Advanced V Flashcards
phelegmatic
phlegmatic
adjective: showing little emotion
Arnold is truly noble, remaining reserved until an issue of significance arises, but Walter is simply phlegmatic: he doesn’t have the energy or inclination to care about anything.
doleful
doleful
adjective: filled with or evoking sadness
No event is more doleful than the passing of my mother; she was a shining star in my life, and it brings me great sadness to think that she is now gone.
disingenuous
disingenuous
adjective: not straightforward; giving a false appearance of frankness
Many adults think that they can lie to children, but kids are smart and know when people are disingenuous.
gambit
gambit
noun: a maneuver or risk in a game or conversation, designed to secure an advantage
Randy played a gambit, telling his boss that he would leave at the end of the week if he didn’t get a raise.
besotted
besotted
adjective: strongly affectionate towards
Even though her father did not approve, Juliet became besotted with the young Romeo.
adjective: very drunk
Never before have I seen my mom so besotted, and honestly, I hope it’s the last time she drinks so much.
paragon
paragon
noun: model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
Even with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many still believe that Michael Jordon is the paragon for basketball players.
noun: an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
Some say that Athens was the paragon of democracy, but these people often forget that slaves and women were still not allowed to vote.
debonair
debonair
adjective: having a sophisticated charm
James Bond is known for his good looks, high tech gadgets, and debonair manner.
inchoate
inchoate
adjective: only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
Inchoate ideas about the relation of humans to other animals had been discussed since the Middle Ages but the modern theory really began with Darwin.
baleful
baleful
adjective: threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
Movies often use storms or rain clouds as a baleful omen of evil events that will soon befall the main character
apothegm
apothegm
noun: a short, pithy instructive saying
Winston Churchill is famous for many apothegms, but this might be his most famous: “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”
embryonic
embryonic
adjective: in an early stage of development
The Board of Directors is hoping to launch a new product soon, but planning for the Z7 is in an embryonic stage.
chagrin
chagrin
noun: strong feelings of embarrassment
Much to the timid writer’s chagrin, the audience chanted his name until he came back on the stage.
verb: cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
She never cared what others said about her appearance but was chagrined by the smallest comment from her mother.
bemoan
bemoan
verb: express discontent or a strong regret
While the CFO carefully explained all the reasons for the cuts in benefits, after the meeting employees bemoaned the cuts as further evidence that management was against them.
deign
deign
verb: do something that one considers to be below one’s dignity
The master of the house never deigned to answer questions from the servants.
truculence
truculence
noun: defiant aggressiveness
When the boss confronted Aaron about his earlier remarks, Aaron responded with utter truculence, simply throwing a glass of water in the boss’ face and walking away.
inanity
inanity
noun: total lack of meaning or ideas
Bill’s poem was nothing more than a list of impressive sounding words, so there was no point in trying to take meaning from the inanity.
squelch
squelch
verb: suppress or crush completely
After the dictator consolidated his power, he took steps to squelch all criticism, often arresting any journalist who said anything that could be interpreted as negative about his regime.
broadside
broadside
noun: a strong verbal attack
Political broadsides are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election.
browbeat
browbeat
verb: be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner
During the interrogation, the suspect was browbeaten into signing a false confession.
antic
antic
adjective: ludicrously odd
The clown’s antic act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
artifice
artifice
noun: cunning tricks used to deceive others
The mayoral candidates both spent much of the campaign accusing each other of artifices designed to mislead the voting public.
recrudesce
recrudesce
verb: to break out or happen again
After years of gamblers anonymous, Tony thought he’d broken his compulsive slot machine playing, but it took only one trip to the Atlantic City for a full recrudescence–he lost $5k on the one armed bandit.
unstinting
unstinting
adjective: very generous
Helen is unstinting with her time, often spending hours at the house of a sick friend.
bristle
bristle
verb: react in an offended or angry manner
As we discussed the painting, I noticed the artist’s wife bristling at our criticisms, ready to defend her husband’s work.
vitriol
vitriol
noun: abusive or venomous language used to express blame or bitter deep-seated ill will
His vitriol spewed forth from a deep-seated racism that consumed his whole life.
objurgate
objurgate
verb: express strong disapproval of
The manager spent an hour objurgating the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.
appurtenant
appurtenant
adjective: supplying added support
In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are appurtenant, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.
chimera
chimera
noun: something desired or wished for but is only an illusion and impossible to achieve
Many believe that a world free of war is a chimera—a dream that ignores humanity’s violent tendencies.
erastz
ersatz
adjective: not real or genuine; phony
The car dealer’s ersatz laughter was immediately followed by a price quote, one that Shelley found highly inflated.
solicitude
solicitude
noun: a feeling of excessive concern
I walked to his house in the rain to make sure he had enough to eat while he was sick, but he seemed not to appreciate my solicitude.
nettlesome
nettlesome
adjective: causing irritation or annoyance
Maria found her coworker’s cell phone nettlesome, because every few minutes it would buzz to life with another text message.
anachronism
anachronism
noun: something that is inappropriate for the given time period (usually something old).
Dressed in 15th century clothing each day, Edward was a walking anachronism.
hoary
hoary
adjective: ancient
Most workout gurus are young, fit people, whereas most yoga gurus are hoary men with long white beards.
brook
brook
verb: put up with something or somebody unpleasant
While she was at the chalkboard, the teacher did not brook any form of talking–even a tiny peep resulted in afternoon detention.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
empiricism
empiricism
noun: any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge
Empiricism does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers.
unprepossessing
unprepossessing
adjective: creating an unfavorable or neutral first impression
World leaders coming to meet Gandhi would expect a towering sage, and often would be surprised by the unprepossessing little man dressed only in a loincloth and shawl.
untrammeled
untrammeled
adjective: not confined or limited
The whole notion of living untrammeled inspired the American Revolution and was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
ineffable
ineffable
adjective: too sacred to be uttered; defying expression or description
While art critics can occasionally pinpoint a work’s greatness, much of why a piece captures our imaginations is completely ineffable.
arrogate
arrogate
verb: seize and control without authority
Arriving at the small town, the outlaw arrogated the privileges of a lord, asking the frightened citizens to provide food, drink, and entertainment.
languish
languish
verb: become feeble
Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the hiker languished, eating protein bars and nuts.
philistine
philistine
adjective: smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural values
Jane considered Al completely philistine, because he talked almost exclusively about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was.
effervescent
effervescent
adjective: marked by high spirits or excitement
After the sales result, the manager was in an effervescent mood, letting several employees leave work early that day.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
reprisal
reprisal
noun: a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime
The Old Testament doctrine of “an eye for an eye” would seem to justify an immediate physical reprisal for any injury, but that interpretation neglects the many passages that value mercy and loving-kindness over revenge.
exemplar
exemplar
noun: something to be imitated
Lena’s homework is on the wall because it is an exemplar of clean, neat, and thoughtful work.
atavism
atavism
noun: a reappearance of an earlier characteristic; throwback
Much of the modern art movement was an atavism to a style of art found only in small villages through Africa and South America.
meteoric
meteoric
adjective: like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience
The early spectacular successes propelled the pitcher to meteoric stardom, but a terrible injury tragically cut short his career.
empiricism
empiricism
noun: any method that derives knowledge from experience, used in experimental science as a way to gain insight and knowledge
Empiricism does not always lead to knowledge; an experience or experiment may raise more questions than it answers.
pith
pith
noun: the most essential part of something
When Cynthia hears a speaker presenting a complex argument, she is always able to discard the irrelevant details and extract the pith of what the speaker is trying to convey.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
