidation

237
Q

ephemeral

A

temporary. impermanent

238
Q

venal

A

Susceptible to bribery – quality of being for sale * prostitution of talents or principles for mercenary reasons * hired guns with no particular allegances

239
Q

eidetic

A

“eye-debt’-ic” an unusually vivid imagery recall – a photographic memory (eidetic memory) mnemonic: “eye” – as if you’re able to see the thing you’re recalling

240
Q

savant

A

a person who has a high level of expertise in something.

241
Q

recondite

A

“REH-con-dite” abstruse, little known.

242
Q

abstruse

A

obscure, difficult to understand

243
Q

propitious

A

(pruh-pish’-us) having a good chance of success. propitious circumstances for xyz. Prospected fanatically to find such a propitious site.

244
Q

arcana

A

(arc-a-na) singular arcanum. secrets or mysteries. “knowledge of the MBS arcana”

245
Q

chanteuse

A

(french, and pronounced in french “shant-euhz”) a woman who sings at nightclubs

246
Q

visceral

A

deep inward feelings rather than the intellect – gut feeling a visceral fear of change

247
Q

iconoclast

A

a disbeliever in cherished beliefs, a skeptic “heretic” – destroyer of religious symbols and dogmamnemonic: icon (symbol) – clast (destroy)

248
Q

contrite

A

having a feeling of remorse or penitence – a guilty heart contrition (has religious affiliations) mnemonic: rub together, wear down

249
Q

chagrin

A

embarassment, distress, humiliation at having failed at something.

250
Q

axis mundi

A

the center of the universe. has a religious meaning where higher and lower realms intersect

251
Q

flitting

A

moving rapidly & swiftly by

252
Q

reticent

A

Silent, reluctant or not engaged in something.* not revealing one’s thoughts freely

253
Q

travesty

A

A ludicrous incongruity of style or subject matter in an otherwise serious work. A literary work so inferior in quality as to be grotesque. The law was a travesty

254
Q

portend

A
  • verb: To be suggestive in advance of something happening – an omen The incident may portend an uprising* verb: a sign or warning that something momentous or calamitous is about to happen
255
Q

embolus

A

(“embuhluhs”) blood clots

256
Q

mendacious

A

lying or dishonest.mnemonic: latin mendax lying

257
Q

vanquish

A

to thoroughly defeat by superior force. the NY food scene has been vanquished by taco trucks.

258
Q

venereal

A

relating to sexual desire. mnemonic: venus (which meant sexual love in middle english).

259
Q

touchstone

A

a standard/criterion by which something is judged or recognized.

260
Q

cumbersome

A

slow and complicated and therefore inefficient.Or physically large & heavy

261
Q

oncologist

A

doctor specializing in cancer.considered a more esteemed specialization

262
Q

mantle

A

A cloak worn around or enshrouding something.

263
Q

tropism

A

turning all or part of an organism in a direction in response to a stimulus > her tropism toward money

264
Q

scabrous

A

Indecent, salacious or literally covered with scabs

265
Q

equivocate

A

to use ambiguous language as a hedge or to conceal the truth. > “not that we’re aware of,” she equivocated.

266
Q

squalid

A

extremely dirty and unpleasant, often as a result of poverty or neglect. or, morally contemptuous

267
Q

gaggle

A

a disorganized group of people > they came in with a gaggle of reporters

268
Q

debouch

A

To emerge. To discharge. > there had debouched onto the field Albert himself.

269
Q

urbane

A

Polite, confident and somewhat formal.

270
Q

recondite

A

Abstruse. Not understood by many

271
Q

outré

A

unusual and startling. her outré lifestyle. far out

272
Q

prevaricate

A

To speak or act in an evasive way.&raquo_space; from Latin to walk astray > he prevaricated when asked pointed questions > investors grew numb to the risk of default after months of prevarication

273
Q

mom de guerre

A

Pseudonym

274
Q

parochial

A

Having a limited or narrow outlook

275
Q

pestilence

A

A fatal epidemic (e.g., the bubonic plague)

276
Q

benighted

A

Ignorant

277
Q

marquee

A

can also mean a preeminent or leading

278
Q

anodyne

A

unlikely to promote offense or pain

279
Q

doggerel

A

badly written verse

280
Q

cloy

A

to disgust or sicken with an excess of sweetness, richness, sentiment

281
Q

interred

A

buried

282
Q

conceit

A

A fanciful expression in writing, an elaborate metaphor, or an artistic effect or device

283
Q

tempered

A

made more moderate; subdued

284
Q

manna

A

an unexpected or gratuitous benefit. religious&raquo_space; manna from the sky

285
Q

cupidity

A

greed (for money and possessions)&raquo_space;> latin cupere to desire

286
Q

zeitgeist

A

the spirit of the times. intellectual, cultural, political climate

287
Q

cache

A

to hide away, store, or save something

288
Q

assuage

A

make an unpleasant feeling less intens

289
Q

patina

A

impression or appearance of something (also gloss from polishing, oxidation on bronze)&raquo_space; the patina of old money

290
Q

Charybdis, Scylla

A

In Greek mythology, a narrow channel whirlpool off the cost of Sicily personified as a female monster. Scylla is another female Greek sea monster. “Between Scylla and Charybdis” is an alternative rock and a hard place

291
Q

sublimate

A

To elevate something into a more socially acceptable activity > he sublimated anger into humor

292
Q

affective

A

Related to moods or attitudes > these affective attributes… > an affective disorder

293
Q

reprieve

A

cancel or postpone punishment. a temporary escape from something undesirable

294
Q

sinecure

A

position requiring no work but providing financial benefit

295
Q

profligate

A

recklessly extravagant or wasteful of resources. or, licentious

296
Q

licentious

A

promiscuous. disregarding accepted social rules.&raquo_space; mnemonic: license (for freedom)

297
Q

demure

A

reserved, modest, shy

298
Q

rococo

A

extravagantly ornate, asymmetrical patterns involving motifs and scrollwork

299
Q

intercede

A

intervene on behalf of another

300
Q

deposition

A

process of giving sworn evidence. or an affidavit

301
Q

indelible

A

not able to be deleted or forgotten

302
Q

tenebrous

A

dark, shadowy, obscure, difficult to understand, causing gloom. > a moonless, tenebrous night

303
Q

pneuma

A

Soul, spirit.&raquo_space; root is pneum- Greek for lung, air, wind

304
Q

chthonic

A

From or of or concerning the underworld&raquo_space; from Greek for earth

305
Q

logorrhea

A

Excessive talkativeness or wordiness. > a logorrheic essay

306
Q

wanton

A

of a violent or cruel action: deliberate, unprovoked of a woman: sexually immodest, promiscuous

307
Q

bourgeois

A

characterizing the middle class: materialism or conventional attitudes. also contrasted with communist > bourgeois society tok for granted the sanctity of property

308
Q

plucky

A

showing determined courage in the face of adversity. > that plucky little Canadian company that makes e-readers

309
Q

interloper

A

A person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong. > at first, he was considered an interloper

310
Q

imprecation

A

a spoken curse > she hurled imprecations > South Korea held live fire drills despite the dire imprecations issued from the Hermit Kingdom

311
Q

recapitulate

A

recap. summarize

312
Q

outre

A

outre. outre’. French. unusual & startling – strange. > with her thick glasses and dyed blue-gray hair (Tavi was sometimes mistaken for an outre granny), she was a petite tastemaker

313
Q

rejoin

A

to answer (ruh-JOIN) typically in a rude or discouraging way

314
Q

rejoinder

A

a sharp, witty reply

315
Q

heedless

A

reckless lack of care and attention

316
Q

plaintive

A

sad, mournful. > she sang a plaintive Neil Young cover

317
Q

vestibule

A

a small antechamber or lobby next to the outer door

318
Q

hauteur

A

disdainful pride. haughtiness of manner&raquo_space; french haut, high&raquo_space; “oh-tur”

319
Q

enjoin

A

the verb form of an injunction – preventing someone from doing something > enjoined two former employees from operating…

320
Q

poseur

A

person acting in an affected manner to impress others

321
Q

nadir

A

the minimum

322
Q

oblique

A

not explicit or direct. “an oblique attack”&raquo_space; (geometrically it’s a line that’s neither parallel nor perpendicular)

323
Q

sigil

A

inscribed or painted symbol considered to have magical power > it’s a sigil of your house

324
Q

reprise

A

a repeated passage, or to repeat. > a reprise of his earlier performance

325
Q

reprieve

A

verb: cancel or postpone punishment, or pardon. (the governor reprieved him) noun: a temporary escape from something undesirable.

326
Q

sinecure

A

position requiring little or no work but providing financial benefit (e.g., a seat on the board of most large companies)

327
Q

profligate

A

recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources. sometimes sexually (licentious)

328
Q

licentious

A

promiscuous. disregarding accepted rules and (social) conventions.Previously meant grammatically or in literary style.Appropriate for James Joyce.

329
Q

demure

A

regarding a woman’s appearance or her behavior – reserved, modest shy.

330
Q

rococo

A

typically for furniture or architecture.ornate, asymmetrical patterns involving motifs and scrollwork.Extravagantly ornate.origin: Adaptation of French rocaille (meaning “rock”, for tiny beads)> these are perfect examples of almost rococo vapidity

331
Q

feckless

A

lacking initiative or responsibility > the feckless bum hasn’t gotten off the couch in 10 days

332
Q

intercede

A

intervene on behalf of another

333
Q

deposition

A
  • the process of giving sworn evidence* a formal statement (typically written) used as evidencedepose: verb, to give evidence under oath. (also to remove from office forcefully – e.g., deposed in a military coup)
334
Q

indelible

A

unable to be forgotten or deleted

335
Q

tenebrous

A

dark, shadowy, obscure

336
Q

wanton

A

of a violent or cruel action: deliberate, unprovoked of a woman: sexually immodest, promiscuous (can also be noun)

337
Q

bourgeois

A

characterized by middle class materialism or conventional attitudes

338
Q

sanctity

A

holy, sacred, or of ultimate importance

339
Q

interloper

A

someone involved in a situation or place where they don’t belong

340
Q

imprecation

A

spoken curse (formal). > hurled imprecations at passers-by

341
Q

rejoin

A

to respond. rejoinder is a quick, sharp, and witty reply

342
Q

heedless

A

showing reckless lack of care and attention

343
Q

plaintive

A

sad, mournful > she sang a plaintive cover

344
Q

eidetic

A

Unusually vivid mental imagery

345
Q

panjandrum

A

A powerful/influential person or authority figure

346
Q

iconoclast

A

One who rejects the traditional thought

347
Q

apostate

A

One now opposed to a religion they formerly practiced

348
Q

busk

A

Street performance/entertainment. Busking. Busker.

349
Q

anxiolytic

A

something that reduces anxiety. Oxytocin is an anxiolytic.

350
Q

lark

A

Harmless fun or amusement. Or a quest for such

351
Q

travesty

A

A gross distortion or caricature of realty. A shocking or upsetting parody.

352
Q

clod

A

(informal) a stupid person> not being sophisticated – those clods and puritans – they may not appreciate …

353
Q

pinafore

A

An apron-like dress with a tie or buttons in the back, sleeveless

354
Q

traducing

A

to speak badly of someone so as to damage their reputation. to slander. > traduce a principle of law

355
Q

chafe

A

Become sore from rubbing in a bound too restrictive

356
Q

gossamer

A

Light, tenuous, delicate. Often of a fabric > gossamer tweed

357
Q

palazzo

A

Pants with baggy legs – almost like a dress

358
Q

twee

A

Affected my or excessively dainty or quaint

359
Q

Pontius Pilate

A

Fifth prefect of Judea known for the trial and crucifixion of Jesus

360
Q

scrupulous

A

Diligent, thorough, detail-oriented and concerned with doing right

361
Q

inveterate

A

Consistently done a certain way. > inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious

362
Q

gird

A

to surround or encircle, also to prepare

363
Q

noetic

A

Relating to the intellect

364
Q

woolgathering

A

Indulgence in idle daydreaming

365
Q

aporia

A

From literary deconstruction, the inevitable logical impasse that emerges in a text. Or, uncertainty used for rhetorical effect.

366
Q

imbroglio

A

(the g is silent: “imbrol-yo”) a highly confused, complex or embarrassing situation. (“Watergate imbroglio) italian, imbrogliare – confuse a confused heap

367
Q

quintessential

A

most perfect or typical example of a quality or class. prototypical literally latin, fifth essence (quinta essentia)

368
Q

consummate

A

as a verb (consuh-mate) complete, make perfect, or fuck. as an adjective (cansuhmuht) showing a high degree of skill and flair; complete or perfect.

369
Q

exasperate

A

irritate immensely; to infuriate. latin “asper” - rough.

370
Q

dovetail

A

join together. like a dovetail joint in woodworking

371
Q

byword

A

a person or thing cited as a notorious and outstanding example or embodiment of something – “a byword for luxury.” A word or expression summarizing a thing’s characteristics.

372
Q

underbelly

A

a hidden, unpleasant or criminal part of society. (also, more biologically, a soft area vulnerable to attack.)

373
Q

superlative

A

noun: something embodying excellence adjective: something of the highest quality. often used to refer to exaggerated praise – “they ran out of superlatives to describe him”

374
Q

facile

A

appearing neat and comprehensive, but in fact doing so only by ignoring the underlying complexities – superficial. (“a facile theory,” “a man of facile intellect”) or, easily achieved and effortless – “a facile victory”

375
Q

nefarious

A

wicked or criminal (typically action or activity)

376
Q

wan

A

(not “wane,” but wan like wand without the d) Pale, giving the impression of illness or exhaustion. Weak, strained, without luster. pale light of dawn. (also, dark and gloomy – a wan sea)

377
Q

derelict

A
  • a person without a home or property – vagabond, hobo. adjective: * abandoned or dilapidated. In poor condition as a result of disuse or neglect. * Shamefully negligent: “he was derelict in his duty”
378
Q

disuse

A

not being used

379
Q

predicate

A

verb: depends on or assumes (predicate on) verb: assert something about the subject noun: part of a sentence containing the verb & something to do with the subject. noun: middle term in a syllogism

380
Q

ostentation

A

pretentious, vulgar display of wealth and luxury intended to impress or attract notice. From Latin ostentare – stretch out to view.

381
Q

syllogism

A

deductive reasoning. or, in logic a conclusion drawn from 2 propositions

382
Q

appositive

A

a noun whose meaning is the same as a previous one. e.g., His primary objective, to write the great American novel, was never realized. The clause “to write the great American novel” is an appositive of “objective”.

383
Q

idyll

A

an extremely happy, peaceful or picturesque scene/episode – typically idealized and unsustainable. Typically rustic

384
Q

diminutive

A

adj: unusually small noun: a shortened form of a name (e.g., a nickname)

385
Q

de minimis

A

adj: too trivial to warrant attention. Latin

386
Q

foregone conclusion

A

result that can be predicted with certainty

387
Q

corporeal

A

physical/material/pertaining to the body

388
Q

coterie

A

clique of people with similar interests

389
Q

cotton to

A

to quickly begin to like someone/something

390
Q

cretinous

A

cretin is a stupid person

391
Q

cri de coeur

A

a protest or passionate appeal

392
Q

de rigueur

A

required by etiquette or current fashion > It was de rigeur for bands to grow their hair long > building from source is also de rigeur if you’re developing your own Apache modules

393
Q

derisive

A

contempt or ridicule&raquo_space; with a harsh, derisive laugh

394
Q

desultory

A

lacking a plan or purpose, or lacking enthusiasm or going randomly from one subject to another > the desultory conversation faded or occurring randomly > the desultory passing of cars

395
Q

detente

A

easing of hostilities

396
Q

diegesis

A

a narrative or plot

397
Q

dilettante

A

person cultivating an area of interest without real commitment

398
Q

dirge

A

a mournful song. a funeral rite.&raquo_space; dirges of the wind around the chimney stack

399
Q

disabuse

A

to persuade that a belief is mistaken&raquo_space; disabuse you of this idea

400
Q

dross

A

something considered worthless. scum on the surface of a metal

401
Q

ducat

A

a ticket or gold coin

402
Q

duplicity

A

double-dealing, deceitfulness

403
Q

echelon

A

rank or level in an organization&raquo_space; upper echelons

404
Q

edify

A

instruct or improve morally or intellectually

405
Q

effete

A

over-refined, ineffectual, affected and incapable of action

406
Q

elan

A

energy, style and enthusiasm

407
Q

en passant

A

incidentally&raquo_space; the disbandment was announced almost en passant by the president

408
Q

epistolary

A

literary works in the form of letters

409
Q

esprit de corps

A

feeling of camaraderie or pride among members of a group

410
Q

esprit de l’escalier

A

the idea that a witty remark often comes to mind after the moment for it has passed

411
Q

excise

A

a tax or as verb to remove surgically

412
Q

farrago

A

a confused mixture&raquo_space; a farrago of fact and fiction about Lincoln

413
Q

fatuity

A

silly and pointless&raquo_space; a fatuous comment

414
Q

felicity

A

intense happiness. or, ability to find appropriate expression for one’s thoughts

415
Q

fete

A

a celebration or festival

416
Q

feted

A

something celebrated

417
Q

forlorn

A

mournful, pitifully abandoned, unlikely to succeed or be fulfilled > forlorn attempt to escape

418
Q

garrulous

A

excessively talkative on trivial matters

419
Q

gauche

A

unsophisticated. socially awkward. mnemonic: gauche. makes you say “gosh” about someone’s lack of grace or ease

420
Q

gentrification

A

renovating to conform to middle-class tastes

421
Q

gerontocracy

A

governed by the elderly

422
Q

gratuitous

A

unwarranted, without reason, or free of charge. > gratuitous outrage

423
Q

greenhorn

A

a person inexperienced at a particular activity

424
Q

guile

A

one’s sly or cunning > used his guile for xyz

425
Q

harrowing

A

acutely distressing > a harrowing film about the holocaust mnemonic: a harrow is also a farm instrument with a heavy frame and teeth dragged over land (to remove weeds, etc.)

426
Q

houris

A

young beautiful woman typically in a muslim paradise

427
Q

imperious

A

assuming power or authority without justification. arrogant or domineering > he became formal and a bit imperious to intimidate the man into ordering and tipping lavishly mnemonic: “emper(or)” -ious

428
Q

implacable

A

relentless, unstoppable. (not able to be placated)

429
Q

indicia

A

signs, indications, footnotes

430
Q

ineluctable

A

not able to be resisted or avoided; inescapable > the ineluctable facts of history

431
Q

inexorable

A

impossible to stop/prevent > inexorable march

432
Q

insidious

A

proceeding subtly, but harmfully

433
Q

insouciantly

A

casual indifference. nonchalance

434
Q

intone

A

say or recite with a rise of the voice (e.g., ‘all rise’)

435
Q

intrepid

A

fearless/adventurous

436
Q

inveigle

A

persuade by flattery and deception

437
Q

irreverent

A

showing a lack of respect for things generally taken seriously > an irreverence toward politicians

438
Q

jaundiced

A

affected by bitterness, resentment, envy

439
Q

jeremiad

A

a long, mournful complaint

440
Q

jeunesse doree

A

young people of wealth

441
Q

josh

A

playfully tease someone

442
Q

junket

A

an extravagant trip or celebration

443
Q

kitsch

A

garish/sentimental art, trinkets, etc.

444
Q

livery

A

uniform

445
Q

lothario

A

sexually irresponsible wrt women

446
Q

lucid

A

intelligible, expressed clearly

447
Q

lugubrious

A

looking/sounding sad or dismal

448
Q

maitre d’

A

Head waiter

449
Q

manumission

A

Formal process of emancipation from slavery

450
Q

masticate

A

To chew on, to ruminate

451
Q

maudlin

A

Weak or effusively sentimental. Foolish or annoying emotive

452
Q

medici

A

Medici family. Godfathers of the renaissance and masters of Florence

453
Q

memento mori

A

Mindfulness of your own demise

454
Q

menage

A

Household or domestic establishment. Comes from same French root as mansion.

455
Q

mercurial

A

Emotionally volatile or unpredictable. Also having qualities of eloquence or ingenuity

456
Q

miasma

A

An atmosphere than fogs and tends to corrupt (believed to cause disease)

457
Q

misapprehension

A

Misunderstanding

458
Q

mise en scene

A

Arrangement of actors on stage. The stage itself. The milieu, the environment, the context

459
Q

mordant

A

showing a sharp or critical quality > a mordant sense of humor mnemonic: from French mordre to bite

460
Q

mores

A

Norms, habits, customs values etc. of a particular group

461
Q

natty

A

Clean cut, trim, dapper

462
Q

nebbish (noun)

A

From Yiddish. A timid, weak or ineffectual person

463
Q

nosh

A

A light meal, or, as a verb, to eat

464
Q

obsequious

A

Subservient, fawning, over-eager to please > obsequious attendants

465
Q

paean

A

a thing expressing enthusiastic praise a song of praise or triumph pronounced “‘pea-un” > a paean to the iPad > Halo’s graphical design – a monotextural paean to stainless steel – is a consistent bummer

466
Q

palliative

A

To reduce the intensity of a disease or source of suffering > palliatives for social unrest

467
Q

palooka

A

An oaf, a lout or an ineffective boxer. > surrounded by these palookas

468
Q

pan

A

To criticize harshly. > panned for its erroneous portrayal of the Pharos

469
Q

parismonious

A

Stingy or restrained > parsimonious Elma

470
Q

pastiche

A

A hodgepodge or mixture of previous works. Or something echoing or imitating something that was done previously > his building designs were pastiches of classical forms

471
Q

per saltum

A

Latin for jumping – to move from one to another without going through the steps between. > per saltum ordination

472
Q

perfunctory

A

brief. carried out with a minimum of effort. make a half-hearted attempt at something > he gave a perfunctory nod. > a short, perfunctory meeting

473
Q

pestilence

A

A disease causing death. > after years of war and pestilence, few people remained in the city

474
Q

venerable

A

Impressive by reason of age. Old and respected

475
Q

venial

A

religious. a sin that is not regarded as depriving the soul of divine grace. slight or pardonable > in our high school, smoking cigarettes was a venial sin Origin: latin, venia forgiveness Note see word venal Venal means susceptible to being bribed – corrupt. Venial means a forgivable sin.

476
Q

verisimilitude

A

the appearance of being true or real > the goal was verisimilitude and to achieve it, nothing was spared mnemonic: veri (“true”) similis (“like”) – like true

477
Q

vestigal

A

A small amount of something, or the last remnant of something that was there before

478
Q

virtuoso

A

a person highly skilled in some pursuit – typically music or art – or with special knowledge or interest in works of art or curios (rare objects) also as an adjective: > virtuoso woodworkers > virtuoso guitar playing

479
Q

vituperative

A

Characterized by verbal abuse. > vituperative threats of …

480
Q

voluble

A

talkative and fluent.

481
Q

vulgarian

A

A vulgar person

482
Q

writhe

A

To suffer or move in twists and turns. > Writhing in pain

483
Q

effusive

A

expressing gratitude and approval in an unrestrained and heartfelt manner

484
Q

apocryphal

A

a story widely circulated and believed to be true but that is dubious

485
Q

epochal

A

forming or characterizing an epoch or an era; epoch-making

486
Q

specious

A

superficially plausible but actually incorrect. misleading; misleadingly attractive

487
Q

moribund

A

at the point of death, or in terminal decline.

488
Q

torpid

A

mentally & physically inactive. lethargic; sloth; in hibernation

489
Q

furtive

A

suggesting guilty nervousness. “furtive eyes” OR attempting to avoid notice out of guilt or belief that discovery would lead to trouble.

490
Q

lacuna

A

a gap, typically in a book or manuscript or a cavity in a bone.

491
Q

assay

A

to determine the quality of something. typically used for samples of metals, biochemicals. another use: > angular jaw is an assay of testosterone levels

492
Q

brackish

A

Salty or not appealing to taste

493
Q

predilection

A

a bias or preference for something. “a predilection for xyz food”

494
Q

crucible

A
  • A severe searching test or trial * A place where things interact to produce something new. * A container for heating substances to high temperatures (or, a pressure cooker environment)
495
Q

paucity

A

The presence of something in insufficient amounts; scarcity.

496
Q

indolent

A

lazy. wanting to avoid activity or engagement

497
Q

intransigent

A

unwilling to change one’s views or agree to something

498
Q

patrician

A

a nobleman or aristocrat

499
Q

incendiary

A

inciting, causing fires, stirring up. or, exciting

500
Q

laconic

A

terse. using very few words. mnemonic: comes from Greek word for Sparta: Lakonia.

Custom Vocabulary (3 decks)

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