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Shawn's Vocabulary > April 19th, 2020 > Flashcards

April 19th, 2020 Flashcards

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1
Q

Deflagrate | verbDEF-luh-grayt

A

Definition

1 :to burn rapidly with intense heat and sparks being given off

2 :to cause (something) to burn in such a manner

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2
Q

Pandiculation | nounpan-dik-yuh-LAY-shun

A

Definition

:a stretching and stiffening especially of the trunk and extremities (as when fatigued and drowsy or after waking from sleep)

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3
Q

Bucolic | bu·col·ic|\byü-ˈkä-lik\

A

1: of or relating to shepherds or herdsmen:PASTORAL
2a: relating to or typical of rural life
b: IDYLLIC

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4
Q

Odious | odi·ous|\ˈō-dē-əs\

A

:arousing or deserving hatred orrepugnance:HATEFUL

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5
Q

Solecism | nounSAH-luh-siz-um

A

Definition

1 :an ungrammatical combination of words in a sentence;also:a minor blunder in speech

2 :something deviating from the proper, normal, or accepted order

3 :a breach of etiquette or decorum

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6
Q

peccant | adjective PEK-unt

A

Definition
1 : guilty of a moral offense : sinning

2 : violating a principle or rule : faulty

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7
Q

colloquyplay | noun KAH-luh-kwee

A

Definition
1 : conversation, dialogue

2 : a high-level serious discussion : conference

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8
Q

colloquial | adjective | col·​lo·​qui·​al | \ kə-ˈlō-kwē-əl

A

Definition
1a: used in or characteristic of familiar and informal conversation
also : unacceptably informal
b: using conversational style
2: of or relating to conversation : CONVERSATIONAL

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9
Q

convivial | adjective

con·​viv·​ial | \ kən-ˈviv-yəl , -ˈvi-vē-əl \

A

Definition

: relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company

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10
Q

Miserly | adjective | [ mahy-zer-lee ] |

A

Definition

of, like, or befitting a miser; penurious; stingy; niggardly.

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11
Q

Gout | Noun

A

Definition
a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of a red, tender, hot, and swollen joint. Pain typically comes on rapidly, reaching maximal intensity in less than 12 hours. The joint at the base of the big toe is affected in about half of cases.

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12
Q

Obstinate | Adjective

A

Definition
1 : perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion

2 : not easily subdued, remedied, or removed

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13
Q

Mulish | Adjective

A
  1. Extremely or irrationally stubborn and intractable. See Synonyms at obstinate.
  2. Resembling a mule.
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14
Q

Arboreal | Adjective

A

Definition
1 : of or relating to a tree : resembling a tree

2 : inhabiting or frequenting trees

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15
Q

Cruft | Noun

A

badly designed, unnecessarily complicated, or unwanted code or software.

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16
Q

Nabob | Noun

A

Definition
1 : a provincial governor of the Mogul empire in India

2 : a person of great wealth or prominence

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17
Q

Gimlet Eye | Noun

A

a piercing or watchful eye.

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18
Q

Promulgate | Verb

A

Definition
1 : to make (an idea, belief, etc.) known to many people by open declaration : proclaim

2 a : to make known or public the terms of (a proposed law)

b : to put (a law or rule) into action or force

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19
Q

appellation | noun ap-uh-LAY-shun

A

Definition
1 : an identifying name or title : designation

2 : a geographical name (as of a region, village, or vineyard) under which a winegrower is authorized to identify and market wine

3 archaic : the act of calling by a name

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20
Q

Politesse | Noun

A

Definition
: formal politeness : decorousness
Polished

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21
Q

Decorous | Adjective

A

marked by propriety and good taste : CORRECT

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22
Q

Collimate | Verb

A

Definition

: to make parallel

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23
Q

Lorn | Adjective

A

Definition

: left alone and forlorn : desolate, forsaken

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24
Q

Truckle | Verb

A

Definition

: to act in a subservient manner : submit

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25
Q

Carpet Bagger | Noun

A

Definition
: a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments
2 : OUTSIDER
especially : a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics

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26
Q

decoupage |

noun day-koo-PAHZH

A

Definition
1 : the art of decorating surfaces by applying cutouts (as of paper) and then coating with usually several layers of finish (such as lacquer or varnish)

2 : work produced by such art

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27
Q

indomitable |

adjective in-DAH-muh-tuh-bul

A

Definition

: incapable of being subdued : unconquerable

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28
Q

Cowl | Noun

A

a large loose hood, especially one forming part of a monk’s habit.
2.
the hood-shaped covering of a chimney or ventilation shaft.

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29
Q

Mitre | Noun

A

a tall headdress worn by bishops and senior abbots as a symbol of office, tapering to a point at front and back with a deep cleft between.
2.
a joint made between two pieces of wood or other material at an angle of 90°, such that the line of junction bisects this angle.

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30
Q

Crozier | Noun

A

1.
a hooked staff carried by a bishop as a symbol of pastoral office.
2.
the curled top of a young fern.

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31
Q

Aggrandize | verb

A

Definition
1 : to make great or greater : increase, enlarge

2 : to make appear great or greater : praise highly

3 : to enhance the power, wealth, position, or reputation of

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32
Q

Pelagic | Adjective

A

Definition

: of, relating to, or living or occurring in the open sea : oceanic

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33
Q

Surly | Adjective

A

bad-tempered and unfriendly.

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34
Q

refulgence |

noun rih-FULL-junss

A

Definition

: a radiant or resplendent quality or state : brilliance

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35
Q

malapropism |

noun MAL-uh-prah-piz-um

A

Definition
: the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase; especially : the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context

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36
Q

disabuse |

verb diss-uh-BYOOZ

A

Definition

: to free from error, misconception, or fallacy

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37
Q

neoteric |

adjective nee-uh-TAIR-ik

A

Definition

: recent in origin : modern

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38
Q

etymology | noun

A

the history of a linguistic form (such as a word) shown by tracing its development since its earliest recorded occurrence in the language where it is found, by tracing its transmission from one language to another, by analyzing it into its component parts, by identifying its cognates in other languages, or by tracing it and its cognates to a common ancestral form in an ancestral language

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39
Q

cowcatcher |

noun KOW-ketch-er

A

Definition
: an inclined frame on the front of a railroad locomotive for throwing obstacles off the track
The term was used for a commercial that was aired immediately before a program and that advertised a secondary product of the program’s sponsor. Such ads apparently got the name because they “went in front.”

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40
Q

comport | verb

A

: BEHAVE

especially : to behave in a manner conformable to what is right, proper, or expected

41
Q

Shaggy-Dog | Adjective

A

Definition
: of, relating to, or being a long-drawn-out circumstantial story concerning an inconsequential happening that impresses the teller as humorous or interesting but the hearer as boring and pointless; also : of, relating to, or being a similar humorous story whose humor lies in the pointlessness or irrelevance of the plot or punch line

42
Q

homonymous |

adjective hoh-MAH-nuh-mus

A

Definition
1 : ambiguous

2 : having the same designation

3 : of, relating to, or being homonyms

43
Q

empirical |

adjective im-PEER-uh-kul

A

Definition
1 : originating in or based on observation or experience

3 : capable of being verified or disproved by observation or experiment

44
Q

gamut |

noun GAM-ut

A

Definition
1 : the whole series of recognized musical notes

2 : an entire range or series

45
Q

Palmy | adjective

A

Definition
1 : marked by prosperity : flourishing

2 : abounding in or bearing palms

46
Q

Truculent | Adjective

A

eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.

47
Q

stiction | noun

A

: the force required to cause one body in contact with another to begin to move

48
Q

Compunction | noun

A

Definition
1 a : anxiety arising from awareness of guilt
b : distress of mind over an anticipated action or result
– Puncturing

49
Q

Scrupulous | adjective

A

Definition of scrupulous

1: having moral integrity : acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper
2: punctiliously exact : PAINSTAKING

50
Q

Punctilious | adjcetive

A

marked by or concerned about precise accordance with the details of codes or conventions
- “Carson was very ___”

51
Q

Punctiliio | noun

A

1: a minute detail of conduct in a ceremony or in observance of a code
2: careful observance of forms (as in social conduct)

52
Q

Rendition | noun

A

The act of rendering or returning.

A copy or interpretation.

53
Q

Rendering | verb

A

To interpret something and return. To make a copy.

54
Q

Banal | adjective

A

so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.

55
Q

Animism | noun

A

the attribution of a living soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.
2.
the belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe.

56
Q

theism
/ˈθiːɪz(ə)m/
noun

A

belief in the existence of a god or gods, specifically of a creator who intervenes in the universe.
“there are many different forms of theism”

57
Q

Lascivious | adjective

A

feeling or revealing an overt sexual interest or desire.

58
Q

coprolite | noun

A

a piece of fossilized dung.

59
Q

sinew
/ˈsɪnjuː/
noun

A

a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone; a tendon or ligament.

60
Q

Gest | noun

A

: a tale of adventures; especially : a romance in verse

2 : adventure, exploit

61
Q

Lissome | Adjective

A

Graceful flexibility. Nimble.

62
Q

Troubadour | Noun

A

one of a class of lyric poets and poet-musicians often of knightly rank who flourished from the 11th to the end of the 13th century chiefly in the south of France and the north of Italy and whose major theme was courtly love

2 : a singer especially of folk songs

63
Q

Prattle | noun

A

foolish or inconsequential talk.

64
Q

impecunious | adjective

A

having little or no money.

65
Q

misogyny | noun

A

dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.

66
Q

savant | noun

A

a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist.

67
Q

memetics | noun

A

: the study of memes, an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture

68
Q

determinism | noun

A

the doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes regarded as external to the will. Some philosophers have taken determinism to imply that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions.

69
Q

syncretism | noun

A

: the combination of different forms of belief or practice

70
Q

fecundity | noun

A

the ability to produce an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertility.
“multiply mated females show increased fecundity”
the ability to produce many new ideas.
“the immense fecundity of his imagination made a profound impact on European literature”

71
Q

assignation | noun

A

an appointment to meet someone in secret, typically one made by lovers.
“his assignation with an older woman”

72
Q

Denarius | noun

A

an ancient Roman coin made of silver.

73
Q

cognitive dissonance | noun

A

the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioural decisions and attitude change.

74
Q

belied | verb past tense

A

(of an appearance) fail to give a true impression of (something).
“his lively, alert manner belied his years”

75
Q

auspicious | adjective

A

conducive to success; favourable.

76
Q

paucity | noun

A

the presence of something in only small or insufficient quantities or amounts.
“a paucity of information”

77
Q

dissolute | adjective

A

(of a person or a way of life) overindulging in sensual pleasures.
“unfortunately, his heir was feckless and dissolute”

78
Q

Feckless | adjective

A

lacking initiative or strength of character; irresponsible.

“her feckless younger brother”

79
Q

expedient | adjective

A

(of an action) convenient and practical although possibly improper or immoral.
“either side could break the agreement if it were expedient to do so”

80
Q

immutable | adjective

A

unchanging over time or unable to be changed.

81
Q

indolence | noun

A

avoidance of activity or exertion; laziness.

82
Q

contemporary | noun

A

a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another.
“he was a contemporary of Darwin”
a person of roughly the same age as another.
“my contemporaries at school”

83
Q

Tripitaka | noun

A

the sacred canon of Theravada Buddhism, written in the Pali language.

84
Q

Mahabharata | noun

A

A Sanskrit epic principally concerning the dynastic struggle and civil war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas in the kingdom of Kurukshetra about the 9th century BC, and containing the text of the Bhagavad-Gita, numerous subplots, and interpolations on theology, morals, and statecraft.

85
Q

wryly | adverb

A

in a way that expresses dry, especially mocking, humour.

“he reflects wryly on his life and work”

86
Q

Quixotic | adjective

A

: foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals

especially : marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action

87
Q

harangue | verb

A

Definition

To give:

1 : a speech addressed to a public assembly

2 : a ranting speech or writing

3 : lecture

88
Q

conflate | verb

A

Definition
1 a : to bring together : fuse

b : confuse

2 : to combine (things, such as two readings of a text) into a composite whole

89
Q

Crux | noun

A

Definition
1 : a puzzling or difficult problem : an unsolved question

2 : an essential point requiring resolution or resolving an outcome

3 : a main or central feature (as of an argument)

Did You Know?
In Latin, crux referred literally to an instrument of torture, often a cross or stake, and figuratively to the torture and misery inflicted by means of such an instrument. Crux eventually developed the sense of “a puzzling or difficult problem”; that was the first meaning that was used when the word entered English in the early 18th century. Later, in the late 19th century, crux began to be used more specifically to refer to an essential point of a legal case that required resolution before the case as a whole could be resolved. Today, the verdict on crux is that it can be used to refer to any important part of a problem or argument, inside or outside of the courtroom.

90
Q

Craven | Adjective

A

contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly.

“a craven abdication of his moral duty”

91
Q

Tawny | adjective

A

of an orange-brown or yellowish-brown colour.

“tawny eyes”

92
Q

Farrago | noun

A

Definition
: a confused mixture : hodgepodge

Did You Know?
Farrago might seem an unlikely relative of farina (the name for the mealy breakfast cereal), but the two terms have their roots in the same Latin noun. Both derive from far, the Latin name for spelt (a type of grain). In Latin, farrago meant “mixed fodder”—cattle feed, that is. It was also used more generally to mean “mixture.” When it was adopted into English in the early 1600s, farrago retained the “mixture” sense of its ancestor. Today, we often use it for a jumble or medley of disorganized, haphazard, or even nonsensical ideas or elements.

93
Q

aphelion | noun

A

Definition
: the point farthest from the sun in the path of an orbiting celestial body (such as a planet)

Aphelion and perihelion are troublesome terms. Which one means a planet is nearest to the sun and which means it is farthest away? An etymology lesson may help you keep those words straight. Just remember that the “ap” of aphelion derives from a Latin prefix that means “away from” (the mnemonic “‘A’ for ‘away’” can help too); peri-, on the other hand, means “near.” And how are aphelion and perihelion related to the similar-looking astronomical pair apogee and perigee? Etymology explains again. The “helion” of aphelion and perihelion is based on the Greek word hēlios, meaning “sun,” while the “gee” of apogee and perigee is based on gaia, meaning “earth.” The first pair describes distance in relation to the sun, the second in relation to the Earth.

94
Q

Legerdemain | noun

A

Definition
1 : sleight of hand

2 : a display of skill and adroitness

Did You Know?
In Middle French, folks who were clever enough to fool others with fast-fingered illusions were described as leger de main, literally “light of hand.” English speakers condensed that phrase into a noun when they borrowed it in the 15th century and began using it as an alternative to the older sleight of hand. (That term for dexterity or skill in using one’s hands makes use of sleight, an old word from Middle English that derives from an Old Norse word meaning “sly.”) In modern times, a feat of legerdemain can even be accomplished without using your hands, as in, for example, “an impressive bit of financial legerdemain.”

95
Q

Homograph | noun

A

each of two or more words spelled the same but not necessarily pronounced the same and having different meanings and origins.

96
Q

Mediocrities | noun

A

a person of mediocre ability.
plural noun: mediocrities
“a brilliant woman surrounded by mediocrities”

97
Q

Bestir | verb

A

make a physical or mental effort; exert or rouse oneself.

“they rarely bestir themselves except in the most pressing of circumstances”

98
Q

déclassé
/deɪˈklaseɪ/
adjective

A

having fallen in social status.

“his parents were poor and déclassé”

99
Q

Bromide | noun

A

Definition
1 : a binary compound of bromine with another element or a radical including some (such as potassium bromide) used as sedatives

2 a : a commonplace or tiresome person : bore

b : a commonplace or hackneyed statement or notion

Did You Know?
After bromine was discovered in the 1820s, chemists could not resist experimenting with the new element. It didn’t take long before they found uses for its compounds, in particular potassium bromide. Potassium bromide started being used as a sedative to treat everything from epilepsy to sleeplessness, and by the 20th century, the word bromide was being used figuratively for anything or anyone that might put one to sleep because of commonness or just plain dullness. Today, bromides are no longer an ingredient in sedative preparations, but we can still feel the effects of figurative bromides as we encounter them in our daily routines.

Shawn's Vocabulary (2 decks)

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