Amin Words 5 Flashcards
Façade
- (Architecture) the face of a building, esp the main front
- a front or outer appearance, esp an artificial or deceptive one: ideological slogans that were a façade for power struggles.
“The futility thesis says that the attempt at change is abortive, that in one way or another any alleged change is, was, or will be largely surface, facade, cosmetic, hence illusory, as the deep structures of society remain wholly untouched.” Albert Hirschman.
Abortive
- Failing to accomplish an intended objective; unsuccessful; fruitless: an abortive rebellion. an abortive attempt to conclude the negotiations.
- Biology Partially or imperfectly developed; rudimentary: an abortive organ.
- Causing or meant to cause abortion; abortifacient.
“The futility thesis says that the attempt at change is abortive, that in one way or another any alleged change is, was, or will be largely surface, facade, cosmetic, hence illusory, as the deep structures of society remain wholly untouched.” Albert Hirschman.
Epigram
Epigrammatic
- A short, witty poem expressing a single thought or observation.
- A concise, clever, often paradoxical statement.
- Epigrammatic discourse or expression.
“It is significant that the futility thesis should have received its classic epigrammatic expression, Plus ça change plus c’est la même chose, in the aftermath of a revolution.” Albert Hirschman.
Espousal
- adoption or advocacy, as of a cause or principle: an espousal of new beliefs.
- (Sometimes espousals)
a. a marriage ceremony.
b. an engagement or betrothal celebration.
“Perhaps it was Tocqueville’s espousal of the futility thesis that was responsible (for his being neglected): later historians never quite forgave him for having raised doubts about the pivotal character of the French Revolution_ the phenomenon to whose study they were devoting their lives.” Albert Hirschman.
Impervious
- not able to be penetrated, as by water, light, etc; impermeable: The pelt is impervious to rain.
- (foll by: to) not able to be influenced (by) or not receptive (to): impervious to argument/reason. Impervious to fear.
“How could it be that the introduction of universal suffrage into still profoundly hierarchical societies would not have considerable consequences? Only by arguing that the reformers were ignoring some law or scientific fact that would make basic societal arrangements impervious to the proposed political change.” Albert Hirschman.
Inoculation
The production of immunity in an individual through injection with a vaccine.
Frivolous
- not serious or sensible in content, attitude, or behaviour; inappropriately silly: a frivolous purchase. a frivolous remark. frivolous conduct.
- unworthy of serious or sensible treatment; unimportant; trivial: frivolous details. a frivolous novel. a frivolous suggestion.
“When Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old grandmother, sued McDonald’s after scalding herself with hot coffee in 1992, she became the butt of countless jokes. When a jury awarded her $2.7m in punitive damages, the case was held up as an example of frivolous lawsuits and of juries run amok.” The Economist
amok
(amuck)
/əˈmʌk/
- (in SE Asian cultures) a psychic disturbance characterized by depression followed by a manic urge to murder.
- run amok: to run about with or as if with a frenzied desire to kill.
“When Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old grandmother, sued McDonald’s after scalding herself with hot coffee in 1992, she became the butt of countless jokes. When a jury awarded her $2.7m in punitive damages, the case was held up as an example of frivolous lawsuits and of juries run amok.” The Economist
Tort
(Law) a civil wrong arising from an act or failure to act, committed by someone who is legally obligated to provide a certain amount of carefulness in behavior to another, independently of any contract, and that causes injury to that person, for which an action for personal injury or property damages may be brought.
“Tort law allows anyone with an injury to seek remedy in court with a trial by jury. It covers a wide range of issues, from product liability to pollution and from workplace safety to police brutality. Tort law became a battleground in the 1990s, when businesses became exasperated with eye-watering damages awarded by juries and moved to have laws changed and unfriendly judges removed. Mr Nader, a consumer-rights advocate and one-time presidential candidate, says the tort-reform lobby has now made it too difficult for people to get their day in court. His response is one of the strangest museums in the country: a shrine to the joy of tort law.” The Economist
Tenuous
- lacking a sound basis; weak or insubstantial; flimsy: a tenuous argument; a tenuous link between pieces of evidence.
- Precarious or insecure: tenuous survival.
- slim, fine, or delicate; slender: tenuous strands. a tenuous thread.
- diluted or rarefied in consistency or density: a tenuous fluid. Pluto’s tenuous envelope of gas.
Incinerate
to burn up completely; reduce to ashes; cremate
“Waste management companies which collect waste for disposal in landfills and incineration plants, report that disposable plastics make up an ever-increasing percentage of the waste they handle.” LSAT October 1993
Epitaph
- a commemorative inscription on a tomb or mortuary monument about the person buried at that site.
- a brief composition in commemoration or praise of a deceased person.
“A lot of folks in Washington are eager to write the epitaph for the conservative movement,” Cruz said Tuesday in his public comments.
Sputum
/ˈspjuːtəm/ Pl. sputa
Matter coughed up and usually ejected from the mouth, including saliva, foreign material, and substances such as mucus or phlegm, from the respiratory tract, often as a result of infection or other disease.
Pulmonary
- of or affecting the lungs.
2. having lungs or lunglike organs; pulmonate.
Obituary
a published announcement of a death, often accompanied by a short biography of the deceased.
