ACA Vocabulary 2016-2017 Flashcards
askance
disapprovingly; disdainfully; distrustfully; with a side glance
deviation
a turning away or departure from; a divergence
devoid
not containing or possessing; empty; without
dogma
a set of specific ideas or beliefs; a doctrine
focalization
the act or action of focusing or concentrating; the location of concentrated attention
inscrutable
not able to be searched into and understood
insidious
progressing harmfully but hardly noticed; deceitful in a subtle way; wily; treacherous
interim
time between; meantime
intercessor
one who acts between two parties; a mediator
melancholic
excessively and unreasonably brooding; chronically depressed; despondent; causing or suggesting such feeling
mollify
to calm or appease; to soothe; to make less severe
nemesis
deserved punishment or its source; anything or anyone that always seems certain to defeat or frustrate
scathing
harshly critical; extremely severe; caustic
sidled
stepped or moved sideways in a shy or stealthy manner
trenchant
incisive; perceptive; to the point; keen; vigorous; forceful
aridity
dryness; barrenness; the state of being dull, without interest
blazon
to richly adorn; to depict symbolically; such a depiction or its description
disparaging
degrading; depreciating; “cutting down”; belittling
dissenter
one who dissents, disagrees, differs in principle; one who refuses to assent to established doctrine
emit
to put out or give off light, heat, sound, etc.; to utter sounds, expression, etc.
exemplary
setting an example; admirable; commendable
hyperbole
extreme exaggeration in expression; overstatement
hypercritical
overly critical; faultfinding; carping
hypochondriac
one who is unduly anxious over personal health; one who imagines illnesses
impeccable
free from fault, blemish or error; flawless; unerring
inimitable
not able to be imitated; unequaled; unparalleled; unique
innate
coming naturally from within; inborn; natural
innocuous
harmless; without harmful effect or qualities
reciprocal
done or given responsively or in return; affecting both parties; mutual; a counterpart
sinister
tending toward disaster; threatening; foreboding; evil; wicked
contentious
quarrelsome; argumentative; uncooperative
credible
believable; trustworthy; reliable
expedient
suitable or advisable at the moment; opportune or useful but not necessarily right; such an action or means
furtive
stealthy; secretive; sly; evasive
impunity
exemption or freedom from punishment or harm
incarcerate
to imprison; to confine