A-I Flashcards
acme (n.)
summit, peak, highest point
affable (adj.)
warm and friendly, pleasant, approachable
affectation (n.)
fake behavior (such as in speech or dress) adopted to give a certain impression
aggrandize (v.)
make greater; exaggerate
alacrity (n.)
cheerful or speedy willingness
apathy (n.)
not caring; absence of feeling; lack of interest or concern
apocryphal (adj.)
of questionable authenticity; false
artless (adj.)
free of deceit or craftiness, natural, genuine; lacking skill or knowledge, crude, uncultured
assuage (v.)
make milder, relieve; soothe, pacify, calm
aver (v.)
declare or affirm with confidence
balk (v.)
refuse to proceed or to do something
belie (v.)
contradict or misrepresent
boor (n.)
rude, ill-mannered, or insensitive person; a person or country bumpkin
bureaucracy (n.)
government characterized by many bureaus and petty administrators or by excessive, seemingly meaningless requirements
burgeon (v.)
grow or flourish rapidly; put forth buds or shoots (of a plant)
chauvinism (n.)
fanatical patriotism or blind enthusiasm for military glory; undue or biased devotion to any group
clinch (v.)
make final or settle conclusively; to fasten or hold together
cogent (adj.)
very convincing, logical
commensurate (adj.)
same in size, extent, etc., equivalent; proportional
console (v., n.)
v. to lessen the suffering or grief of
n. a control panel, or small table or cabinet
constrict (v.)
squeeze, compress; restrict freedom of
conundrum (n.)
riddle, the answer to which involves a play on words; any mystery
converge (v.)
move towards one another or towards a point; unite
corroborate (v.)
support, add evidence to
cosmopolitan (adj.)
belonging to the entire word, at home globally; free from local or national prejudices or attachments
countenance (v., n.)
v. approve or tolerate
n. facial expression or face
craven (adj)
very cowardly, lacking courage
credulous (adj)
gullible; prone to believing or trusting too easily or without enough evidence
daunt (v)
discourage, dishearten, lessen the courage of
debunk (v)
expose, ridicule, or disprove false or exaggerated claims
decorous (adj)
behaving with propriety and good taste; polite
deface (v)
vandalize, mar the appearance of
default (n, v)
n. failure to act, neglect
v. fail to fulfill an obligation, especially a financial one
deference (n)
respectful submission; yielding to the authority or opinion of another
denote (v)
be a name or symbol for
diatribe (n)
bitter, abusive attack or criticism; rant
din (n)
loud, confused noise, especially for a long period of time
disabuse (v)
free someone from a mistake in thinking
disingenuous (adj)
insincere, not genuine
dispassionate (adj)
unbiased, not having a selfish or personal motivation; calm, lacking emotion
dispatch (n, v)
n. speed, promptness
v. send off or deal with in a speedy way
disquieting (adj)
disturbing, causing anxiety
disseminate (v)
broadcast, scatter, spread about
dissent (v, n)
v. disagree or take an opposing view, especially in relation to a formal body such as a govt, political party, or church
n. the view of “to dissent” (above)
dissonance (n)
disagreement, cacophony
divest (v)
deprive or strip of a rank, title etc., or of clothing or gear; to sell of holdings (opposite of invest)
dubious (adj)
doubtful, questionable, suspect
efficacy (n)
the quality of being ale o produce the intended effect
egalitarian (adj)
related to belief in the equality of all people, esp. in political, economic, or social spheres
egregious (adj)
extraordinarily or conspicuously bad; glaring
eschew (v)
shun, avoid, abstain from
exacting (adj)
very severe in making demands; requiring precise attention
facetious (adj)
joking, humorous, esp. inappropriately; not serious, concerned with frivolous things
flag (v)
get tired, lose enthusiasm; hang limply or droop
foment (v)
apply medicated liquid to a body part; incite, instigate, stir up, promote growth of
fringe (adj, n)
n. people in a group who hold the most extreme views
adj. on the margin, periphery
gainsay (v)
declare false, deny; oppose
garrulous (adj)
talkative, wordy, rambling
gauche (adj)
tactless, lacking social grace, awkward, crude
gawky (adj)
physically awkward (esp. of a tall, skinny person, often used to describe teenagers)
germane (adj)
relevant and appropriate, on topic
glib (adj)
fluent and easy in a way that suggests superficiality or insincerity
gregarious (adj)
sociable, pertaining to a flock or crowd
hackneyed (adj)
so commonplace as to be stale; not fresh or original
hardy (adj)
bold, brave, capable of withstanding hardship, fatigue, cold, etc.
haven (n)
harbor or port; refuge, safe place
hearken (v)
listen, pay attention to
hedonist (n)
person devoted to pleasure
illiberality (n)
narrow-mindedness, bigotry; strictness or lack of generosity
implicit (adj)
involved in the very essence of something, unquestionable; implied, not stated directly
implode (v)
burst inward
inasmuch (adv)
in like manner, considering that
incendiary (adj)
setting on fire, pertaining to arson; arousing strife, rebellion, etc.; “inflaming” the senses
inchoate (adj)
just begun, undeveloped, unorganized
incipient (adj)
just beginning; in a very early stage
intrepid (adj)
fearless, brave, enduring in the face of adversity
