After Session 4 Flashcards
RUE
feel sorry for; be contrite about
To rue is to feel regret or remorse for something. If that position at the deli ended up involving a reality TV show that made everyone famous, you may rue the day you turned down the job.
(v) feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
(n) a bitter herb used medicinally
DILATORY
wasting time
Something dilatory creates a delay. Remember when your math teacher asked you to work out a problem on the board and you tried to get her talking about her favorite theorems instead? That was a dilatory tactic.
(adj.) wasting time
The dilatory limousine came rolling up the drive.
VERISIMILAR
appearing to be true or real
The adjective verisimilar describes something that appears to be true or real but may not be. If you want to impress your friends, remark on the verisimilar portrait of lost love in that foreign film you all went to see.
(adj.) appearing to be true or real
“a verisimilar tale”
HOODWINK
conceal one’s true motives from
To hoodwink someone means to trick or mislead them. Beware of fake ATMs that try to hoodwink you into giving over your bank card and your code, only to keep them both and steal all your money.
(v) To deceive or trick, especially using a misleading or false appearance
“Listen, Max. You think I’m trying to hoodwink you, don’t you?”
MISANTHROPE
someone who dislikes people in general
A misanthrope is a person who hates or mistrusts other people. Your great aunt Edna who lashes out at anyone who approaches, convinced they’ll steal the jewelry she keeps in her handbag on her lap? A misanthrope indeed.
(n) someone who dislikes people in general
TEETOTALER
someone who abstains from drinking alcoholic beverages
If you are a teetotaler, you stay away from drinking alcoholic beverages.
(n) someone who abstains from drinking alcoholic beverages
APATHETIC
showing little or no emotion or animation
Apathetic is an adjective that describes the feeling of being bored with what’s going on around you. If you don’t care one way or another, you’re apathetic.
(adj) showing little or no emotion or animation
“a woman who became active rather than apathetic as she grew older”
PEDANTIC
marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning
There’s nothing wrong with focusing on the details, but someone who is pedantic makes a big display of knowing obscure facts and details.
(adj) marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning especially its trivial aspects
I used to tease him about being pedantic.
INDELIBLE
not able to be forgotten, removed, or erased
If something is indelible, you better hope you never regret it, like the indelible tattoo of the name of your favorite band or the indelible first impression it might give people you meet years from now, especially if your taste in music changes.
(adj) not able to be forgotten, removed, or erased
“an indelible stain”
“indelible memories”
SCOTCH
hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
Don’t get your hopes up: The verb to scotch has nothing to do with the well-known liquor. Instead, it means to prevent or stop something from happening.
(v) To put an end to (the storm scotched our plans)
CODA
the closing section of a musical composition
A coda is a concluding segment of a piece of music, a dance, or a statement. It’s usually short and adds a final embellishment beyond a natural ending point. Like this.
(n) the closing section of a musical composition
It seemed innocuous, a soft coda to the storm of the morning.
HOMOGENEOUS
all of the same or similar kind of nature
If a group of things are homogeneous, they’re all the same or similar, like a room full of identically dressed Elvis impersonators.
(adj.) all of the same or similar kind or nature
“a close-knit homogeneous group”
synonyms:
FATUOUS
devoid of intelligence
Fatuous means lacking intelligence. When your mother outlaws calling your brother stupid, use fatuous instead.
(adj) devoid of intelligence
INVETERATE
habitual
If you’re an inveterate doodler, all your notebooks are covered with drawings. If you’re an inveterate golf player, you probably get twitchy if you haven’t been out on a course in a week.
(adj.) habitual
PERMEABLE
allowing fluids or gases to pass or diffuse through
Something that is permeable can be passed through, especially by liquids or gases. “I wish I hadn’t worn my permeable sweater to the picnic when the weatherman called for thunderstorms. The rain seeped right through the fabric, soaking me to the skin.”
(adj.) allowing fluids or gases to pass or diffuse through
“permeable membranes”
“rock that is permeable by water”
PHILANTHROPIC
of or relating to or characterized by philanthropy
Something given to help others is philanthropic. Money, household items, giving your time and energy to a cause — all can be philanthropic contributions.
(adj.) of or relating to or characterized by philanthropy
OSTRACIZE
expel from a community or group
If you banish someone or ignore him, you ostracize him. When the Iranian president claimed that the Holocaust was a hoax, he was ostracized by the international community.
(v) expel from a community or group
PROPAGATE
multiply through reproduction
To propagate is to be fruitful and multiply, by the usual routes of reproduction, or by spreading something around — like a rumor.
(v) To multiply or breed; to pass (traits) to offspring
(v) To extend or spread to a greater area or number
(v) To foster wider knowledge or spread word of; to publicize
FIDELITY
the quality of being faithful
Fidelity is the quality of being faithful or loyal. Dogs are famous for their fidelity.
(n) the quality of being faithful
ABSTAIN
*refrain from doing, consuming, or partaking in something**
If you abstain from something, you restrain yourself from consuming it. People usually abstain from things that are considered vices — like eating French fries every day for lunch.
(v) choose not to partake in or consume
“I abstain from alcohol”
