Barrons + PR Wordsmart (1501 - 1854) Flashcards
RESCIND
to invalidate, repeal, retract
RESOLUTE
adamant, steadfast, determined
resourceful
able to meet any situation
respite
an interval of relief, delay
restrictive
harsh, confining
RETICENT
quiet, reserved, reluctant to express thoughts and feelings
reticent
silent
reticent
silent; reserved
retort
reply, answer
RETRENCHMENT
the act of cutting down, especially expenses
retrospect
looking backward
reverberating
reechoing, resounding
revere
honor, respect, admire
REVERENT
marked by, feeling, or expressing a feeling of profound awe and respect
revert
return
reviled
to speak about someone or something in a very critical or insulting way
RHETORIC
the art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion
rhetoric
use sometimes exaggerated of language
rife
widespread
rift
a split, break, breach
RISIBLE
hilarious, provoking laughter
romp
to move in a lively manner
roster
a list of names
RUBRIC
authoritiative rule, heading, title, or category
rudimentary
elementary
RUE
regret, feel remorse
rue
to regret
ruminate
to ponder; to reflect upon
rustic
countrified, unpolished
saga
heroic story
SAGACIOUS
having sound judgment, perceptive, wise
sage
wise man, philosopher
SALACIOUS
appealing to or causing sexual desire, bawdy
salient
outstanding, prominent, conspicuous
SALIENT
prominent, protruding, conspicuous, highly relevant
sally
suddenly rush forth
salubrious
healthful, wholesome
SALUBRIOUS
promoting health or well-being
SALUTARY
remedial, wholesome, causing improvement
salvation
deliverance from ruin
sanctimonious
hypocritically religious
SANCTIMONY
self-righteousness, pretended piety
SANCTION
authoritiative permission or approval; a penalty intended to enforce compliance
sanction
endorse, certify
sanctuary
safe shelter
SANGUINE
cheerful, confident, optimistic
sanguine
optimistic/ undoubtful
SAP
to enervate or weaken the vitality of
SATIATE
to overindulge, satisfy to excess
satiety
excess, overly full, surfeit
SATIRE
a literary work that ridicules or criticizes human vice through humor or derision
saturate
soak, fill up completely
SATURNINE
gloomy, dark, sullen, morose
SAVANT
genius
schism
split/ alienation, discord, fracture, rupture
scion
child, descendant
scoff
to sneer at, to mock
scrutinize
to examine closely
scurrilous
coarse, vulgar, using indecent language
SCURRILOUS
vulgar, low, indecent
scurry
run hastily
SCURVY
contemptible, despicable
sedate
quiet, still, undisturbed, sober
sedentary
largely inactive, accustomed to sitting
SEDULOUS
diligent, persistently maintained, assiduous
SEINE
a large net hung out and dragged in to catch fish
SEMINAL
like a seed, constituting a source, originative
senile
infirm, weak from old age
SERE
withered, arid
serenity
peaceful repose
servile
submissive; slavish
SHARD
a piece of broken pottery or glass, any small piece or part
shibboleth
pet phrase, slogan
SIBILANT
hissing
SIMPER
to smirk, to say something with a silly, coy smile
SINECURE
position requiring little or no work and usually providing an income
sinecure
soft job
SINGULAR
exceptional, unusual, odd
singular
extraordinary
sinister
evil, ominous
SINUOUS
winding, curving, moving lithely, devious
site
Location
skirmish
small fight, brief encounter
SLAKE
to satisfy, quench, lessen the intensity of
slovenly
disorderly, carelessly
SOCIOPATH
one who is psychopathic and antisocial
SODDEN
soaked or drenched, unimaginative, dull
sojourn
a temporary stay
solace
easing of grief, comfort
SOLDER
to weld, fuse or join, as with a soldering gun
solicit
to beg, seek earnestly
SOLICITOUS
concerned and anxious, eager
SOLOPSISM
the theory that one’s self exists
SOLVENT
able to meet financial obligations
somber
gloomy, sad
SOPHISTIC
apparently sound but really fallacious
SOPHISTRY
fallacious reasoning; plausible but faulty logic
sophistry
false reasoning or argument
SOPHOMORIC
exhibiting immaturity, lack of judgment, pretentious
SOPORIFIC
causing drowsiness, tending to induce sleep
SORDID
characterized by filth, grime, or squalor, foul
sordid
filthy, ingnoble, dirty, base
SPARSE
thin, not dense, arranged at widely spaced intervals
spate
rush, flood
SPECIOUS
seeming true, but actually false, misleadingly attractive
SPENDTHRIFT
one who spends money wastefully
spew
throw up, vomit, eject
SPLENETIC
bad-tempered, irritable
spontaneous
without preparation, unrehearsed
sporadic
occasional/ on and off
SPORADIC
occurring only occasionally, or in scattered instances
spurious
false, counterfeit, specious
SPURIOUS
lacking authenticity or validity, false, counterfeit
SQUALID
sordid, wretched and dirty as from neglect
SQUANDER
to waste by spending or using irresponsibly
squeamish
easily shocked, over sensitive
stagnant
motionless; stale; dull
STANCH
to stop the flow of a fluid
STATIC
not moving, active or in motion; at rest
staunch
strong, trusty, firm
STEEP
to saturate or completely soak
steeped
soaked, drenched, saturated
STENTORIAN
extremely loud and powerful
stentorian
loud
stereotype
unvarying pattern
stigmatize
to mark with a disgrace
STINT
to restrain, be sparing or frugal
stipulate
to specify a condition
STOIC
indifferent to or unaffected by pleasure or pain, steadfast
STOLID
calm, impassive
STRIATED
striped, grooved, or banded
strident
shrill, harsh, rough
strife
discord, disagreement
STRUT
a sturctural support used to brace a framework
stunted
held back or checked in natural growth
STUPEFY
to stun, baffle, or amaze
stupor
insensible condition, daze
STYMIE
to block, thwart
stymie
to hinder, impede
subjugate
conquer
SUBPOENA
a court order requiring appearance and/or testimony
subservient
secondary, servile, obsequious, useful
SUBSIDIARY
a company that is completely controlled by another company
substantiate
verify, confirm, validate, authenticate
subterfuge
ruse, trick
SUBTERFUGE
something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity
subterranean
underground
SUBTLE
not obvious, elusive, difficult to discern, crafty or sly
succinct
brief, concise
SUCCINCT
brief, concise
SUCCOR
assistance, relief in time of distress
succulent
juicy
succumb
to give way, yield
SUFFUSE
cause to spread or flush or flood through, over, or across
sullen
ill-humored, grim
sultry
very hot and humid
sumptuous
lavish
SUNDRY
various, miscellaneous, separate
SUPERCILIOUS
disdainful, arrogant, haughty, characterized by haughty scorn
SUPERCILIOUS
having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
superficial
on the surface, slight
SUPERFLUOUS
exceeding what is sufficient or necessary
superfluous
unnecessary; excessive; surplus
SUPINE
inactive, lying on one’s back, apathetic, mentally or morally slack
supine
lying on the back
SUPPLANT
to take the place of, supersede
SUPPLIANT
asking humbly, beseeching
SUPPLICANT
beggar, one who prays or begs for something
supplication
earnest prayer
SUPPOSITION
something that is assumed or taken for granted without conclusive evidence
surfeit
excess, superabundance
SURFEIT
to feed or supply in excess
surge
to rush suddenly
surmise
guess
SURREPTITIOUS
by stealth
surreptitious
stealthy, accomplished by secret, furtive
susceptible
easily affected, unusually liable
SVELTE
slender, esp. in figure
SYCOPHANT
someone who tires to flatter or please for personal gain, parasite
symptomatic
having to do with signs and symptoms, indicative, demonstrative
SYNTHESIS
the combination of parts to make a whole
TABLE
to remove (as a parliamentary motion) from consideration
taboo
forbidden by custom or religious practice
tacit
implied; not explicitly stated
TACITURN
not talkative, silent
taint
contamination, undesirable substance that spoils something
TALISMAN
something believed to have magic power or bestow good luck
TAMP
to plug, to drive in or down by a series of blows
tangible
having actual form, able to be touched
tantalize
tease or torment by offering something good, but fail to deliver
TANTAMOUNT
equal to
tantamount
equivalent, identical
taut
tense, keyed up, on edge
TAUTOLOGY
a repetition, a redundancy, a circular argument
TAWDRY
cheap, gaudy, showy, tacky, indecent
technology
applied science
technology
branch of knowledge dealing with engineering, applied science, etc.
temerity
foolish boldness
TEMERITY
reckless boldness
TENABLE
based on sound reasoning or evidence
tenable
supportable, defendable
TENACIOUS
holding fast; holding together firmly; persistent
tenacious
tough; stubborn; not letting go
TENACITY
the quality of adherence or persistence to something valued
TENDENTIOUS
biased, showing marked tendencies
TENDENTIOUS
having or marked by a strong tendency especially a controversial one
TENDER
to offer formally
TENUOUS
having little substance or strength, flimsy, weak
termagant
shrew; scolding, brawling woman
terminate
to end (not quell)
TERSE
brief and concise in wording
terse
concise, brief, compact
therapy
healing or curing process
throng
crowd
thwart
to hinder, defeat
timorous
fearful
TIMOROUS
timid, fearful, diffident
tinge
a trace, smattering, or slight degree
TIRADE
a long and extremely critical speech, harsh denunciation
TOADY
sycophant, flatterer, yes-man
tolerate
to put up with, to bear
TORPID
lethargic, sluggish, dormant
TORQUE
a force that causes rotation
TORRID
scorching, ardent, passionate, hurried
TORT
in law, a civil misdeed requiring compensation
tortuous
winding
TORTUOUS
winding, twisting, excessively complicated
TOUT
to publicly praise or promote
TRACTABLE
docile, obedient, easily led
tradition
custom that has been handed down
TRADUCE
to cause humiliation or disgrace by making malicious and false statements
tranquil
quiet, peaceful
TRANSIENT
fleeting, passing quickly, brief
transient
passing, short-lived, fleeting
TRAVESTY
mockery, caricature, parody
tremulous
quivering
TRENCHANT
sharply perceptive, keen, penetrating, biting, clear cut
trenchant
very strong, clear, and effective
trend
general direction
trivial
of little importance or significance
TRUCULENT
fierce, scathing, eager to fight
truncated
cut short/ abridged, curtailed
TUMID
swollen
TURBID
muddy, having sediment stirred up, clouded to the point of being opaque, in a state of turmoil
turbulent
unruly, agitated
TURGID
swollen, bloated, pompous, excessively ornate
TURPITUDE
depravity, baseness
turpitude
vileness, evil wickedness
tussle
a rough struggle
TUTELARY
being a guardian, adviser or protector
tyro
beginner; novice
TYRO
novice, beginner in learning
ubiquitous
being everywhere at the same time
UBIQUITOUS
existing everywhere at the same time, constantly encountered, widespread
ultimate
final
UMBRAGE
offense, resentment
umbrage
offense, resentment
unabated
continuing at full strength or force without becoming weaker
UNCONSCIONABLE
unscrupulous; shockingly unfair or unjust
unconscionable
without conscience, unreasonable
unctuous
affectedly emotional
UNCTUOUS
excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, esp. in an affected manner; oily
underwrite
agree to finance
UNDULATE
to move in wavelike fashion, fluctuate
UNFEIGNED
genuine, not false or hypocritical
universal
present everywhere
unkempt
neglected, untidy
unmitigated
unrelieved
unsavory
disagreeable, offensive, morally bad
UNTENABLE
indefensible, not viable, uninhabitable
UNTOWARD
troublesome, unruly, unseemly, adverse
unwiedly
bulky, difficult to handle
UPBRAID
to scold, censure, rebuke, chastise
urbane
polished, witty
URBANE
sophisticated, refined, elegant
usurp
seize, annex, grab
USURY
charging an exorbitant or illegal rate of interest
utopia
place of perfection
UXORIOUS
overly fond of one’s wife
vacillate
to fluctuate, hesitate
VACILLATE
to waver indecisively between one course of action or opinion and another, sway from one side to the other
VAGARY
unpredictable act or idea, caprice
valor
courage
vapid
dull, uninteresting, tiresome
VAPIDITY
dull or lacking in taste
VARIEGATED
multicolored, characterized by a variety of patches of different color
VAUNT
to brag or boast
vehemently
passionately, violently, eagerly
VENAL
capable of being bought or bribed, mercenary
veneer
thin covering
venerable
respected, worshiped
VENERATE
to revere
venial
Pardonable, forgivable
venom
poison, spite, malice
VERACITY
truthfulness, honesty
VERISIMILITUDE
appearing true or real
VERITABLE
authentic, real, genuine
vertigo
dizziness
vestige
Trace; evidence
VEXATION
annoyance, irritation
vexatious
annoying
viable
practicable, workable, possible, feasible, doable
vicissitudes
the many changes or problems that happen over time
vigil
wakeful watching
VIGILANT
alertly watchful
vigilant
watchful
vilify
slander, malign
VILIFY
to defame, characterize harshly
vindicate
absolve, justify
VIRAGO
a loud, domineering woman
virile
masterful, manly
virtuosity
great technical skill
VIRULENT
extremey harmful or poisonous, bitterly hostile or antagonistic
virulent
full of hate, harmful
VISCOUS
thick, sticky
vitiate
destroy the use or value
VITIATE
to reduce the value of, debase, spoil, make ineffective
vitriolic
biting, burning
VITUPERATE
to use harsh condemnatory language; abuse or censure severely
vituperation
blame, abuse
vivacious
lively; animated; gay
VOCIFEROUS
conspicuously and offensively loud
vogue
fashion
VOLATILE
readily changing to a vapor; changeable, fickle, explosive
volition
willpower, choice
voluble
talkative
voluminous
bulky, large
voracious
desiring or consuming great quantities
VORACIOUS
having an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit, ravenous
vulnerable
capable of being injured
vulnerable
open to attack, susceptible
WAFFLE
talk vaguely and without much result
WAFT
a light breeze, a puff
WAGGISH
roguish, jocular, witty
wan
sickly pale, weak, anemic, cadaverous, emaciated
wane
decrease; decline
wary
watchful, shrewd
WAVER
to move to and fro, to sway; to be unsettled in opinion
WELTER
to writhe, to toss about, to be in turmoil
WEND
to go, proceed, walk
wheedle
cajole; coax; deceive by flattery
whet
stir up, stimulate
WHET
to sharpen or stimulate
WHIMSICAL
imaginative; unpredictable
whimsical
witty, humorous
wince
flinch, draw back
wistful
longing, pensive, wishful
wrest
take by force
yen
a strong desire, crave, longing
zealous
enthusiastic
ZEALOUS
fervent, ardent, impassioned
ZEITGEIST
the general trend of culture, the spirit of time
zenith
top, highest point, peak
