Advanced VII Flashcards
hoodwink
hoodwink
verb: to deceive or trick someone
Someone tried to hoodwink Marty with an email telling him that his uncle had just passed away, and to collect the inheritance he should send his credit card information.
demonstrative
demonstrative
adjective: given to or marked by the open expression of emotion
When Sally told James that she wanted to break up with him, she expected he would react demonstratively, but he quietly nodded his head and left without saying a word.
dissemble
dissemble
verb: conceal one’s true motives, usually through deceit
To get close to the senator, the assassin dissembled his intentions, convincing many people that he was a reporter for a well-known newspaper.
halcyon
halcyon
adjective: idyllically calm and peaceful; suggesting happy tranquillity; marked by peace and prosperity
The first decade after WWI was a halcyon period in America with new-found wealth and rapidly improving technology.
cataclysm
cataclysm
noun: an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
The introduction of smallpox was a cataclysm for Native Americans, killing off more than half of their population.
capitulate
capitulate
verb: to surrender (usually under agreed conditions)
Paul, losing 19-0 in a ping-pong match against his nimble friend, basically capitulated when he played the last two points with his eyes closed.
canard
canard
noun: a deliberately misleading fabrication
The public will always be fooled by the media’s canards.
bastardization
bastardization
noun: an act that debases or corrupts
The movie World War Z is a complete bastardization of the book with little more in common than zombies and a title.
verisimilitude
verisimilitude
noun: the appearance of truth
All bad novels are bad for numerous reasons; all good novels are good for their verisimilitude of reality, placing the readers in a world that resembles the one they know.
misattribute
misattribute
verb: To erroneously attribute; to falsely ascribe; used especially of authorship.
I made a mistake; I misattributed “Crime and Punishment” to Leo Tolstoy when it was actually written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
extrapolate
extrapolate
verb: draw from specific cases for more general cases
By extrapolating from the data on the past three months, we can predict a 5% increase in traffic to our website.
palaver
palaver
verb: speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
During the rain delay, many who had come to see the game palavered, probably hoping that idle chatter would make the time go by faster.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
oblique
oblique
adjective: not straightforward; indirect
Herbert never explicitly revealed anything negative about Tom’s past, but at times he would obliquely suggest that Tom was not as innocent as he seemed.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
chauvinism
chauvinism
noun: fanatical patriotism; belief that one’s group/cause is superior to all other groups/causes
Vegetarians argue that man is chauvinistic in his belief that animals do not consciously feel the pain we humans do.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
veritable
veritable
adjective: truthfully, without a doubt
Frank is a veritable life-saver – last year, on two different occasions, he revived people using CPR.
despot
despot
noun: a cruel and oppressive dictator
The Emperor Claudius was regarded as a fair-minded leader; his successor, Nero, was an absolute despot.
concomitant
concomitant
adjective: describing an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another
Concomitant with his desire for nature was a desire for the culture and energy of a big city.
bereft
bereft
adjective: unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love
After 64 years of marriage, William was bereft after the death of his wife.
adjective: sorrowful through loss or deprivation
“You are not bereft if you haven’t played on your Xbox in the past week,” his mother said.
surfeit
surfeit
noun: an excessive amount of something
There was no such thing as a surfeit of shopping for Nancy–she could stay at the outlet stores from opening to closing time.
panacea
panacea
noun: hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; a universal solution
While the company credit card has made most large purchases easier, it is no panacea: some smaller basic transactions still must be conducted in cash.
graft
graft
noun: corruption, usually through bribery
In countries with rampant graft, getting a driver’s license can require no more than paying an official.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
sardonic
sardonic
adjective: disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking
A stand-up comedian walks a fine line when making jokes about members of the audience; such fun and joking can quickly become sardonic and cutting.
pilory
pillory
verb: ridicule or expose to public scorn
After the candidate confessed, the press of the opposing party took the opportunity to pillory him, printing editorials with the most blatantly exaggerated accusations.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
modicum
modicum
noun: a small or moderate or token amount
If my sister had even a modicum of sense, she wouldn’t be engaged to that barbarian.
obtain
obtain
verb: be valid, applicable, or true
The custom of waiting your turn in line does not obtain in some countries, in which many people try to rush to front of the line at the same time.
simulacrum
simulacrum
noun: a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center showcases a simulacrum of all the present and approved buildings in the city of Shanghai.
noun: a bad imitation
The early days of computer graphics made real people into a simulacrum that now seems comical.
evanescent
evanescent
adjective: tending to vanish like vapor
The storm flashed into existence above us and lasted only a short time—an evanescent turbulence of wind and cloud.
ebullient
ebullient
adjective: joyously unrestrained
Can you blame him for his ebullient mood? He just graduated from medical school.
lachrymose
lachrymose
adjective: showing sorrow
Lachrymose and depressed, Alexei Alexandrovich walked two miles home in the rain after learning that his wife was having an affair.
eponym
eponym
noun: the name derived from a person (real or imaginary); the person for whom something is named
Alexandria, Egypt is an eponym because it is named after Alexander the Great.
promulgate
promulgate
verb: state or announce
The President wanted to promulgate the success of the treaty negotiations, but he had to wait until Congress formally approved the agreement.
flag
flag
verb: droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness; become less intense
After the three crushing defeats in the last three games, the team’s enthusiasm began to flag.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
loath
loath
adjective: unwilling to do something contrary to your custom (usually followed by ‘to’)
I was loath to leave the concert before my favorite band finished playing.
exorbitant
exorbitant
adjective: greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation
Shelley made one exorbitant purchase after another, buying new clothes and taking vacations even though she earned a limited salary.
exiguity
exiguity
noun: the quality of being meager
After two months at sea, the exiguity of the ship’s supplies forced them to search for fresh water and food.
Abrogate
G
Adjudicate
H
Bastardized
F
Countermand
H
Diminutive
G
Dissipate
V
Dissolution
G
Enamour
H
Estimable
G
Ineluctable
H
Infrlicitous
G
Officious
G
Trenchant
V
Splenetic
G
Raillery
G
Row
F
