2101-2200 Flashcards
waspish
resembling a wasp in behavior or in form, especially lightly-built
hearken
to give respectful attention; to bring to mind something in the past
peke
Pekingese; a native or resident of Beijing; a Chinese breed of small dogs with a broad flat face
heresy
dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice
puissance
strength; power
ostentation
excessive display; unnecessary show for the purpose of attracting attention, admiration, or envy
gaff
the spar on which the head of a fore-and-aft sail is extended
qua
in the capacity or character of; as
bolshie
one refusing to obey or help
promulgate
to make a rule or law known by open declaration; to put a law or rule into action
chelonia
the genus comprising the green turtles
perianth
the structure of a flower
cloven
split or divided in two
fortnight
a period of 14 days; two weeks
abdicate
to renounce a throne, high office, dignity, or functions; to relinquish formally; to cast off
strident
having an unpleasant effect; obtrusively commanding recognition
bereft
deprived or robbed of something (usually used with of)
dirge
a song or hymn of grief or lamentation
ordure
something that is morally degrading; excrement
scrofulous
having a diseased run-down appearance; morally contaminated
augur
one who foretells events by omens; to foretell or give promise of
blazon
ostentatious display; to publish widely
apposite
highly pertinent or appropriate
styptic
tending to contract or bind; especially tending to check bleeding; astringent
paring
the act of cutting away an edge or surface; something pared off
array
to dress or decorate especially in an impressive attire; a group of elements forming a complete unit
abject
sunk to or existing in a low state or condition; very bad or severe
baste
to sew with long loose stitches in order to hold something temporarily; to beat severely or soundly
rubicon
a line that when crossed permits no return and results in irrevocable commitment
rebuke
to criticize sharply; an expression of strong disapproval
mirth
gladness or gaiety as shown by or accompanied with laughter
vertu
a love of or taste for curios or objets d’art; productions of art
gnarled
full of knots or gnarls; crabbed in disposition, aspect, or character
harbinger
something that foreshadows a future event; to give a warning or prediction of
flaccid
not firm or stiff; lacking vigor or force
prescient
divine omniscience; human anticipation of the course of events
neigh
to make the prolonged cry of a horse
teetotum
a small top usually inscribed with letters and used in put-and-take
tendentious
intended to promote a particular view; biased
commination
an act of denouncing, especially a public condemnation; a threat of vengeance
surmount
to prevail over; overcome
inceptive
of or relating to a beginning
crinoline
an open-weave fabric of horsehair or cotton, used for interlinings and millinery
chancellor
the secretary of a nobleman or an embassy; a priest heading the business office
mizzenmast
the mast aft or next aft of the mainmast in a ship
indefatigable
incapable of being fatigued
eupeptic
of, relating to, or having good digestion; cheerful; optimistic
allision
the striking by a moving vessel against a stationary object
obfuscate
to throw into shadow; to make obscure
rheumatic
of, relating to, characteristic of, or affected with rheumatism
Zionism
a movement to establish a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine
bungle
to act or work clumsily and awkwardly
marionette
a small figure that is moved from above by manipulation of the attached strings
presage
something that portends a future event; an intuition of what is going to happen in the future
paunch
the belly and its contents
arable
fit for or used for the growing of crops
fission
the process in which the nucleus of a heavy atom is split apart, releasing a large amount of energy
stint
to restrict with respect to a share or allowance; to be sparing or frugal
etymology
the history of a linguistic form shown by tracing its development since its earliest recorded occurrence
metastasis
change of position, state, or form; the spread of a disease-producing agency
perihelion
the point nearest to the sun in the path of an orbiting celestial body
hydrographic
of or relating to the characteristic features and charting of bodies of water
lariat
a long light rope (as of hemp or leather) used with a running noose to catch livestock
almoner
giver of alms; social worker in a hospital
chagrin
embarrassment; a complete loss of courage
chignon
a knot of hair that is worn at the back of the head and especially at the nape of the neck
genteel
having an aristocratic quality or flavor; free from vulgarity or rudeness
alluvion
the wash or flow of water against a shore; an accession to land by the gradual addition of alluvium
penance
an act of self-abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin
staccato
cut short or apart in performing; marked by short clear-cut tones or chords; abrupt; disjointed
steward
an employee on a ship, airplane, bus, or train who attends to passengers and food
paragon
a model of excellence or perfection; to compare with
furlong
an eighth of a mile, 220 yards
quixotic
foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals
offal
the waste or by-product of a process
footman
a servant, usually in livery
lenticular
having the shape of a double-convex lens; of or relating to a lens
endocrine
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
rapacious
excessively grasping or covetous; living on prey
spangle
a small glittering object or particle
carouse
to drink liquor freely or excessively
purview
the body or enacting part of a statute; range or limit of authority, competence or intention
celerity
rapidity of motion or action
denizen
a person admitted to residence in a foreign country; one that frequents a place
milfoil
a widely distributed and highly invasive aquatic plant with whorls of fine submerged leaves
evince
to constitute outward evidence of; to display clearly
veritable
being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary
perambulator
baby buggy; stroller
viscera
internal organs of the body; plural of viscus
hedron
crystal or geometrical figure having a (specified) form or number of surfaces
efficacious
having the power to produce a desired effect
extemporaneous
composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment; impromptu
stub
something made or worn to a short or blunt shape
avidity
keen eagerness; consuming greed
amiable
friendly, sociable, and congenial; generally agreeable
inveigh
to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently
accursed
being under or as if under a curse
transubstantiation
the miracle by which the eucharistic elements become the body and blood of Christ
ruddy
having a healthy reddish color
