Advanced Vocab Words Flashcards
Some great sample flashcards from our SAT, GRE, and Vocab Junkie products.
Define:
temerity
(tuh-mer-i-tee)
n. reckless boldness
The temerity of the pirate crew cost them their ship.
Define:
depredate
(dep-rih-deyt)
v. to plunder, pillage, destroy
v. to exploit
The Vikings depredated the whole valley.
Define:
genuflect
(djen-yoo-flekt)
v. to bend knee to ground (as in worship)
v. to grovel
The king’s subjects genuflected when he entered the room.
Define:
wend
(wend)
v. to go, proceed, walk
We wended our way through the market.
Define:
pelagic
(puh-ladj-ik)
adj. relating to open seas rather than waters adjacent to land
The pelagic organism was only found in the deepest part of the ocean.
Define:
froward
(froh-werd)
adj. intractable, stubbornly disobedient, difficult to manage
The froward mule sat down and refused to move all afternoon.
Define:
punctilious
(puhngk-til-ee-uhs)
adj. precise, paying attention to trivialities of etiquette
A secretary who punctiliously records every detail.
Define:
aphorism
(af-uh-riz-uhm)
n. a tersely phrased truth or opinion; adage; epigram
n. a brief statement of principle; or general truth
The children had finally learned the meaning of the aphorism “You can’t have your cake and eat it too”.
Define:
purloin
(per-loin, per-loin)
v. to steal
The manipulative thief purloined the diamonds after gaining the confidence of their location.
Define:
esoteric
(es-uh-ter-ik)
adj. intended for or understood only by a particular group
adj. not publicly disclosed; confidential
The esoteric ideas of the cult failed to enlighten many outsiders.
Define:
succor
(suhk-er)
n. relief during a time of struggle
The Red Cross provides succor to refugees in emergency shelters.
Define:
protean
(proh-tee-uhn)
adj. readily assuming different forms or characters
Fans regarded the protean actress as capable of playing any role.
Define:
callous
(kal-uhs)
adj. insensitive; having no feeling
The callous remark upset the entire family.
Define:
proscribe
(proh-skrahyb)
v. to prohibit or forbid as harmful or unlawful
Citizens pushed to proscribe swimming in the polluted lake.
Define:
denouement
(dey-noo-mahn)
n. an outcome or solution to a complex series of events
Though public interest slackened after the arsonist was caught, the denouement of the case was just as interesting as the manhunt that had preceded it.
Define:
supercilious
(soo-per-sill-ee-uhs)
adj. arrogant, overbearing; displaying condescending superiority over someone else
His supercilious behavior drove away many of his peers.
Define:
parley
(pahr-lee)
n. discussion between enemies, often to prepare terms of surrender
The longtime enemies held a parley to work on peace negotiations.
Define:
apoplectic
(ap-uh-plek-tik)
adj. furious; enraged; overcome with anger
adj. relating to a stroke
When Jim found out he was fired, he apoplectically stormed out of the office.
Define:
simper
(sim-per)
v. to say with a coy smile; to smirk
Dave simpered a feeble attempt at an apology.
Define:
miscegenation
(mih-sedj-uh-ney-shuhn)
n. the interbreeding of different races
n. any mixture or hybrid
The school cafeteria served an obscure miscegenation of ingredients as meatloaf.
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
n. recklessness
temerity
(tuh-mer-i-tee)
synonyms: arrogance, brashness
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to plunder, pillage, destroy
v. to exploit
depredate
(dep-rih-deyt)
synonyms: despoil, ravish, defile
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to bend knee to ground (as in worship)
v. to grovel
genuflect
(djen-yoo-flekt)
synonyms: kneel, beg
Which of your vocabulary words means the following?
v. to go, proceed, walk
wend
(wend)
synonyms: go, journey, travel
