626-750 Flashcards
bleak
gloomy and somber; dreary
comprise
to include; to constrain; to be composed of
denounce
to speak out against; to accuse publicly
recrimination
a reply to one charge with a countercharge
meticulous
extremely or excessively careful about details; finicky
coalition
an alliance, esp. a temporary one
succulent
full of juice; highly enjoyable
transcend
to exceed; to go beyond or above the limits
fervid
extremely emotional; passionate
veer
to change direction
repress
to hold back; to put down by force
charge
responsibility; someone or something entrusted to the care of another
confiscate
to seize (private property) by or as if by someone in authority
stamina
resistance to fatigue or hardship; endurance
virtuoso
one with great skill, esp. in music or arts
ostentatious
showy; pretentious
wan
sickly pale; colorless
amorphous
without definite shapes; shapeless; unorganized
sordid
extremely dirty; morally corrupt
protract
to extend the duration of; to prolong
incessant
never pausing; continuous; without a stop
indigenous
native, occurring naturally
idiom
a style of manner of expression peculiar to an individual or group; an expression that cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its words
ersatz
artificial; not genuine; fake
woe
deep distress or misery; misfortune
mentor
a counselor or teacher
Stygian
gloomy and dark; infernal or hellish
chasten
to correct by punishment of criticism; to restrain
lacerate
to rip, cut, or tear; to cause deep emotional pain
domestic
relating to the home or family; relating to one’s own country
stealthy
moving with quiet caution; intending to avoid notice
prolific
producing a lot
rudder
the hinged plate at the back and bottom of a boat, used for steering
venerable
worthy of honor and respect by reason of dignity, age, etc.
circumvent
to go around; bypass; to surround
symbiotic
involving a close relationship of mutual dependence
muse
to meditate; to consider thoughtfully
covenant
a binding agreement
farce
a comedy based on crudely humorous, unlikely situations; something absurd or ridiculous, as an obvious pretense
impetuous
characterized by sudden emotion, energy, etc.; impulsive and passionate
revel
to delight, to enjoy (used with “in”)
innocuous
harmless
illegible
unable to be read
legacy
something passed down to a descendant
cascade
a waterfall or series of small waterfalls; a succession of stages, processes, or units
impinge
to have an effect on something, esp. a negative one; to encroach
decipher
to read or interpret something confusing or illegible; to convert from a code
pugilist
a boxer
inalienable
not able to be taken away or transferred to others
premeditate
to think out, plan, or scheme beforehand
bestow
to present or give (used with “on”)
supercilious
feeling or showing proud contempt; smug; arrogant
conflate
to bring together; to merge into a composite whole
belittle
to put down; to speak of contemptuously
avid
having a passionate desire
sloth
laziness
temperate
consistent; moderate; without extremes
succumb
to give in or yield
incognito
in disguise
synthesis
the combination of separate parts into a unified whole
ulterior
lying beyond what is evident, revealed or claimed
infuriate
to cause to become very angry
chasm
a large gap
entity
something that exists and can be recognized as a distinct unit
laudable
worthy or praise
proclivity
a natural or habitual tendency or inclination
office
a duty or function assigned to someone
amicable
showing friendliness or good will
cantankerous
bad-tempered; quarrelsome
perspicacious
having keen perception of understanding
gross
total, entire; glaringly obvious, flagrant
sanctimonious
pretending holiness; hypocritically devout
shoddy
inferior or cheap
nonchalant
seemingly unconcerned or indifferent
expedient
suitable for a purpose; convenient but based on self-interest rather than principle
trowel
a flat-bladed tool used for spreading cement
dislodge
to force out of concealed position
loath
unwilling, reluctant
zenith
maximum; the highest point
dank
unpleasantly damp
dormant
inactive, but capable of being active
haggard
appearing tired and thin, as from anxiety, disease, hunger, etc.
masonry
stonework or brickwork
dilettante
one who engages an art with only superficial skill; an amateur
jocular
characterized by joking
antipathy
a feeling of strong repulsion or aversion
quarry
a hunted bird or animal; prey
ingenuous
innocent; naive
implicate
to incriminate; to show or suggest involvement
paternal
relating to or characteristic of a father
aver
to affirm or declare
liberal
generous; giving freely
perennial
lasting through the years
levy
to impose of collect, usually taxes
prevail
to triumph over; to be or become most common
prowess
superior skill or ability
abdicate
to willingly give up the position of king, queen, etc. to choose not to fulfill a role or duty
accord
agreement
palpable
capable of being handled, touched, or felt; easily perceived
spontaneous
occurring naturally or without forethought
pedantic
putting unnecessary stress of minor or purely academic knowledge
lithe
limber and graceful; supple
fiasco
a major disaster
drone
to make a continuous, low buzzing or humming sound; to speak monotonously
abide
to tolerate
fluctuate
to move back and forth or up and down, esp. unpredictably
harp
to talk about or write about excessively
preeminent
superior in status or fame to all others, esp. as a generally recognized quality
specious
seeming to be truthful on the surface, but actually false
contract
to reduce in size by drawing together
inadvertent
unintentional; accidental
serendipity
unexpected gift or discovery
malicious
spiteful
inanimate
without any character or life; dull
plaintive
expressing sorrow
thwart
to prevent or frustrate
regress
to return to a previous state
adept
very skilled, esp. natural talent improved by practice
idiosyncrasy
a particular, peculiar, or eccentric trait
uncouth
uncultured; crude
herald
to bear news; to announce
sparse
thinly spread or distributed; not dense or crowded
bifurcate
to divide into two parts
arbitrary
determined by chance of individual preference, not by reason, necessity, or principle
dais
a raised platform
