Advanced IV Flashcards
unviable
unviable
adjective: not able to work, survive, or succeed (also spelled inviable).
The plan was obviously unviable considering that it lead to complete environmental destruction in the river valley.
nonchalant
nonchalant
adjective: coming across as uninterested or unconcerned; overly casual
The twenty-somethings at the coffee shop always irked Sheldon, especially the way in which they acted nonchalantly towards everything, not even caring when Sheldon once spilled his mocha on them.
celerity
celerity
noun: speed, rapidity
We aim to respond to customers’ questions with celerity and accuracy, with no longer than a 24 hour wait time.
obstreperous
obstreperous
adjective: noisily and stubbornly defiant; willfully difficult to control
When the teacher asked the obstreperous student simply to bus his tray, the student threw the entire tray on the floor, shouted an epithet, and walked out.
presentiment
presentiment
noun: a feeling of evil to come
On the night that Lincoln would be fatally shot, his wife had a presentiment about going to Ford’s Theater, but Lincoln persuaded her that everything would be fine.
dispensation
dispensation
noun: an exemption from a rule or obligation
Since her father is a billionaire, she is given dispensation from many of the school’s policies.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
puissant
puissant
adjective: powerful
Over the years of service, and quite to his surprise, he became a puissant advisor to the community.
dovetail
dovetail
verb: fit together tightly, as if by means of an interlocking joint
Although Darwin’s evolution and Mendel’s genetics were developed in isolation from one another, they dovetail very well.
subterfuge
subterfuge
noun: something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity
Finally deciding to abandon all subterfuge, Arthur revealed to Cindy everything about his secret affair over the past two years.
decry
decry
verb: express strong disapproval of
The entire audience erupted in shouts and curses, decrying the penalty card issued by the referee.
ribald
ribald
adjective: humorously vulgar
The speaker was famous for his ribald humor, but the high school principal asked him to keep the talk G-rated when he spoke to the student body.
recrimination
recrimination
noun: mutual accusations
The two brothers sat and cried, pointing fingers and making elaborate recriminations of the other’s guilt
spartan
spartan
adjective: unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment; practicing great self-denial
After losing everything in a fire, Tim decided to live in spartan conditions, sleeping on the floor and owning as little furniture as a possible.
inviolate
inviolate
adjective: must be kept sacred
While the literary critic subjected most of the classics to the harshest reviews, he regarded Cervantes as inviolate, and had nothing but praise for him.
flippant
flippant
adjective: showing inappropriate levity
Although Sam was trying to honor Mark’s sense of humor, many found it quite flippant that he wore a comic nose and glasses mask to Mark’s funeral.
peripatetic
peripatetic
adjective: traveling by foot
Jim always preferred a peripatetic approach to discovering a city: he felt that he could see so many more details while walking.
unpropitious
unpropitious
adjective: (of a circumstance) with little chance of success
With only a bottle of water and a sandwich, the hikers faced an unpropitious task: ascending a huge mountain that took most two days to climb.
unflappable
unflappable
adjective: not easily perturbed or excited or upset; marked by extreme calm and composure
The house shook and the ground quaked, but my dad was unflappable and comforted the family.
improvident
improvident
adjective: not given careful consideration
Marty was improvident, never putting money aside for the future but spending it on decorating the interior of his home.
machinate
machinate
verb: engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
The rebels met at night in an abandoned barn to machinate.
incontrovertible
incontrovertible
adjective: necessarily or demonstrably true; impossible to deny or disprove
Unless you can provide incontrovertible evidence, I will remain skeptical.
rarefied
rarefied
adjective: made more subtle or refined
Jack’s vulgar jokes were not so successful in the rarefied environment of college professors.
encumber
encumber
verb: hold back
The costume encumbered all my movements and caused me to sweat profusely.
invidious
invidious
adjective: likely to cause resentment
At a time when many others in the office were about to be laid off, many considered Cheryl’s fine clothes that day an invidious display.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
puerile
puerile
adjective: of or characteristic of a child; displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
Helen enjoyed blowing soap bubbles, but Jim regarded this as puerile, totally unworthy of a woman with a Ph.D.
immure
immure
verb: to enclose, usually in walls
The modern supermarket experience makes many feel claustrophobic, as they are immured in walls upon walls of products.
firebrand
firebrand
noun: someone who deliberately creates trouble
Freddie is a firebrand: every time he walks into the office, he winds up at the center of heated argument.
apposite
apposite
adjective: remarkably appropriate
For a writer with such quick wit, Jonathan Swift has a rather apposite name.
hubris
hubris
noun: overbearing pride or presumption
Bill Clinton was criticized for his hubris, since he believed he could get away with anything once in the White House.
lacerate
lacerate
verb: deeply hurt the feelings of; distress
The teacher was fired for lacerating a student who wrote a poor essay.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
crystallize
crystallize
verb: cause to take on a definite and clear shape
Only after fifteen minutes of brainstorming did Samantha’s ideas for the essay crystallize.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
denouement
denouement
noun: the final resolution of the many strands of a literary or dramatic work; the outcome of a complex sequence of events
At the denouement of the movie, all questions were answered, and the true identity of the robber was revealed.
imperious
imperious
adjective: having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
Children are imperious with each other before they learn that earning someone’s respect is better than demanding.
patent
patent
adjective: glaringly obvious
Since the book had been through no fewer than six proof runs, the staff was shocked to see such a patent spelling mistake remaining, right in the middle of the front cover!
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
inure
inure
verb: to make accustomed to something unpleasant
Three years of Manhattan living has inured her to the sound of wailing sirens; she could probably sleep through the apocalypse.
crestfallen
crestfallen
adjective: brought low in spirit
I asked Maria on a date and she refused without a moment’s thought; I was crestfallen.
untenable
untenable
adjective: (of theories etc) incapable of being defended or justified
With the combination of Kepler’s brilliant theories and Galileo’s telescopic observations, the old geocentric theory became untenable to most of the educated people in Europe.
ossify
ossify
verb: make rigid and set into a conventional pattern
Even as a young man, Bob had some bias against poor people, but during his years in social services, his bad opinions ossified into unshiftable views.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
intimation
intimation
noun: an indirect suggestion
At first the hostess tried intimation, praising the benefits of cutlery; when Cecil continued eating with his hands, the hostess told him to use a fork at dinner.
surreptitous
surreptitious
adjective: stealthy, taking pains not to be caught or detected
Since his mom was a light sleeper, Timmy had to tiptoe surreptitiously through the entire house, careful to not make the floors creak, until he at last was able to enjoy his plunder: a box of chocolate chip cookies.
irrefutable
irrefutable
adjective: impossible to deny or disprove
Scientists are searching for irrefutable evidence that some form of life existed on mars at some point in its history.
asperity
asperity
noun: harshness of manner
The editor was known for his asperity, often sending severe letters of rejection to amateur writers.
inimitable
inimitable
adjective: defying imitation; matchless
Mozart’s music follows a clear pattern that, anyone could imitate, but his music gives an overall sense of effortlessness that is inimitable.
hobble
hobble
verb: to hold back the progress of something
Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts, making it difficult for crews to find bodies in the wreckage.
corollary
corollary
noun: a practical consequence that follows naturally
A corollary of Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the east coast of the U.S., is a push to build higher sea walls to protect against future hurricanes.
tempestuous
tempestuous
adjective: as if driven by turbulent or conflicting emotions; highly energetic and wildly changing or fluctuating
Chuck and Kathy had always been stable and agreeable people on their own, but when they got involved, it was a tempestuous relationship.
cosseted
treat with excessive indulgence
equitable
fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience
magisterial
offensively self assured or given to exercising unwanted power
impetuous
characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation
untenable
(of theories its) incapable of being defended or justified
stalwart
dependable, inured to fatigue ot hardships
