2 Flashcards

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1
Q

parlous

A

dangerous

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2
Q

semiotic

A

theory regarding the function of signs and symbols

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3
Q

ergonomic

A

designing for efficiency and safety

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4
Q

intrepid

A

fearless

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5
Q

sangfroid

A

self-possession

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6
Q

mercurial

A

unpredictable changes in mood

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7
Q

vainglorious

A

boastful

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8
Q

brook

A

tolerate

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9
Q

stopgap

A

makeshift

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10
Q

modicum

A

small portion

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11
Q

paragon

A
  1. Model of excellence

2. To compare, parallel

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12
Q

nadir

A

lowest point

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13
Q

perpetuity

A

eternity

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14
Q

duplicity

A

Double

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15
Q

truism

A

self-evident truth

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16
Q

eschew

A

to avoid

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17
Q

distension

A

swelling

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18
Q

expatiation

A
  1. To wander

2. To speak/write at length

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19
Q

repository

A

where something is deposited or stored

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20
Q

cosmopolitan

A

worldly, involving people or elements from all over the world

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21
Q

bucolic

A

pastoral, idyllic rural life

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22
Q

tendentious

A

biased

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23
Q

opulent

A

wealthy

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24
Q

quixotic

A
  1. Foolishly impractical

2. Unpredictable

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25
Q

protean

A

varied nature, able to assume different forms

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26
Q

martial

A

warlike, relating to war

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27
Q

arcadian

A

idyllically pastoral, simple quaint life

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28
Q

hinterland

A

remote area

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29
Q

tony

A

aristocratic manner

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30
Q

propriety

A

appropriate, conforming to polite society

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31
Q

licentious

A

lacking moral restraint

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32
Q

perspicacious

A

keen, of acute discernment

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33
Q

rustic

A

relating to the country

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34
Q

auxiliary

A

subsidiary, supplementary

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35
Q

insipid

A

dull, flat, tasteless

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36
Q

effete

A
  1. No longer fertile
  2. Weak
  3. Effeminate
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37
Q

whet

A
  1. To sharpen

2. To stimulate

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38
Q

tout

A
  1. Promote, solicit, talk up

2. To spy on

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39
Q

abstruse

A

difficult to comprehend

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40
Q

recondite

A

obscure, hidden

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41
Q

halcyon

A
  1. Calm, peaceful

2. Idyllic time of the past

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42
Q

myopic

A

nearsighted

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43
Q

anemic

A

lacking vitality or force

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44
Q

diffident

A

hesitant, reserved, lacking self-confidence

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45
Q

bay

A
  1. Shouting, barking

2. Unable to retreat and forced to face danger

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46
Q

heterodox

A

unorthodox

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47
Q

iconoclasm

A

attacking settled beliefs or institutions

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48
Q

redress

A

to set right

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49
Q

belie

A

to give a false impression of, disguise

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50
Q

arduous

A

difficult, strenuous

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51
Q

callous

A

showing no emotion or sympathy (for others)

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52
Q

spendthrift

A

wasteful spending

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53
Q

purported

A

alleged

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54
Q

risque

A

verging on indecency

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55
Q

decamp

A

to depart suddenly

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56
Q

abscond

A

to flee secretly and hide

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57
Q

pander

A

to gratify or exploit another’s desire

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58
Q

congenial

A

pleasant, sociable

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59
Q

bedlam

A

uproar, confusion

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60
Q

avaricious

A

greedy of gain

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61
Q

vitreous

A

resembling glass

62
Q

rancor

A

bitter deep-seated ill will

63
Q

dearth

A

scarcity

64
Q

ward (off)

A
  1. To guard

2. To turn aside

65
Q

mutiny

A

to rise against authority

66
Q

inchoate

A

only partly in existence, formless, incoherent

67
Q

pique

A
  1. To excite

2. Resentment

68
Q

earthy

A

practical, down to earth

69
Q

interlocutor

A

one who takes part in a dialogue

70
Q

detractor

A

diminish the value of something

71
Q

genteel

A

aristocratic style

72
Q

populist

A

believer in the common people

73
Q

interpolate

A
  1. To alter or corrupt by inserting new foreign matter

2. To estimate values between two known points

74
Q

explicate

A
  1. Give detailed explanation

2. Analyze logically

75
Q

heuristic

A

serving to aid learning

76
Q

dictate

A
  1. To speak for transcription

2. To require or determine

77
Q

dystopia

A

imagined world in which people live wretched fearful lives

78
Q

gainsay

A

contradict, declare false

79
Q

ebullient

A

agitation, enthusiasm

80
Q

solvent

A

able to pay debts

81
Q

aver

A

to declare positively

82
Q

requisite

A

essential, necessary

83
Q

contrive

A
  1. Devise, plan

2. Bring about with difficulty, manage

84
Q

imbue

A

endow, permeate, influence

85
Q

gregarious

A

social

86
Q

chagrin

A

distress, vexation

87
Q

fatuous

A

silly, foolish

88
Q

nonplussed

A
  1. Perplexed

2. Unbothered

89
Q

irredeemable

A

not redeemable, hopeless

90
Q

labyrinthine

A

intricate, involved

91
Q

farce

A
  1. To stuff

2. Ridiculous act or situation

92
Q

tirade

A

rant

93
Q

immaterial

A

unimportant

94
Q

anathema

A

hated, banned, cursed

95
Q

antipathy

A

dislike

96
Q

flagrant

A

conspicuously offensive

97
Q

patent

A
  1. Unobstructed
  2. Spreading
  3. Obvious
98
Q

patulous

A

widely spreading from a center

99
Q

spurious

A
  1. Of illegitimate birth

2. Deceptive appearance of something without being genuine

100
Q

lard

A

to intersperse with something superfluous or excessive

101
Q

superfluous

A

extra, unnecessary

102
Q

macabre

A

horror, having death as the subject

103
Q

albatross

A

something causing persistent anxiety

104
Q

empirical

A

based on observation or experience

105
Q

veracity

A

truth

106
Q

candor

A

honest, fair, bright

107
Q

pertinent

A

relevant

108
Q

abate

A

reduce, put an end to

109
Q

exorbitant

A

exceeding the law or appropriate limits

110
Q

titillate

A

excite pleasurably

111
Q

simulacrum

A

representation, semblance

112
Q

abet

A

assist, support

113
Q

mollify

A

appease

114
Q

assuage

A

pacify, ease

115
Q

dilettante

A

a dabbler in arts or knowledge

116
Q

idealogue

A

a blind advocate of an ideology

117
Q

acumen

A

keen

118
Q

hackneyed

A

unoriginal, not fresh

119
Q

pedestrian

A
  1. Commonplace

2. Performed on foot

120
Q

vacuity

A

vacuous, stupid, lacking content

121
Q

inane

A

silly, unsubstantial

122
Q

modish

A

stylish

123
Q

conversant

A

having knowledge or experience

124
Q

dissolution

A

breaking down, dissolving

125
Q

denigrate

A
  1. Defame

2. Belittle

126
Q

besmirch

A

sully, soil

127
Q

balkanize

A

divide

128
Q

aquiline

A

curved like an eagle’s beak

129
Q

parlay

A

successfully exploit

130
Q

maladroit

A

inept

131
Q

adroit

A

skilled, clever

132
Q

patrician

A

aristocrat

133
Q

dissemble

A

hide under a false appearance

134
Q

in lieu

A

in place of

135
Q

defeasible

A

capable of being voided

136
Q

ingenuous

A

innocent, candid

137
Q

sophistry

A

deceptive reasoning

138
Q

sinecure

A

position requiring little work but provides income

139
Q

voluble

A
  1. Easily turning

2. Ready or rapid speech

140
Q

salubrious

A

healthy

141
Q

redact

A
  1. To put in writing
  2. To select for publication
  3. To remove (text)
142
Q

perennial

A
  1. Present all year long

2. Persisting

143
Q

asperity

A
  1. Harsh manner

2. Rough/uneven surface

144
Q

impudent

A

cocky

145
Q

ubiquitous

A

existing everywhere

146
Q

comestible

A

edible

147
Q

cultivar

A

organism/plant originating from cultivation

148
Q

dietetic

A

relating to diet

149
Q

fiduciary

A

involving a confidence or trust

150
Q

equanimity

A
  1. Evenness of mind (esp. under stress)

2. Balance