Advanced Words Flashcards
contentious
adj. likely to argue
Since old grandpa Harry became very contentious during the summer when only reruns were on T.V., the grandkids learned to hide from him at every opportunity.
alacrity
n. an eager willingness to do something
The first three weeks at his new job, Mark worked with such alacrity that upper management knew it would be giving him a promotion.
anathema
n. a detested person; the source of somebody’s hate
Hundreds of years ago, Galileo was anathema to the church; today the church is anathema to some on the left side of the political spectrum.
factious
adj. produced by, or characterized by internal dissension
The controversial bill proved factious, as dissension even within parties resulted
feckless
adj. lazy and irresponsible
Two years after graduation, Charlie still lived with his parents and had no job, becoming more feckless with each passing day.
kowtow
v. to bow or act in a subservient manner
Paul kowtowed to his boss so often the boss herself became nauseated by his sycophancy.
ponderous
adj. weighed-down; moving slowly
Laden with 20 kilograms of college text books, the freshman moved ponderously across the campus.
malfeasance
adj. misconduct or wrongdoing (especially by a public official)
Not even the mayor’s trademark pearly-toothed grin could save him from charges of malfeasance: while in power, he’d been running an illegal gambling rink in the room behind his office.
truculent
adj. having a fierce, savage nature
Standing in line for six hours, she became progressively truculent, yelling at DMV employees and elbowing other people waiting in line.
apostate
n. a person who has abandoned a religious faith or cause
An apostate of the Republican Party, Sheldon has yet to become affiliated with any party and dubs himself an independent.
insufferable
adj. intolerable, difficult to endure
Chester always tried to find some area in which he excelled above others; unsurprisingly, his co-workers found him insufferable and chose to exclude him from daily luncheons out.
catholic
adj. of broad scope; universal
Jonah’s friends said that Jonah’s taste in music was eclectic; Jonah was quick to point out that not only was his taste eclectic but it was also catholic: he enjoyed music from countries as far-flung as Mali and Mongolia.
conciliate
v. to make peace with
His opponents believed his gesture to be conciliatory, yet as soon as they put down their weapons, he unsheathed a hidden sword.
beg
v. to evade or dodge (a question)
By assuming that Charlie was headed to college—which he was not—Maggie begged the question when she asked him to which school he was headed in the Fall.
indigent
adj. poor; having very little
n. a poor or needy person
In the so-called Third World, many are indigent and only a privileged few have the resources to enjoy material luxuries.
The indigents, huddled under the overpass, tried to start a small bonfire in the hope of staying warm.
fractious
adj. irritable and is likely to cause disruption
We rarely invite my fractious Uncle over for dinner; he always complains about the food, and usually launches into a tirade on some touchy subject.
untoward
adj. unfavorable; inconvenient
Some professors find teaching untoward as having to prepare for lectures and conduct office hours prevents them from focusing on their research.
expansive
adj. communicative, and prone to talking in a sociable manner
After a few sips of cognac, the octogenarian shed his irascible demeanor and became expansive, speaking fondly of the “good old days”.
perfunctory
adj. done routinely and with little interest or care
The short film examines modern perfunctory cleaning rituals such as washing dishes, doing laundry and tooth-brushing.
cow
v. to intimidate
Do not be cowed by a 3,000-word vocabulary list: turn that list into a deck of flashcards!
attenuate
v. to weaken (in terms of intensity); to taper off/become thinner.
Her animosity towards Bob attenuated over the years, and she even went so far as to invite him to her party.
prosaic
adj. dull and lacking imagination
Unlike the talented artists in his workshop, Paul had no such bent for the visual medium, so when it was time for him to make a stained glass painting, he ended up with a prosaic mosaic.
exegesis
n. critical explanation or analysis, especially of a text
The Bible is fertile ground for exegesis—over the past five centuries there have been as many interpretations as there are pages in the Old Testament.
base
adj. the lowest, class were without any moral principles
She was not so base as to begrudge the beggar the unwanted crumbs from her dinner plate.
choleric
adj. prone to outbursts of temper; easily angered
While a brilliant lecturer, Mr. Dawson came across as choleric and unapproachable—very rarely did students come to his office hours.
precipitate
adj. hasty or rash
v. to cause to happen
Instead of conducting a thorough investigation after the city hall break-in, the governor acted precipitately, accusing his staff of aiding and abetting the criminals.
The government’s mishandling the hurricane’s aftermath precipitated a widespread outbreak of looting and other criminal activity.
saturnine
adj. morose or gloomy
Deprived of sunlight, humans become saturnine; that’s why in very northerly territories people are encouraged to sit under an extremely powerful lamp, lest they become morose.
overweening
adj. arrogant; presumptuous
Mark was so convinced of his basketball skills that in his overweening pride he could not fathom that his name was not on the varsity list; he walked up to the basketball coach and told her she had forgotten to add his name.
hector
v. to bully or intimidate
The boss’s hectoring manner put off many employees, some of whom quit as soon as they found new jobs.
arrant
adj. complete and wholly (usually modifying a noun with negative connotation)
An arrant fool, Lawrence surprised nobody when he lost all his money in a pyramid scheme that was every bit as transparent as it was corrupt.
zeitgeist
n. spirit of the times
Each decade has its own zeitgeist—the 1990’s was a prosperous time in which the promise of the American Dream never seemed more palpable.
churlish
adj. lacking manners or refinement
The manager was unnecessarily churlish to his subordinates, rarely deigning to say hello, but always quick with a sartorial jab if someone happened to be wearing anything even slightly mismatching.
pariah
n. an outcast
The once eminent scientist, upon being found guilty of faking his data, has become a pariah in the research community.
chary
adj. cautious, suspiciously reluctant to do something
Having received three speeding tickets in the last two months, Jack was chary of driving at all above the speed limit, even on a straight stretch of highway that looked empty for miles ahead.
equivocate
v. to speak vaguely, usually with the intention to mislead or deceive
After Sharon brought the car home an hour after her curfew, she equivocated when her parents pointedly asked her where she had been.
lascivious
adj. lecherous; sexually perverted
Lolita is a challenging novel for many, not necessarily because of the elevated prose style but because of the depravity of the main character, Humbert Humbert, who, as an old, lascivious man, falls in love with a girl.
byzantine
adj. intricate and complex
Getting a driver’s license is not simply a matter of taking a test; the regulations and procedures are so byzantine that many have found themselves at the mercy of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
defray
v. to help pay the cost of, either in part of full
In order for Sean to attend the prestigious college, his generous uncle helped defray the excessive tuition with a monthly donation.
turpitude
n. depravity; a depraved act
During his reign, Caligula indulged in unspeakable sexual practices, so it not surprising that he will forever be remembered for his turpitude.
artless
adj. without cunning or deceit
Despite the president’s seemingly artless speeches, he was a skilled and ruthless negotiator.
nadir
n. the lowest point
For many pop music fans, the rap and alternative-rock dominated 90s were the nadir of musical expression.
sedulous
adj. done diligently and carefully
An avid numismatist, Harold sedulously amassed a collection of coins from over 100 countries—an endeavor that took over fifteen years, and to five continents.
penurious
adj. lacking money; poor
adj. miserly
Truly penurious, Mary had nothing more than a jar full of pennies.
Warren Buffett, famous multi-billionaire, still drives a cheap sedan, not because he is penurious, but because luxury cars are gaudy and impractical.
diatribe
n. a strong verbal attack against a person or institution
Steve’s mom launched into a diatribe during the PTA meeting, contending that the school was little more than a daycare in which students stare at the wall and teachers stare at the chalkboard.
imbibe
v. to drink or absorb as if drinking
Plato imbibed Socrates’ teachings to such an extent that he was able to write volumes of work that he directly attributed, sometimes word for word, to Socrates.
supercilious
adj. haughty and disdainful; looking down on others
Nelly felt the Quiz Bowl director acted superciliously towards the underclassmen; really, she fumed, must he act so preternaturally omniscient each time he intones some obscure fact—as though everybody knows that Mt. Aconcagua is the highest peak in South America.
apogee
n. the highest point
The apogee of the Viennese style of music, Mozart’s music continues to mesmerize audiences well into the 21st century.
expunge
v. to eliminate completely
When I turned 18, all of the shoplifting and jaywalking charges were expunged from my criminal record.
jingoist
n. a person who thinks that their country should be at war
In the days leading up to war, a nation typically breaks up into the two opposing camps: doves, who do their best to avoid war, and jingoists, who are only too eager to wave national flags from their vehicles and vehemently denounce those who do not do the same.
vicissitude
n. change in one’s circumstances, usually for the worse
Even great rulers have their vicissitudes—massive kingdoms have diminished overnight, and once beloved kings have faced the scorn of angry masses.
factitious
adj. artificial; not natural
The defendant’s story was largely factitious and did not accord with eyewitness testimonies
impecunious
adj. lacking money; poor
In extremely trying times, even the moderately wealthy, after a few turns of ill-fortune, can become impecunious.
protean
adj. readily taking on different roles; versatile
Peter Sellers was truly a protean actor—in Doctor Strangelove he played three very different roles: a jingoist general, a sedate President and a deranged scientist.
blinkered
adj. to have a limited outlook or understanding
In gambling, the addict is easily blinkered by past successes and/or past failures, forgetting that the outcome of any one game is independent of the games that preceded it.
phantasmagorical
adj. illusive; unreal
Those suffering from malaria fall into a feverish sleep, their world a whirligig of phantasmagoria; if they recover, they are unsure of what actually took place and what was simply a product of their febrile imaginations.
maudlin
adj. overly emotional and sad
Just as those who were alive during the 70’s are mortified that they once cavorted about in bellbottoms, many who lived during the 80’s are now aghast at the maudlin pop songs they used to enjoy—really, just what exactly is a total eclipse of the heart?
apotheosis
n. exaltation to divine status; the highest point of development
As difficult as it is to imagine, the apotheosis of Mark Zuckerberg’s career, many believe, is yet to come.
hedge
v. to limit or qualify a statement; to avoid making a direct statement
When asked why he had decided to buy millions of shares at the very moment the tech companies stock soared, the CEO hedged, mentioning something vague about gut instinct.
quixotic
adj. wildly idealistic; impractical
For every thousand startups with quixotic plans to be the next big name in e-commerce, only a handful ever become profitable.
benighted
adj. fallen into a state of ignorance
Far from being a period of utter benightedness, The Medieval Ages produced some great works of theological speculation.
excoriate
v. to criticize very harshly
Entrusted with the prototype to his company’s latest smartphone, Larry, during a late night karaoke bout, let the prototype slip into the hands of a rival company—the next day Larry was excoriated, and then fired.
palimpsest
n. something that has been changed numerous times but on which traces of former iterations can still be seen
The downtown was a palimpsest of the city’s checkered past: a new Starbucks had opened up next to an abandoned, shuttered building, and a freshly asphalted road was inches away from a pothole large enough to swallow a small dog.
pollyannaish
adj. extremely optimistic
Even in the midst of a lousy sales quarter, Debbie remained Pollyannaish, never losing her shrill voice and wide smile, even when prospective customers hung up on her.
peremptory
adj. bossy and domineering
My sister used to peremptorily tell me to do the dishes, a chore I would either do perfunctorily or avoid doing altogether.
jejune
adj. dull; lacking flavor
adj. immature; childish
Although many top chefs have secured culinary foam’s popularity in haute cuisine, Waters criticizes it for being jejune and unfilling.
Her boss further cemented his reuptation for being jejune after throwing a fit when the water cooler wasn’t refilled.
mulct
v. to defraud or swindle
The so-called magical diet cure simply ended up mulcting Maria out of hundreds of dollars, but did nothing for her weight.
sartorial
adj. related to fashion or clothes
Monte was astute at navigating the world of finance; sartorially, however, he was found wanting—he typically would attempt to complement his beige tie with a gray suit and white pants.
venial
adj. easily excused or forgiven; pardonable
His traffic violations ran the gamut from the venial to the egregious—on one occasion he simply did not come to a complete stop; another time he tried to escape across state lines at speeds in excess of 140 mph.
picayune
adj. trifling or petty (a person)
English teachers are notorious for being picayune; however, the English language is so nuanced and sophisticated that often such teachers are not being contrary but are only adhering to the rules.
martinet
n. a strict disciplinarian
The job seemed perfect to Rebecca, until she found out that her boss was a total martinet; after each project the boss would come by to scrutinize—and inevitably criticize—every little detail of the work Rebecca had done.
tendentious
adj. likely to lean towards a controversial view
Because political mudslinging has become a staple of the 24-hour media cycle, most of us, despite protestations to the contrary, are tendentious on many of today’s pressing issues.
curmudgeon
n. a grouchy, surly person
Since Uncle Mike was the family curmudgeon, each Thanksgiving he was plied with copious amounts of wine, in the hope that he would become less grouchy.
schadenfreude
n. joy from watching the suffering of others
From his warm apartment window, Stanley reveled in schadenfreude as he laughed at the figures below, huddled together in the arctic chill.
juggernaut
n. a force that cannot be stopped
Napoleon was considered a juggernaut until he decided to invade Russia in winter; after which, his once indomitable army was decimated by cold and famine.
cupidity
n. greed for money
Some believe people that amassing as much wealth as possible is the meaning to life—yet they often realize that cupidity brings anything but happiness.
pyrrhic
adj. describing a victory that comes at such a great cost that the victory is not worthwhile
George W. Bush’s win in the 2000 election was in many ways a pyrrhic victory: the circumstances of his win alienated half of the U.S. population.
sententious
adj. to be moralizing, usually in a pompous sense
The old man, casting his nose up in the air at the group of adolescents, intoned sententiously, “Youth is wasted on the young.”
execrate
v. to curse and hiss at
Though the new sitcom did decently in the ratings, Nelson railed against the show, saying that it was nothing more than an execrable pastiche of tired cliché’s and canned laughter.
limpid
adj. clarity in terms of expression
Her limpid prose made even the most recondite subjects accessible to all.
imbroglio
n. a confusing and potentially embarrassing situation
The chef cook-off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the wrong broths, creating an imbroglio that diners would not soon forget.
arriviste
n. a person who has recently reached a position of power; a social climber
The city center was aflutter with arrivistes who each tried to outdo one another with their ostentatious sports cars and chic evening dress.
gerrymander
v. to manipulate voting districts in order to favor a particular political party
Years ago, savvy politicians had gerrymandered the city center to ensure their re-election.
vituperate
adj. to criticize harshly; to berate
Jason had dealt with disciplinarians before, but nothing prepared him for the first week of boot camp, as drill sergeants vituperated him for petty oversights such as forgetting to double knot the laces on his boots.
expurgate
v. to remove objectionable material
The censor expurgated every reference to sex and drugs, converting the rapper’s raunchy flow into a series of bleeps.
arch
adj. to be deliberately teasing
The baroness was arch, making playful asides to the townspeople; yet because they couldn’t pick up on her dry humor, they thought her supercilious.
sangfroid
n. calmness or poise in difficult situations
The hostage negotiator exhibited a sangfroid that oftentimes was more menacing than the sword at his throat, or the gun at his head.
mettlesome
adj. filled with courage or valor
For its raid on the Bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Seal Team Six has become, for many Americans, the embodiment of mettle.
malapropism
n. the confusion of a word with another word that sounds similar
Whenever I looked glum, my mother would offer to share “an amusing antidote” with me—an endearing malapropism of “anecdote” that never failed to cheer me up.
remonstrate
v. to make objections while pleading
The mothers of the kidnapped victims remonstrated to the rogue government to release their children, claiming that the detention violated human rights.
jaundice
adj. to be biased against due to envy or prejudice
Shelly was jaundiced towards Olivia; though the two had once been best friends, Olivia had become class president, prom queen, and, to make matters worse, the girlfriend of the one boy Shelly liked.
sybarite
n. a person who indulges in luxury
Despite the fact that he’d maxed out fifteen credit cards, Max was still a sybarite at heart: when the police found him, he was at a $1,000 an hour spa in Manhattan, getting a facial treatment.
invective
n. abusive or denunciatory language
The Internet has unleashed the invectives in many of us; many people post stinging criticism on the comments section underneath newspaper articles or YouTube videos.
mellifluous
adj. smooth and sweet-sounding
Chelsea’s grandmother thought Franz Schubert’s music to be the most mellifluous ever written; Chelsea demurred, and to her grandmother’s chagrin, would blast Rihanna on the home stereo speakers.
propitiate
v. to placate or appease
The two sons, plying their angry father with cheesy neckties for Christmas, were hardly able to propitiate him – the father already had a drawer full of ones he had never worn before or ever planned to.
disabuse
v. to persuade somebody that his/her belief is not valid
As a child, I was quickly disabused of the notion that Santa Claus was a rotund benefactor of infinite largess—one night I saw my mother diligently wrapping presents and storing them under our Christmas tree.
fell
adj. terribly evil
For fans of the Harry Potter series, the fell Lord Voldemort, who terrorized poor Harry for seven lengthy installments, has finally been vanquished by the forces of good—unless, that is, JK Rowling decides to come out of retirement.
bilious
adj. irritable; always angry
Rex was bilious all morning, and his face would only take on a look of contentedness when he’d had his morning cup of coffee.
histrionic
adj. to be overly theatrical
Though she received a B- on the test, she had such a histrionic outburst that one would have thought that she’d been handed a death sentence.
parvenu
n. a person who has suddenly become wealthy, but not socially accepted as part of a higher class
The theater was full of parvenus who each thought that they were surrounded by true aristocrats.
imbroglio
n. a confusing and potentially embarrassing situation
The chef cook-off featured one gourmand who had the unfortunate distinction of mixing the wrong broths, creating an imbroglio that diners would not soon forget.
quisling
n. a traitor
History looks unfavorably upon quislings; indeed they are accorded about the same fondness as Nero—he who watched his city burn down while playing the violin.
plucky
adj. marked by courage and determination
Some scouts initially doubted Pedroia because of his short stature, but he is a plucky player, surprising everyone with his boundless energy and fierce determination.
importuned
v. beg persistently and urgently
After weeks of importuning the star to meet for a five-minute interview, the journalist finally got what she wanted.
derelict
adj. (of a person) not doing one’s duties
n. (of a building) abandoned
The teacher was derelict in her duties because she hadn’t graded a single student paper in three weeks.
At one time the waterfront factories were busy and productive, but now they stand derelict and will be torn down.
sinecure
n. an office that involves minimal duties
The position of Research Director is a sinecure: the job entails almost no responsibilities, nor does the person in that position have to answer to anyone.
sagacious
adj. having good judgement and acute insight
Steve Jobs is surely one of the most sagacious CEOs, making Apple the most recognizable and valuable companies in the world.
epiphany
n. a sudden revelation or moment of insight
Gary one day had an epiphany that he was a people person; he prompty quit his factory job and began working as a salesman.
hagiographic
adj. excessively flattering toward someone’s life or work
Most accounts of Tiger Woods life were hagiographic, until, that is, his affairs made headlines.
flummox
v. be a mystery or bewildering to
Mary’s behavior completely flummoxes me: I never have any idea what her motivations might be.
maunder
v. wander aimlessly
v. speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
Max liked to maunder down by the seaside and pick up whatever sea shells he would stumble upon.
After drinking two espressos each, the animated couple would maunder loudly, annoying the other patrons in the coffee shop.
litany
n. any long and tedious account of something
Mr. Rogers spoke to a Senate committee and did not give a litany of reasons to keep funding the program, but instead, appealed to the basic human decency of all present.
insouciance
n. lack of concern
Surprisingly, Hank had become a high-powered CEO; his high school friends remembered him as “Hanky Panky”, who shrugged off each failed class with insouciance.
impute
v. attribute (responsibility or fault) to something
He imputed his subpar performance on the test to a combination of stress and poor sleep.
solecism
n. a socially awkward or tactless act
Mother Anna was always on guard against any solecism from her children and scolded them immediately if any of them talked out of place in public.
enjoin
v. give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
The government agency enjoined the chemical company to clean up the hazardous dump it had created over the years.
prognostication
n. a statement made about the future
When the Senator was asked about where the negotiations would lead, he said that any guess he could make would be an unreliable prognostication.
probity
n. integrity, strong moral principles
The ideal politician would have the probity to lead, but reality gravely falls short of the ideal of morally upright leaders.
perspicacious
adj. acutely insightful and wise
Many modern observers regard Eisenhower as perspicacious, particularly in his accurate prediction of the growth of the military.
redoubtable
adj. inspiring fear or awe
On television basketball players don’t look that tall, but when you stand in front of a seven-foot tall NBA player, he is truly redoubtable.
effrontery
n. audacious (even arrogant) behavior that you have no right to
The skateboarders acted with effrontery, skating through the church grounds and spray-painting signs warning trespassers.
lampoon
v. ridicule with satire
Mark Twain understood that lampooning a bad idea with humor was the most effective criticism.
quail
v. draw back, as with fear or pain
Craig always claimed to be a fearless outdoorsman, but when the thunderstorm engulfed the valley, he quailed at the thought of leaving the safety of his cabin.
charlatan
n. a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes
You may call him a “motivational speaker,” but I call him a charlatan–he doesn’t have any idea what he’s really talking about.
grandiloquent
adj. puffed up with vanity
The dictator was known for his grandiloquent speeches, puffing his chest out and using big, important-sounding words.
punctilious
adj. marked by precise accordance with details
The colonel was so punctilious about enforcing regulations that men feel compelled to polish even the soles of their shoes.
gaffe
n. a socially awkward or tactless act
In a famous gaffe, Vice President Quayle attempted to correct the spelling of a grade school student, only to find that the child was correct.
artlessness
n. the quality of innocence
I, personally, found the artlessness of her speech charming.
moribund
adj. being on the point of death; declining rapidly losing all momentum in progress
Whether you like it or not, jazz as a genre is moribund at best, possibly already dead.
primacy
n. the state of being first in importance
The primacy of Apple Computers is not guaranteed, as seen in the recent lawsuits and weak growth.
prolixity
n. boring verbosity
I loved my grandfather dearly, but his prolixity would put me to sleep, regardless of the topic.
lugubrious
adj. excessively mournful
At the funeral, lugubrious songs filled the small church.
unforthcoming
adj. uncooperative, not willing to give up information
The teacher demanded to know who broke the window while he was out of the room, but the students understandably were unforthcoming.
enthrall
v. hold spellbound
She was so enthralled by the movie that she never heard people screaming, “Fire! Fire!” in the neighboring theater.
portentous
adj. ominously prophetic
When the captain and more than half the officers were sick on the very first night of the voyage, many of the passengers felt this was portentous, but the rest of the voyage continued without any problems.
umbrage
n. a feeling of anger caused by being offended
Since he was so in love with her, he took umbrage at her comments, even though she had only meant to gently tease him.
recapitulation
n. a summary (think of recap)
Every point of the professors lesson was so clear that the students felt his concluding recapitulation was not necessary.
pecuniary
adj. relating to or involving money
The defendent was found guilty and had to serve a period of community service as well as pay pecuniary damages to the client.
approbatory
adj. expressing praise or approval
Although it might not be her best work, Hunter’s new novel has received generally approbatory reviews.
bowdlerize
v. edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate
To receive an R rating, the entire movie was bowdlerized because it contained so much violence and grotesque subject matter.
temerity
n. fearless daring
No child has the temerity to go in the rundown house at the end of the street and see if it is haunted.
duplicity
n. deceitfulness, pretending to want one thing but interested in something else
A life of espionage is one of duplicity: an agent must pretend to be a totally different person than who she or he actually is.
illustrious
adj. widely known and esteemed; having or conferring glory
Einstein was possibly the most illustrious scientist in recent history.
hail
v. enthusiastically acclaim or celebrate something
Many college superstar athletes are hailed as the next big thing, but then flop at the professional level.
raconteur
n. a person skilled in telling anecdotes
Jude is entertaining, but he is no raconteur: beyond the handful of amusing stories he has memorized, he has absolutely no spontaneous story-telling ability.
mordant
adj. biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style
While Phil frequently made mordant remarks about company policy overall, he always was considerably gentler in discussing any person in particular.
semblance
n. an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading
While the banker maintained a semblance of respectability in public, those who knew him well were familiar with his many crimes.
prognostication
n. a statement made about the future
When the Senator was asked about where the negotiations would lead, he said that any guess he could make would be an unreliable prognostication.
cede
v. relinquish possession or control over
Eventually, all parents must cede control of their growing childrens’ educations and allow their offspring some autonomy.
vitriolic
adj. harsh or corrosive in tone
While the teacher was more moderate in her criticism of the other student’s papers, she was vitriolic toward Peter’s paper, casting every flaw in the harshest light.
anodyne
n. something that soothes or relieves pain
adj. inoffensive
Muzak, which is played in department stores, is intended to be an anodyne, but is often so cheesy and over-the-top that customers become irritated.
Wilbur enjoyed a spicy Mexican breakfast, but Jill preferred a far more anodyne meal in the mornings.
anemic
adj. lacking energy and vigor
After three straight shows, the lead actress gave an anemic performance the fourth night, barely speaking loudly enough for those in the back rows to hear.
provident
adj. careful in regard to your own interests; providing carefully for the future
In a move that hardly could be described as provident, Bert spend his entire savings on a luxurious cruise, knowing that other bills would come due a couple months later.
lampoon
v. ridicule with satire
Mark Twain understood that lampooning a bad idea with humor was the most effective criticism.
puerile
adj. 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.
ossify
v. 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.
flippant
adj. 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.
puissant
adj. powerful
Over the years of service, and quite to his surprise, he became a puissant advisor to the community.
intimation
n. 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.
nonchalant
adj. 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.
dispensation
n. an exemption from a rule or obligation
Since her father is a billionaire, she is given dispensation from many of the school’s policies.
unviable
adj. 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.
dovetail
v. fit together tightly, as if by means of a interlocking joint
Although Darwin’s evolution and Mendel’s genetics were developed in isolation from one another, they dovetail very well.
hubris
n. 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.
obstreperous
adj. 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.
lacerate
v. deeply hurt the feelings of; distress
The teacher was fired for lacerating a student who wrote a poor essay.
spartan
adj. 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.
surreptitious
adj. 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.
crestfallen
adj. brought low in spirit
I asked Maria on a date and she refused without a moment’s thought; I was crestfallen.
invidious
adj. 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.
cosseted
v. treat with excessive indulgence
The king and queen cosseted the young prince, giving him a prized miniature pony for his fifth birthday.
crystallize
v. cause to take on a definite and clear shape
Only after fifteen minutes of brainstorming did Samantha’s ideas for the essay crystallize.
immure
v. to enclose, usually in walls
The modern supermarket experience makes many feel claustrophobic, as they are immured in walls upon walls of products.
asperity
n. harshness of manner
The editor was known for his asperity, often sending severe letters of rejection to amateur writers.
incontrovertible
adj. necessarily or demonstrably true; impossible to deny or disprove
Unless you can provide incontrovertible evidence, I will remain skeptical.
machinate
v. engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
The rebels met at night in an abandoned barn to machinate.
corollary
n. 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.
inure
v. 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.
improvident
adj. not given careful consideration
Marty was improvident, never putting money aside for the future but spending it on decorating the interior of his home.
patent
adj. 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!
peripatetic
adj. 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.
decry
v. express strong disapproval of
The entire audience erupted in shouts and curses, decrying the penalty card issued by the referee.
denouement
n. 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.
inimitable
adj. 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.
encumber
v. hold back
The costume encumbered all my movements and caused me to sweat profusely.
unpropitious
adj. (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.
celerity
n. speed, rapidity
We aim to respond to customers’ questions with celerity and accuracy, with no longer than a 24 hour wait time.
untenable
adj. (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.
equitable
adj. fair to all parties as dictated by reason and conscience
The equitable distribution of ice cream to a group of 5 year olds will ensure little to no fighting—at least until the ice cream is gone.
unflappable
adj. 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.
inviolate
adj. 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.
tempestuous
adj. 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.
irrefutable
adj. impossible to deny or disprove
The existence of life on earth is irrefutable; the existence of intelligent life on earth is still hotly debated.
presentiment
n. 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.
stalwart
adj. dependable; inured to fatigue or hardships
Despite all the criticism directed at the President during this scandal, Lisa has remained his stalwart supporter.
rarefied
v. make more subtle or refined
Jack’s vulgar jokes were not so successful in the rarefied environment of college professors.
imperious
adj. 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.
impetuous
adj. characterized by undue haste and lack of thought or deliberation
Herbert is rarely impetuous, but on the spur of the moment, he spent thousands of dollars on a motorcycle today.
firebrand
n. 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.
magisterial
adj. offensively self-assured or given to exercising unwarranted power
Though she was only a third grade teacher, Ms. Martinet was magisterial in dealing with her class, lording over them like a queen.
hobble
v. to hold back the progress of something
Bad weather has hobbled rescue efforts, making it difficult for crews to find bodies in the wreckage.
recrimination
n. mutual accusations
The two brothers sat and cried, pointing fingers and making elaborate recriminations of the other’s guilt
ribald
adj. 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.
subterfuge
n. 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.
languish
v. become feeble
Stranded in the wilderness for four days, the hiker languished, eating protein bars and nuts.
anachronism
n. something that is inappropriate for the given time period (usually something old).
Dressed in 15th century clothing each day, Edward was a walking anachronism.
vitriol
n. 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.
exemplar
n. something to be imitated
Lena’s homework is on the wall because it is an exemplar of clean, neat, and thoughtful work.
unprepossessing
adj. 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.
ersatz
adj. not real or genuine; phony
The car dealer’s ersatz laughter was immediately followed by a price quote, one that Shelley found highly inflated.
pith
n. 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.
philistine
adj. smug and ignorant towards artistic and cultural values
Jane considered Al completely philistine, because he talked almost exclusive about video games; she was entirely unaware of how well read he really was.
empiricism
n. 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.
broadside
n. a strong verbal attack
Political broadsides are usually strongest in the weeks leading up to a national election.
solicitude
n. 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.
bemoan
v. 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.
meteoric
adj. like a meteor in speed or brilliance or transience
The early spectacular successes propelled the pitcher to meteoric stardom, but a terribly injury tragically cut short his career.
debonair
adj. having a sophisticated charm
James Bond is known for his good looks, high tech gadgets, and debonair manner.
effervescent
adj. 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.
doleful
adj. 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.
percipient
adj. highly perceptive
Even the most percipient editor will make an occasional error when proofreading.
phlegmatic
adj. 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.
bristle
v. 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.
inchoate
adj. 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.
unstinting
adj. very generous
Helen is unstinting with her time, often spending hours at the house of a sick friend.
rapprochement
n. the reestablishing of cordial relations
Although Ann hoped that her mother and her aunt would have a rapprochement, each one’s bitter accusations against the other made any reconciliation unlikely.
squelch
v. 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.
nettlesome
adj. 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.
reprisal
n. a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime
The Old Testament doctrine of an eye for an eye is not the kind of retaliation practiced in war; rather, an arm, a leg, and both ears are the reprisal for the smallest scratch.
brook
v. 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.
arrogate
v. 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.
objurgate
v. express strong disapproval of
The manager spent an hour objurgating the employee in the hopes that he would not make these mistakes again.
truculence
n. 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.
ineffable
adj. 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.
hoary
adj. ancient
Most workout gurus are young, fit people, whereas most yoga gurus are hoary men with long white beards.
atavism
n. 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.
gambit
n. 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.
chagrin
n. strong feelings of embarrassment
v. cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
Much to the timid writer’s chagrin, the audience chanted his name until he came back on the stage.
She never cared what others said about her appearance but was chagrined by the smallest comment from her mother.
besotted
adj. strongly affectionate towards
adj. very drunk
Even though her father did not approve, Juliet became besotted with the young Romeo.
Never before have I seen my mom so besotted, and honestly, I hope it’s the last time she drinks so much.
recrudesce
v. 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.
chimera
n. 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.
deign
v. do something that one considers to be below one’s dignity
The master of the house never deigned to answer questions from the servants.
baleful
adj. 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.
paragon
n. model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal
n. an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept
Even with the rise of Kobe Bryant, many still believe that Michael Jordon is the paragon for basketball players.
Some say that Athens was the paragon of democracy, but these people often forget that slaves and women were still not allowed to vote.
browbeat
v. be bossy towards; discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner
During the interrogation, the suspect was browbeaten into signing a false confession.
untrammeled
adj. 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.
disingenuous
adj. 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.
epigram
n. a witty saying
My favorite epigram from Mark Twain is “A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn no other way.”
embryonic
adj. 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 stages.
appurtenant
adj. supply added support
In hiking Mt. Everest, sherpas are appurtenant, helping climbers both carry gear and navigate treacherous paths.
antic
adj. ludicrously odd
The clown’s antic act was too extreme for the youngest children, who left the room in tears.
apothegm
n. 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.”
artifice
n. 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.
inanity
n. 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.
complaisant
adj. showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others
On her first day at the job, Annie was complaisant, fulfilling every request of her new employee and anticipating future requests.
impervious
adj. not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
I am not impervious to your insults; they cause me great pain.
internecine
adj. (of conflict) within a group or organization
The guerilla group, which had become so powerful as to own the state police, was finally destroyed by an internecine conflict.
dolorous
adj. showing sorrow
Chopin’s ballades are filled with sharp changes in moods–a dolorous melody can give way to a lighthearted tempo.
appropriate
v. to give or take something by force
v. to allocate
The government appropriated land that was occupied by squatters, sending them scurrying for another place to live.
The committee appropriated the funds to its various members.
stultify
v. cause one, through routine, to lose energy and enthusiasm
As an undergraduate Mark felt stultified by classes outside his area of study; only in grad school, in which he could focus solely on literary analysis, did he regain his scholarly edge.
proselytize
v. convert to another religion, philosophy, or perspective
Lisa loves her Mac but says little about it; by contrast, Jake will proselytize, interrogating anyone with an Android about why she didn’t purchase an iPhone.
doughty
adj. brave; bold; courageous
I enjoy films in which a doughty group comes together to battle a force of evil.
proscribe
v. command against
My doctor proscribes that I not eat donuts with chocolate sauce and hamburger patties for breakfast.
ethereal
adj. characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
Because she dances with an ethereal style, ballet critics have called her Madame Butterfly.
conflate
v. mix together different elements or concepts
In her recent book, the author conflates several genres–the detective story, the teen thriller, and the vampire romance–to create a memorable read.
impugn
v. attack as false or wrong
Though many initially tried to impugn Darwin’s theory, in scientific circles today, the is idea taken as truth.
transmute
v. change or alter in form, appearance, or nature
One of the goals of alchemy was to find the substance or process that would transmute lead into gold.
tyro
n. someone new to a field or activity
All great writers, athletes, and artists were tyros at one time—unknown, clumsy, and unskilled with much to learn.
assiduously
adv. with care and persistence
The top college football program recruits new talent assiduously, only choosing those who were the top in their county.
malingerer
n. someone shirking their duty by pretending to be sick or incapacitated
At one time, our country was full of hardworking respectful people, but now it seems that everyone is a malingerer with little inclination to work.
autocratic
adj. characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty
adj. offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power
The last true autocratic country is certainly North Korea; nowhere does a leader exercise the absolute control over all aspects of a people the way that Kim Jong-un does.
The manager was finally fired for his autocratic leadership, which often bordered on rude and offensive.
obtuse
adj. slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; lacking in insight or discernment
Jackson was the most obtuse member of the team: the manager’s subtle ironies were always lost on him.
gumption
n. resourcefulness and determination
Wallace Stegner lamented the lack of gumption in the U.S. during the sixties, claiming that no young person knew the value of work.
self-effacing
adj. reluctant to draw attention to yourself
The most admirable teachers and respected leaders are those who are self-effacing, directing attention and praise to their students and workers.
desideratum
n. something desired as a necessity
The desideratum of the environmental group is that motorists should rely on carpooling.
mendicant
n. a pauper who lives by begging
Tolstoy was an aristocrat, but he strove to understand the Christianity of the Russian peasants by wandering among them as a mendicant.
vaunted
adj. highly or widely praised or boasted about
For years, they had heard of New York City’s vaunted skyline, and when they finally saw it, the spectacular cityscape did not disappoint them in the least.
panegyric
n. a formal expression of praise
Dave asked Andrew to do just a simple toast, but Andrew launched into a full panegyric, enumerating a complete list of Dave’s achievements and admirable qualities.
enormity
n. an act of extreme wickedness
The enormity of Pol Pot’s regime is hard to capture in words–within months hundreds of thousands of Cambodians lost their lives.
turgid
adj. (of language) pompous and tedious
The amount of GRE vocabulary he used increased with his years–by the time he was 60, his novels were so turgid that even his diehard fans refused to read them.
solicitous
adj. showing hovering attentiveness
Our neighbors are constantly knocking on our door to make sure we are ok, and I don’t know how to ask them to stop being so solicitous about our health.
inequity
n. injustice by virtue of not conforming with rules or standards
After decades of racial inequity, the “separate but equal” doctrine was successfully overturned.
fecund
adj. intellectually productive
The artist had entered a fecund period, producing three masterpieces in the span of two months.
prontificate
v. talk in a dogmatic and pompous manner
The vice-president would often pontificate about economic theory, as if no one else in the room were qualified to speak on the topic.
inviolable
adj. never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored
To many the grass at Wimbledon is inviolable and only greater tennis players are able to enjoy a game there.
palatable
adj. acceptable to the taste or mind
MIkey didn’t partake much in his friends’ conversations, but found their presence palatable.
conflagration
n. a very intense and uncontrolled fire
In the summer months, conflagrations are not uncommon in the southwest, do to the heat and lack of rain.
hauteur
n. overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors
As soon as she won the lottery, Alice begin displaying a hauteur to her friends, calling them dirty-clothed peasants behind their backs.
aplomb
n. great coolness and composure under strain
Nancy acted with aplomb during dangerous situations–she once calmly climbed up an oak tree to save a cat.
abjure
v. formally reject or give up (as a belief)
While the church believed that Galileo abjured the heliocentric theory under threat of torture, he later wrote a book clearly supporting the theory.
unimpeachable
adj. free of guilt; not subject to blame; beyond doubt or reproach
After his long and unimpeachable service to the company, Sharat felt that a gold watch was a slap in the face rather than an honor.
coterminous
adj. being of equal extent or scope or duration
The border of the state is coterminous with geographic limits on travel; the east and north are surrounded by a nearly uncrossable river and the south by a desert.
bridle
v. the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
v. anger or take offense
New curfew laws have bridled people’s tendency to go out at night.
The hostess bridled at the tactless dinner guests who insisted on eating before everybody had gotten their food.
complicit
adj. Associated with or participating in an activity, especially one of a questionable nature.
While the grand jury cleared the senator of all criminal charges, in the public mind he was still complicit in the corruption.
facile
adj. arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth
Many news shows provide facile explanations to complex politics, so I prefer to read the in-depth reporting of The New York Times.
pellucid
adj. transparently clear; easily understandable
The professor had a remarkable ability make even the most difficult concepts seem pellucid.
bromide
n. a trite or obvious remark
Instead of sharing his umbrella, the cheeky stranger offered Martha the following bromide: “Looks like it’s raining.”
discursive
adj. (of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point
Many readers find it tough to read Moby Dick since the author is discursive, often cutting the action short to spend 20 pages on the history of a whale.
unassailable
adj. immune to attack; without flaws
Professor Williams is so self-assured as to seem arrogant, presenting each and every opinion as an unassailable fact.
callow
adj. young and inexperienced
Both Los Angeles and New York are known for callow out-of-towners hoping to make it big.
elegiac
adj. expressing sorrow
Few can listen to the elegiac opening bars of the Moonlight sonata without feeling the urge to cry.
afford
v. provide with an opportunity
The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro affords a panoramic view that encompasses both Tanzania and Kenya.
noisome
adj. having an extremely bad smell
Each August, when the winds moved in a south easterly direction, the garbage dump would spread noisome vapors through the small town.
desiccated
adj. uninteresting, lacking vitality
Few novelists over 80 are able to produce anything more than desiccated works–boring shadows of former books.
splenetic
adj. very irritable
Ever since the car accident, Frank has been unable to walk without a cane, and so he has become splenetic and unpleasant to be around.
canard
n. a deliberately misleading fabrication
The public will always be fooled by the media’s canards.
extrapolate
v. 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.
lachrymose
adj. showing sorrow
Lachrymose and depressed, Alexei Alexandrovich walked two miles home in the rain after learning that his wife was having an affair.
veritable
adj. truthfully, without a doubt
Frank is a veritable life-saver – last year, on two different occasions, he revived people using CPR.
officious
adj. intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
The professor had trouble concentrating on her new theorem, because her officious secretary would barge in frequently reminding her of some trivial detail involving departmental paperwork.
chauvinism
n. 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.
verisimilitude
n. 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.
demonstrative
adj. 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.
diminutive
n. to indicate smallness
adj. very small
He prefers to be called a diminutive of his name: “Bill” instead of “John William.”
When he put on his father’s suit and shoes, his appearance was that of a diminutive youth.
simulacrum
n. a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture)
n. a bad imitation
The Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center showcases a simulacrum of all the present and approved buildings in the city of Shanghai.
The early days of computer graphics made real people into a simulacrum that now seems comical.
dissolution
n. a living full of debauchery and indulgence in sensual pleasure
Many Roman emperors were known for their dissolution, indulging in unspeakable desires of the flesh.
promulgate
v. 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.
infelicitous
adj. inappropriate
During the executive meeting, the marketing director continued to make infelicitous comments about the CEO’s gambling habit.
dissipate
v. squander or spend money frivolously
v. to disperse or scatter
The recent graduates dissipated their earnings on trips to Las Vegas and cruises in Mexico.
Kathleen’s perfume was overwhelming in the cramped apartment, but once we stepped outside the smell dissipated and we could breathe once again.
sardonic
adj. 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.
adjudicate
v. to serve as a judge in a competition; to arrive at a judgment or conclusion
Only those with the most refined palates were able to adjudicate during the barbeque competition.
surfeit
n. 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.
bereft
adj. unhappy in love; suffering from unrequited love
adj. sorrowful through loss or deprivation
After 64 years of marriage, William was bereft after the death of his wife.
“You are not bereft if you haven’t played on your Xbox in the past week,” his mother said.
estimable
adj. deserving of esteem and respect
After serving thirty years, in which he selflessly served the community, Judge Harper was one of the more estimable people in town.
cataclysm
n. 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.
despot
n. a cruel and oppressive dictator
The Emperor Claudius was regarded as a fair-minded leader; his successor, Nero, was an absolute despot.
hoodwink
v. 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.
concomitant
adj. 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.
palaver
v. 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.
modicum
n. a small or moderate or token amount
If my sister had even a modicum of sense, she wouldn’t be engaged to that barbarian.
loath
adj. unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom (usually followed by ‘to’)
I was loath to leave the concert before my favorite band finished playing.
evanescent
adj. 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.
flag
v. 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.
enamor
v. attraction or feeling of love
She is completely enamored with Justin Bieber, and goes to all his concerts on the East coast.
exiguity
n. 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.
obtain
adj. 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.
row
n. an angry dispute
The Prime Minister looked very foolish after his row with the foreign dignitary was caught on video and posted on youtube.
exorbitant
adj. 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.
ineluctable
adj. impossible to avoid or evade:
For those who smoke cigarettes for years, a major health crisis brought on by smoking is ineluctable.
raillery
n. light teasing
The new recruit was not bothered by the raillery, finding most of it light-hearted and good-natured.
panacea
n. 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
n. corruption, usually through bribery
In countries with rampant graft, getting a driver’s license can require no more than paying an official.
ebullient
adj. joyously unrestrained
Can you blame him for his ebullient mood? He just graduated from medical school.
capitulate
n. 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.
oblique
adj. 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.
trenchant
adj. characterized by or full of force and vigor; having keenness and forcefulness and penetration in thought, expression, or intellect
Jill presented a rather superficial treatment of sales in Asia, but her trenchant analysis of sales in Europe inspired a number of insights into how to proceed in that market.
abrogate
v. revoke or relinquish formally; do away with
As part of the agreement between the labor union and the company, the workers abrogated their right to strike for four years in exchange for better health insurance.
misattribute
v. 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.
pillory
v. 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.
halcyon
adj. 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.
countermand
v. a contrary command canceling or reversing a previous command
By the time the colonel countermanded his soldiers not to land in enemy territory, a few helicopters had already touched down amid heavy gunfire.
dissemble
v. 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.
bastardization
n. 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.
eponym
n. 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.
