201-240 Flashcards
exalt
v. raise in rank or dignity; praise.
The actor Alec Guinness was exalted to the rank of knighthood by the queen.
excerpt
n. selected passage.
v.
The cinematic equivalent of an excerpt from a novel is a clip from a film.
execute
v. put into effect; carry out.
n. execution.
The choreographer wanted to see how well she could execute a pirouette.
exemplary
adj. serving as a model; outstanding. At commencement the dean praised Ellen for her exemplary behavior as class president.
exemplify
v. serve as a model; embody.
For a generation of balletgoers, Rudolf Nureyev exemplified the ideal of masculine grace.
exhaustive
adj. thorough; comprehensive.
We have made an exhaustive study of all published SAT tests and are happy to share our research to you.
exhilarating
adj. invigorating and refreshing; cheering.
Though some of the hikers found tramping through the snow tiring, Jeffrey found the walk on the cold day exhilarating.
exonerate
v. acquit; exculpate; free from charge of being guilty.
The defense team feverishly sought fresh evidence that might exonerate their client.
expedient
adj. suitable; practical; politic.
n. expediency
A pragmatic politician, he was guided by what was expedient rather than by what was ethical.
expedite
v. hasten; speed up.
Because we are on a tight schedule. we hope you will be able to expedite the delivery of our order.
explicit
adj. totally clear; definite.
Don’t just hint around that your’e dissatisfied: be explicit about what’s bugging you.
exploit
v. make use of, sometimes unjustly.
n. exploitation
adj. exploitative.
Cesar Chavez fought attempts to exploit migrant farmworkers.
extol
v. praise; glorify.
The president extolled the astronauts, calling them the pioneers of the Space Age.
extraneous
adj. not essential.
No wonder Ted can’t think straight! His mind is so cluttered up with extraneous trivia, he can’t concentrate on the essentials.
extricate
v. free, disentangle.
Icebreakers were needed to extricate the trapped whales from the icy floes that closed them in.
exuberance
n. overflowing abundance; joyful enthusiasm; lavishness.
I was bowled over by the exuberance of Amy’s welcome.
facilitate
v. help bring about; make less difficult.
Rest and proper nourishment should facilitate the patient’s recovery.
fallacious
adj. false; misleading.
n. fallacy.
Paradoxically, fallacious reasoning does not always yield erroneous results.
fallow
adj. plowed but not sowed; uncultivated.
Farmers have learned that it is advisable to permit land to lie fallow every few years.
falter
v. hesitate.
When told to dive off the high board, she did not falter.
fanaticism
n. excessive zeal; extreme devotion to a belief or cause.
When Islamic fundamentalists demanded the death of Salman because his novel questioned their faith, world opinion condemned them for their fanaticism.
fastidious
adj. difficult to please; squeamish.
Bobby was such a fastidious eater that he would eat a sandwich only if his mother first cut of every scrap of crust.
fathom
v. comprehend; investigate.
I find his motives impossible to fathom.
feasible
adj. practical. Is it feasible to waste money?
fell
v. cut or knock down; bring down.
I fell down the abyss.
fervor
n. glowing ardor; intensity of feeling
At the protest rally, the students cheered the strikers and booed the dean with equal fervor.
fitful
adj. spasmodic; intermittent.
After several fitful attempts, he decided to postpone the start of the project until he felt more energetic.
flagrant
adj. conspicuously wicked; blatant; outrageous.
The governor’s appointment of his brother-in-law to the State Supreme Court was a flagrant violation of the state laws.
florid
adj. ruddy; reddish; flowery.
If you go to Florida and get a sunburn, your complexion will look florid!
foolhardy
adj. rash.
Don’t be foolhardy.
frivolous
adj. lacking in seriousness.
n. frivolity
Though Nancy enjoyed Bill’s frivolous companionship, she sometimes wondered whether he could be serious.
furtive
adj. stealthy; sneaky.
The girl kept on giving furtive glances to the boy sitting next to her.
garrulous
adj. wordy; talkative.
n. garrulity.
Henry is the most garrulous person in the county.
glacial
adj. extremely cold.
Never a warm person, when offended John could seem positively glacial.
glutton
n. someone who eats too much.
adj. gluttonous
When Mother saw that Bob had eaten all the cookies, she called him a little glutton.
gratify
v. please.
Lori’s parents were gratified by her successful performance on the SAT.
gratuitous
adj. given freely; unwarranted.
Quit making gratuitous comments about my driving.
gravity
n. seriousness.
adj. grave
We could tell we were in serious trouble from the gravity of the principal’s expression.
gregarious
adj. sociable; friendly.
Typically, partygoers are gregarious.
guile
n. deceit; duplicity;wiliness; cunning.
Iago uses considerable guile to trick Othello into believing that Dede had been unfaithful.
