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