2501-2600 Flashcards
pavane
a stately court dance by couples that was introduced into England in the 16th century
cornet
a valved brass instrument resembling a trumpet
courtly
of a quality befitting the court; elegant
castanet
a handheld percussion instrument used by dancers, often two small shells that are clicked together
staccato
cut short or apart in performing; abrupt or disjointed
augury
divination from auspices or omens
acolyte
one who assists a member of the clergy in a liturgical service by performing minor duties
encomienda
an estate of land formerly granted to American colonists for purposes of tribute and evangelization
repartimiento
a grant or distribution formerly made to Spanish colonists or establishments in America
metate
a stone with a concave upper surface used for grinding corn
obsidian
a dark natural glass formed by the cooling of molten lava
hidalgo
a member of the lower nobility of Spain
heliconia
tropic perennial herbs having showy brightly colored bracts and large leaves
aguardiente
any of several alcoholic beverages, such as a coarse brandy made in Spain
farthingale
a support worn beneath a skirt to expand it at the hipline
otiose
producing no useful result; being at leisure
accretion
the process of growth or enlargement by a gradual buildup
nonplus
a state of bafflement or perplexity; quandary
serotinal
relating to the latter and usually drier part of summer
consort
associate; spouse; a ship accompanying another
axil
the angle between a branch or leaf and the axis from which it arises
ramrod
a rod for ramming the charge in a muzzle-loading firearm
sanctimonious
hypocritically pious or devout
sacrosanct
most sacred or holy; immune from criticism or violation
jurisprudence
the course of court decisions as distinguished from legislation and doctrine
dulcet
sweet to the taste; pleasing to the ear
convocation
an assembly of persons called together to a meeting
vertiginous
characterized by or suffering from vertigo or dizziness
pyrogenesis
the production of heat; production of some product by the action of heat
capricious
governed or characterized by caprice; impulsive or unpredictable
parfleche
raw hide soaked in lye to remove the hair, then dried
ducat
a former European usually gold coin
grackle
a large American blackbird
coulee
a small stream; a dry streambed or gulley
gully
a large knife; a small valley or gulch
taffeta
a crisp plain-woven lustrous fabric
balayage
a technique for creating highlights in hair free-hand
reify
to give definite form to a concept or idea
fusty
impaired by age or dampness; rigidly old-fashioned
marcescent
withering without falling off (of a plant part)
antitrust
of, relating to, or being legislation against or opposition to trusts or combinations
avuncular
suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality
gadabout
a person who flits about in social activity
zoonosis
an infection or disease that is transmissible from animals to humans
perquisite
a privilege or profit incidental to regular wages, especially one expected
coif
a close-fitting cap, such as those worn under a veil by nuns
accede
to express approval or give consent; to become a party to something
nefarious
flagrantly wicked or impious; evil
remit
to lay aside (a mood or disposition); to release from the guilt or penalty of
matrilocal
located at or centered around the residence of the wife’s family or people
writ
something written; a formal written document
greatcoat
a heavy overcoat
disparate
markedly distinct; made up of fundamentally different and often incongruous elements
videlicet
that is to say; namely; abbreviated as viz
viz
that is to say; namely; abbreviation for videlicet
lief
gladly willing; soon, as in, “I’d as ___ go as not”
petticoat
a skirt worn by women, girls, or young children
feint
something feigned
splutter
a confused noise (as of hasty speaking); a splashing or sputtering sound
alluvial
relating to, composed of, or found in alluvium
guile
deceitful cunning; duplicity
filigree
ornamental work especially of fine wire of gold, silver, or copper
hovel
a small, humble and sometimes wretched dwelling; tabernacle
cohosh
any of several North American medicinal or poisonous plants
debase
to lower in status, esteem, quality, or character
chicanery
deception by artful subterfuge or sophistry; trickery
creosote
a flammable oily mixture obtained by the distillation of tar
phenol
a poisonous compound in tar that, in dilute solution, serves as a disinfectant
stela
an inscribed stone slab or pillar used for commemorative purposes
grapeshot
an antipersonnel weapon consisting of a cluster of small iron balls shot from a cannon
calaboose
a prison or dungeon
chloroform
a solvent; treat with chloroform to produce anesthesia, insensibility, or death
fribble
to trifle or fool away; a frivolous person, thing, or idea
guilder
the basic monetary unit of the Netherlands until 2002; aka gulden
gulden
the basic monetary unit of the Netherlands until 2002; aka guilder
heliograph
an apparatus for telegraphing by means of the sun’s rays flashed from a mirror
cession
a yielding to another; concession
dentalium
tooth or tusk shells used in indigenous jewelry, adornment, and commerce
schoolmarm
a person who exhibits characteristics attributed to strict schoolteachers
nihilism
a viewpoint that that existence is senseless and useless
docent
a university lecturer; one who leads guided tours especially through a museum or art gallery
autodidact
a self-taught person
swagman
a drifter, especially one who carries a swag when traveling
swag
goods acquired by unlawful means; booty; loot
jeremiad
a prolonged lamentation or complaint; a cautionary or angry harangue
treble
to increase threefold
bluey
like the color blue; bluish
mensch
a person of integrity and honor
capo
a movable bar attached to the neck of a guitar; the head of a branch of a crime syndicate
codex
a manuscript book especially of Scripture, classics, or ancient annals
codices
plural of codex
indignation
anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean
choler
ready disposition to irritation; irascibility
irascible
marked by hot temper and easily provoked anger
birse
anger; a bristle or tuft of bristles
pullulate
to breed or produce freely; swarm; teem
cosset
a pet; to treat as a pet; pamper
pissoir
a public urinal usually located on the street in some European countries
carillon
a set of fixed chromatically tuned bells sounded by hammers controlled from a keyboard
petiole
a slender stem that supports the blade of a foliage leaf
