1601-1700 Flashcards
amorphous
having no definite form; lacking organization or unity
anglic
a proposed international language devised in 1937 and consisting of simplified English
turgor
the normal state of turgidity and tension in living cells
liana
any of various usually woody vines especially of tropical rainforests that root in the ground
inflatus
afflatus; inspiration
cordage
ropes or cords; the number of cords (as of wood) on a given area
fallow
of a light yellowish-brown color; cultivated land that is allowed to lie idle during the growing season
gratuitous
not called for by the circumstances; not necessary, appropriate, or justified; costing nothing
lucid
suffused with light; having full use of one’s faculties; clear to the understanding
musing
thoughtfully extracted; meditative
sinuous
of a serpentine or wavy form; marked by strong lithe movements
kafkaesque
suggestive of Franz Kafka or his writings; having a nightmarish or illogical quality
pox
a virus disease (such as chicken pox) characterized by pustules or eruptions
trestle
a supporting tower used to support a bridge
avast
a nautical command to stop or cease
caudal
relating to a tail; directed toward or situated in or near the posterior part of the body
consummate
extremely skilled and accomplished; of the highest degree
durst
archaic and dialectal past tense of dare
insensible
incapable or bereft of feeling or sensation; lacking sensory perception or ability to react
whelk
any of numerous large marine snails; papule; pustule
calvary
an open-air representation of Jesus’ crucifixion; intense mental suffering; Golgotha
heterograph
one of two or more words spelled alike but different in meaning or derivation or pronunciation
fugue
music in which a theme is imitated by successively entering voices
ablate
to remove or destroy especially by cutting, abrading, or evaporating
admixture
the action of mixing; the fact of being mixed
impious
not pious; lacking in reverence or proper respect (as for a god or parents)
ideate
to form an idea or conception of
illimitable
incapable of being limited or bounded; measureless
borage
an herb used as a medicine, in salads and cooked as a vegetable
anon
soon, or after a while
indemnify
to secure against hurt, loss, or damage; to make compensation to for incurred hurt, loss, or damage
ruminant
an animal that chews the cud; given to or engaged in contemplation
hansom
a light 2-wheeled covered carriage with the driver’s seat elevated behind
alms
goods or money given to the poor
remuda
the herd of horses from which those to be used for the day are chosen
pate
a person’s head; the crown of one’s head
respite
a period of temporary delay; an interval of rest or relief
provident
making provision for the future; frugal; prudent
sage
one (such as a profound philosopher) distinguished for wisdom
contralto
a singing voice having a range between tenor and mezzo-soprano; a person having this voice
moribund
being in the state of dying; approaching death
aesthetician
a specialist in aesthetics; a person licensed to provide cosmetic skin care
participle
a word having the characteristics of both verb and adjective
prelate
an ecclesiastic (such as a bishop or abbot) of superior rank
ignoble
characterized by baseness, lowness, or meanness; of low birth or common origin
gourmand
one who is excessively fond of eating and drinking
inveterate
confirmed in a habit; habitual
treadle
a swiveling or lever device pressed by the foot to drive a machine
mense
a menstrual period
trammel
a fishing net; to catch as if in a trap; to place limits on
apophenia
the tendency to perceive a connection or meaningful pattern between unrelated or random things
skua
any of various seabirds related to the jaegers
peewit
small bird
pence
plural of penny
contrariwise
on the contrary; in a contrary manner
igneous
formed by solidification of magma; relating to or resembling fire
dissimulate
to hide under a false appearance
harpsichord
a stringed instrument resembling a grand piano
gimcrack
a showy object of little use or value; cheap or shoddy
remonstrate
to present and urge reasons in opposition
gamboge
a resin from various Asian trees used as a yellow pigment and cathartic
circumlocution
the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea
espouse
adopt or support (a cause, belief, or way of life)
antic
an attention-drawing, often wildly playful or funny act or action
pococurante
indifferent; nonchalant
cloister
a place or state of seclusion; a covered passage usually having one side walled and the other open
discomfit
to frustrate, thwart, or defeat; to confuse, perplex, or embarrass
vacuole
a small cavity or space in the tissues of an organism containing air or fluid
jejune
devoid of significance or interest
jetty
a structure extended into a sea, lake, or river to influence the current or tide or to protect a harbor
tenacious
not easily pulled apart; persistent in maintaining, adhering to, or seeking something valued or desired
intrepid
characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance
redound
to have an effect for good or ill; accrue
morass
a situation that traps or confuses; a wet swampy bog
pervade
to become diffused throughout every part of
basilisk
in classical mythology, a serpent (or dragon) able to kill with its breath or glance
cavalcade
a procession of riders or carriages; a dramatic sequence or procession
agouti
a tropical American rodent about the size of a rabbit; a grizzled color of fur in dark and light bands
paladin
a trusted military leader (as for a medieval prince); a leading champion of a cause
succor
something that furnishes relief; to go to the aid of
genial
marked by sympathy or friendliness; favorable to growth or comfort; displaying genius
loll
to hang loosely or laxly; to act or move in a lax, lazy, or indolent manner
scutch
to separate the woody fiber from (flax or hemp) by beating; a bricklayer’s hammer
trill
the alternation of two musical tones a diatonic second apart; to flow in a small stream or in drops
plenitude
the quality or state of being full; an abundance
bedaub
v. to smear over, as with something oily or sticky
pugilist
fighter; especially a professional boxer
cortege
a train of attendants; a procession
thither
to that place; there; more remote
spectroscopy
the production and investigation of spectra
councilor
a member of a council, an advisory body, or an administrative body
fundament
an underlying ground, theory, or principle; buttocks
carline
an old woman; a hag or witch
acrid
sharp and harsh or unpleasantly pungent in taste or odor; deeply or violently bitter
sable
the color black
circuitous
having a circular or winding course; not being forthright or direct in language or action
advert
to turn attention to; to call attention in the course of speaking or writing
contraindication
something that makes a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable
profligate
wildly extravagant; a person given to wildly extravagant self-indulgent expenditure
