501-625 Flashcards
wizened
wrinkled from aging
corrode
to eat into; destroy gradually, as by a chemical process
florid
flushed with rosy color; overdecorated
enervate
to weaken
rash
showing boldness or haste without judgement
dogma
a specific set of ideas or beliefs, esp. religious or asserted to be absolutely true
germane
fitting and appropriate
tinge
a faint coloring; a trace amount
addendum
a supplement; something added at the end of a book or document
auspicious
showing signs of a favorable outcome; marked by favorable circumstances
epicure
one with refined tastes, esp. in food and wine
quintessence
a pure substance or essence of something
placebo
a substance, often presented as a medicine, that has an effect because of a patients expectations rather than because of an active ingredient
blanch
to turn pale
exhaustive
thorough
ascribe
to attribute to a specific source
hazard
a risk of being harmed; something that presents a risk
ruminate
to ponder at length
demagogue
a leader who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the people
burgeon
to sprout or grow rapidly
lank
long and slender; lean
revert
to return to a former condition
repudiate
to reject as invalid or untrue
nomad
one who has no permanent home
contempt
a feeling that something is low or disgusting
dubious
causing doubt; questionable
berate
to scold severely and at length
verbose
wordy
abash
to embarrass
incontrovertible
impossible to dispute
prudent
marked by careful planning; discreet
imminent
impending; threatening; likely to happen
loquacious
very talkative
brittle
rigid; likely to break
aptitude
an inherent capacity for leaning, understanding, or performing
mishap
an unlucky or unfortunate accident
omnibus
including or dealing with many items at once; n. a volume of reprinted works of a single author or of reprinted works on a single theme
stipend
a fixed and regular payment
recapitulate
to summarize; to paraphrase
conviction
a strong belief or opinion
paradox
a statement or situation that appears contradictory
prognosticate
to predict
preclude
to make impossible; to prevent the occurrence of
rampant
unrestrained
nemesis
one who inflicts justified or great punishment; a source of harm or ruin
tautology
needless repetition in different words (e.g., “widow woman”); a statement that is logically true no matter what (e.g., the committee’s term shall last one year or until it ends)
paragon
an example of perfection
stringent
imposing strict standards of performance; constricted
livid
extremely angry; discolored, as from a bruise; pale, ashen
enmity
the bitter attitude or feelings of an enemy or of mutual enemies
insolent
boldly disrespectful in speech or behavior; impertinent; imprudent
arrogant
having more pride and self-importance than is proper
slipshod
marked by carelessness or casual attention to detail; sloppy
voracious
devouring; extremely hungry
embark
to set off on a long trip
found
to establish; to set up on a firm basis
parry
to deflect an attack
purse
to contract into wrinkles or folds; to pucker
convoke
to call together in a meeting
lurch
to sway or tip abruptly to one side; to stagger
vim
energy; enthusiasm
pristine
remaining in a pure state
anathema
someone or something that is hated
tortuous
winding; twisted
clamor
a loud and continuous noise
frivolous
of little importance
perfunctory
done without care or interest or merely as a form or routine
buttress
to prop up or support
faculty
a natural ability to do something
malodorous
smelling very bad
elaborate
detailed; carefully thorough; v. to develop with care or at greater length
turgid
excessively ornate or complex in style; swollen as from fluid
modest
limited in amount, extent, etc.
ascertain
to discover with certainty, as through examination
rescind
to take back or cancel
prodigious
wonderful; amazing; very big
saccharine
overly or sickeningly sweet
wary
cautious; on guard
umbrage
offense or resentment (used with “take”)
segregate
to separate into groups or parts
august
inspiring awe or admiration, esp. because of high rank or character
discreet
careful about what one says or does; circumspect; done, said, or placed so as to attract little notice
intimate
to make known subtly; to hint
rouse
to wake or provoke
morsel
a small piece, esp. of food
cacophony
a harsh, jarring sound
disinterested
free from bias
girth
the distance around something; circumference
skew
to place at an angle; to cause bias in or distort; adj. distorted or biased
toxic
poisonous; dangerous
verity
a widely-accepted truth
incoherent
not sticking together; not logically connected
impetus
an impelling or originating force
increment
an increase in quantity; v. to increase
dismay
to destroy courage or resolution; to cause to lose enthusiasm, to disillusion
assimilate
to take in as one’s own; to absorb; to adapt or adjust to the customs, etc. of a group
disburse
to pay out money
dissent
to disagree
charisma
a quality of leadership that inspires great devotion in one’s followers; personal magnetism or charm
civic
pertaining to a city or citizen
disingenuous
not straightforward or candid;
cadaver
a dead body, esp. a human body to be dissected
acute
sharp; clever; severe
evanescent
fading from sight; transient
clemency
mercy, or leniency towards an offender
facet
any of a number of sides or aspects
dialect
a variety of language, esp. regional
contrite
feeling sorry for what one has done
municipal
relating to a city, town, village, or the like with local self-government
dispel
to rid one’s mind of; to drive away by scattering
assuage
to lessen pain or distress
superficial
on the surface only; shallow; not thorough
assiduous
diligent; hard-working; constant
extemporaneous
done with little to no preparation
impute
to assign credit, often or guilt of blame
benign
kindly; creating a favorable influence; (in medicine) not dangerous to one’s health
blasé
indifferent or bored with life; unimpressed as if because of too much worldly experience
testy
irritable; touchy
senile
showing the marked deterioration of old age
currency
general acceptance of use; the state of being up-to-date
verisimilitude
resemblance to the truth
pernicious
very harmful or destructive
induct
to place formally in office; to admit as a member
appreciate
grow in value
ponder
to think over with great care
