After Session 6 Flashcards
AGGREGATE
a sum total of many things taken together
To aggregate is to collect many units into one. If you’re writing a novel, you might create a character who is an aggregate of five or six real people.
noun - a sum total of many heterogenous things taken together
noun - the whole amount
Politics is a hard and narrow game; its policies represent the aggregate desires and aspirations of millions of people.
DIDACTIC
instructive (especially excessively)
When people are didactic, they’re teaching or instructing. This word is often used negatively for when someone is acting too much like a teacher.
adjective - instructive (especially excessively)
CENSURE
harsh criticism or disapproval
Censure is a noun referring to very strong criticism; the verb means to criticize very strongly. If you take your dad’s car without telling him, you can expect him to censure you severely, and maybe even ground you as well.
noun - harsh criticism or disapproval
A few wanted to formally censure Walter and me, but in the end did not.
ANARCHY
a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)
Use the noun anarchy to describe a complete lack of government — or the chaotic state of affairs created by such an absence. A substitute teacher might worry that an unruly classroom will descend into anarchy.
noun - a state of lawlessness and disorder (usually resulting from a failure of government)
INCIPIENT
only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
Incipient means something is in an early stage of existence. In its incipient form, basketball was played with a soccer ball and peach baskets for goals. Bouncy orange balls and nets came later.
adjective - only partly in existence; imperfectly formed
INCURSION
the act of entering some territory or domain
When an army crosses a border into another country for battle, they are making an incursion into enemy territory. An incursion is an invasion as well as an attack.
noun - the act of entering some territory or domain (often in large numbers)
“the incursion of television into the American living room”
ENGENDER
call forth
Engender is a fancy way of saying “to make happen,” like when you engender the spirit of teamwork and cooperation by encouraging others and doing your share of the group’s work.
verb - call forth
AUTONOMOUS
existing as an independent entity
Autonomous describes things that function separately or independently. Once you move out of your parents’ house and get your own job, you will be an autonomous member of the family.
adjective - existing as an independent entity
“the partitioning of India created two separate and autonomous jute economies”
EQUANIMITY
steadiness of mind under stress
If you take the news of your parakeet’s death with equanimity, it means you take it calmly without breaking down. Equanimity refers to emotional calmness and balance in times of stress.
noun - steadiness of mind under stress
INDETERMINATE
not precisely determined or established
Indeterminate means not known or decided. When someone contracts a rare stomach parasite but has not been traveling internationally, you might say it had indeterminate origins.
adjective - not precisely determined or established; not fixed or known in advance
“of indeterminate age”
“a zillion is a large indeterminate number”
“an indeterminate point of law”
“the influence of environment is indeterminate”
“an indeterminate future”
CORRUGATED
shaped into alternating parallel grooves and ridges
Corrugated means molded into tight ridges and valleys. You’ve probably seen corrugated cardboard or corrugated metal roofs.
adjective - shaped into alternating parallel grooves and ridges
“the surface of the ocean was rippled and corrugated”
UNSEEMLY
not in keeping with standards of what is proper
Something that is inappropriate or unacceptable behavior is unseemly. It’s a gentler, somewhat nicer word for “inappropriate” than its synonyms, the “in” words: “indecent, indecorous, indelicate, inelegant, inept” — well, you get the idea.
adjective - not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society
“unseemly to use profanity”
INDIGENCE
a state of extreme poverty or destitution
Indigence is a synonym for extreme poverty. If you experience indigence, you have a critical need for food, money, and other resources.
noun - a state of extreme poverty or destitution
“their indigence appalled him”
INDIGENOUS
originating where it is found
Use indigenous to describe a plant, animal or person that is native or original to an area. Though Switzerland is known for its chocolates, chocolate, which comes from the cocoa plant, is indigenous to South America.
adjective - originating where it is found
“the Ainu are indigenous to the northernmost islands of Japan”
SENTIENT
endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness
Someone sentient is able to feel things, or sense them. Sentient usually occurs in phrases like “sentient beings” and “sentient creatures,” making it clear that things that don’t have life don’t have feelings. Explain that to a pet rock.
adjective - endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness
“”the living knew themselves just sentient puppets on God’s stage”- T.E.Lawrence”
ESOTERIC
understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
Pssst… do you know the secret handshake? If you haven’t been brought into the inner circle of those with special knowledge, esoteric things will remain a mystery to you.
adjective - confined to and understandable by only an enlightened inner circle
“a compilation of esoteric philosophical theories”
CHICANERY
the use of tricks to deceive someone
Have you ever gotten the sense that politicians or corporate leaders will say anything to turn public opinion their way? This tricky kind of deceit and manipulation is called chicanery.
noun - the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them)
ESTIMABLE
deserving of respect or high regard
Something or someone estimable is worthy of respect and admiration. Many U.S. presidents might be described as estimable, though it depends on who you ask.
adjective - deserving of respect or high regard
synonyms: admirable, worthy
ABERRANT
markedly different from an accepted norm
Use the adjective aberrant to describe unusual conduct. Sitting in a bathtub and singing show tunes all day long might be considered aberrant behavior.
adjective - markedly different from an accepted norm
“aberrant behavior”
CRASS
unrefined
A crass comment is very stupid and shows that the speaker doesn’t care about other people’s feelings. In today’s day and age, you don’t have to wear black to a funeral, but to show up in clown pants is simply crass.
adjective - (of persons) so unrefined as to be lacking in discrimination and sensibility
