Basic 6, 7 Flashcards
quip
Witty saying or remark; Make a witty saying or say in jest.
In one of the most famous quips about classical music, Mark Twain said: “Wagner’s music is better than it sounds.”
convoluted
Highly complex or intricate.
Instead of solving the math problem in three simple steps, Kumar used a convoluted solution requiring fifteen steps.
devolve
Pass on or delegate to another; Grow worse.
The company was full of managers known for devolving tasks to lower management, but never doing much work themselves; The dialogue between the two academics devolved into a downright bitter argument.
unseemly
Not keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society.
He acted in an unseemly manner, insulting the hostess and then speaking ill of her deceased husband.
exemplify
Be characteristic of; Clarify by giving an example of.
Mozart exemplified the poor, starving artist who dies young; Please present some case studies that exemplify the results that you claim in your paper.
connive
Taking part in immoral and unethical plots; Conspire or collude.
With the help of the prince, the queen connived to overthrow the king.
eke
To live off meager resources, to scrape by.
Stranded in a cabin over the winter, Terry was able to eke out an existence on canned food.
savvy
Perceptive understanding; Get the meaning of something; Well-informed or perceptive.
Although a great CEO, he did not have the political savvy to win the election; The student savvies the meaning of astrophysics with little effort; With his savvy business partner, the company was able to turn a profit within a year.
rash
Marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences; Incurring risk.
Although Bruce was able to make the delivery in time with a nighttime motorcycle ride in the rain, Susan criticized his actions as rash.
serene
Calm and peaceful.
I’d never seen him so serene; usually, he was a knot of stress and anxiety from hours of trading on the stock exchange.
perturb
Disturb in mind or cause to be worried or alarmed.
Now that Henry is recovering from a major illness, he no longer lets the little trivialities, such as late mail, perturb him.
leery
Openly distrustful and unwilling to confide.
Without checking his references and talking to previous employers, I am leery of hiring the candidate.
collusion
Agreement on a secret plot.
Many have argued the Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK’s assassin, was in collusion with other criminals; others maintain that Oswald was a lone gunman.
smug
Marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction.
When Phil was dating the model, he had a smug attitude that annoyed his buddies.
impregnable
Immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with.
As a child, Amy would build pillow castles and pretend they were impregnable fortresses.
tact
Consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense.
In a tremendous display of tact, Shelly was able to maintain a strong friendship with Marcia, even though Marcia’s husband, Frank, confessed to finding Shelley more attractive than Marcia.
aphoristic
Something that is concise and instructive of a general truth or principle.
Sometimes I can’t stand Nathan because he tries to impress everyone by being aphoristic, but he just states the obvious.
irk
Irritate or vex.
My little sister has a way of irking and annoying me like no other person.
ploy
Clever plan to turn a situation to one’s advantage; Ruse.
Dennis arranged an elaborate ploy, involving 14 different people lying for him in different situations, so that it could appear that he was meeting Mary completely by chance at the wedding reception.
elude
Escape understanding.
While some physics concepts might elude newbies, with a little grit and a good teacher, almost anyone can develop a deep understanding of the subject.
derogative
Expressed as worthless or in negative terms.
Never before have we seen a debate between two political candidates that was so derogative and filthy.
tout
Advertise in strongly positive terms; Show off.
At the conference, the CRO touted the extraordinary success of his company’s Research & Development division.
enmity
State of deep-seated ill-will; Animosity.
The rude remark Charles made toward Sarah yesterday was due to his illness, not due to any real enmity toward Sarah.
steadfast
Marked by firm determination or resolution; Not shakable.
A good captain needs to be steadfast, continuing to hold the wheel and stay the course even during the most violent storm.
exasperate
To irritate intensely; Annoy.
As a child, I exasperated my mother with strings of never-ending questions.
placid
Not easily irritated.
Doug is normally placid, so we were all shocked to see him yelling at the television when the Mets lost the game.
foible
A behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual.
When their new roommate sat staring at an oak tree for an hour, Marcia thought it indicated a mental problem, but Jeff assured her it was a harmless foible.
goad
Urge on with unpleasant comments.
Doug did not want to enter the race, but Jim, through a steady stream of taunts, goaded him into signing up for it.
impending
Close in time; About to occur.
The impending doom of our world has been discussed and debated for 2000 years - maybe even longer.
taxing
Use to the limit; Exhaust.
The hike to the summit of Mt. Whitney was so taxing that I could barely speak or stand up.
pastoral
Relating to the countryside in a pleasant sense.
Those who imagine America’s countryside as a pastoral region are often disappointed to learn that much of rural US is filled with cornfields extending as far as the eye can see.
discord
Lack of agreement or harmony; Friction.
Despite all their talented players, the team was filled with discord - some players refused to talk to others - and lost most of their games.
complacent
Contented to a fault with oneself or one’s actions; self-satisfied.
After the water polo team won their sixth championship, they became complacent and didn’t even make it to the playoffs the next year.
maxim
Short saying expressing a general truth; Adage; Aphorism.
Johnson initially suggests that the secret to business can be summarized in a single maxim but the requires a 300-page book to explain exactly what he means.
obstinate
Resistant to guidance or discipline; Stubbornly persistent.
The coach suggested improvements Sarah might make on the balance beam, but she remained obstinate, unwilling to modify any of the habits that made her successful in the past.
brusquely
In a blunt, direct manner.
Not one for social pleasantries, the Chief of Staff would brusquely ask his subordinates for anything he wanted, even coffee.
credulity
Tendency to believe readily; Gullibility; Naivety.
Virginia’s wide-eyed credulity as a five-year old was replaced by suspicion after she learned that Santa Claus didn’t really exist.
malevolent
Wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; Arising from intense ill will or hatred.
Villains are known for their malevolent nature, oftentimes inflicting cruelty on others just for enjoyment.
tarnish
Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; Also used metaphorically.
Pete Rose was one of the best baseball players of his generation, but his involvement with gambling on baseball games has tarnished his image in the eyes of many.
reservation
Unstated doubt that prevents you from accepting something wholeheartedly.
I was initially excited by the idea of a trip to Washington, DC but now that I have read about the high crime statistics there, I have some reservations.
retract
Pull inward or towards a center; Formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure.
Email is wonderfully efficient, but once something awkward or damaging has been sent, there is no way to retract it.
diligent
Characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks.
Michael was a diligent gardener, never leaving a leaf of the ground and regularly watering each plant.
unprecedented
Having never been done or known before; Novel.
When America first created its national parks, the idea of setting aside the most beautiful land in a country was unprecedented in the history of mankind.
embellish
Make more attractive by adding ornament, color, etc.; Make more beautiful.
McCartney would write relatively straightforward lyrics, and Lennon would embellish them with puns and poetic images.
candidness
The quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech.
Although I was unhappy that the relationship ended, I appreciated her candidness about why she was ready to move on from the relationship.
travail
Use of physical or mental energy; Hard work; Agony or anguish.
While they experienced nothing but travails in refinishing the kitchen, they completed the master bedroom in less than a weekend.
presumption
Assumption taken for granted; Audacious behavior that you have no right to; Effrontery.
When Mr. Baker found out the family car was gone, he acted under the presumption that his rebellious son had taken the car, calling his son’s phone and yelling at him; only later did Mr. Baker realize that Mrs. Baker had simply gone out to get her nails done.
squander
Spend thoughtlessly; Waste time, money, or an opportunity.
Fearing his money would be squandered by his family, he gave all of it to charity when he died.
destitute
Poor enough to need help from others; Completely wanting or lacking.
Jean Valjean, is at first destitute, but through the grace of a priest, he makes something of his life; Now that the mine is closed, the town is destitute of any economic activity.
peevish
Easily irritated or annoyed.
Our office manager is peevish, so the rest of us tip-toe around him, hoping not to set off another one of his fits.
incense
Make furious.
When Herb bought football tickets for a game on the day of their wedding anniversary, Jill was incensed.
behoove
To be one’s duty or obligation.
The teacher looked down at the student and said, “It would behoove you to be in class on time and complete your homework, so that you don’t repeat freshman English for a third straight year.”
clemency
Leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice; Mercy.
In the final moments of the trial, during his closing speech, Phillips was nearly begging the judge for clemency.
glean
Collect information bit by bit.
Herb has given us no formal statement about his background, but from various hints, I have gleaned that he grew up in difficult circumstances.
cerebral
Involving intelligence rather than emotions or instinct.
A cerebral analysis of most pop music finds it to be simple and childish, but that ignores the point - the music’s effect on the listener.
prevail
Be widespread in a particular area at a particular time; Be current; Prove superior.
During the labor negotiations, an air of hostility prevailed in the office; Before the cricket match, Australia was heavily favored, but India prevailed.
industrious
Characterized by hard work and perseverance.
Pete was an industrious student, completing every assignment thoroughly and on time.
consecrate
Make holy or set apart for a high purpose.
At the church of Notre Dame in France, the new High Altar was consecrated in 1182.
wanton
Without check or limitation; Showing no moral restraints to one’s anger, desire, or appetites.
Due to wanton behavior and crude language, the drunk man was thrown out of the bar and asked to never return.
forthright
Characterized by directness in manner or speech; Without subtlety or evasion.
I did not expect the insurance agent to give us any straight answers, but I was pleasantly surprised by how forthright he was.
incumbent
Necessary as a duty or responsibility.
Middle managers at times make important decisions, but real responsibility for the financial well-being of the corporation is ultimately incumbent on the CEO.
analogous
Similar in some respects but otherwise different.
In many ways, the internet’s transformative effect on society has been analogous to that of the printing press.
rakish
Marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness; debonair.
As soon as he arrived in the city, the rakish young man bought some drugs and headed straight for the seedy parts of town.
tribulation
Something, especially an event, that causes difficulty and suffering.
As of 2013, nearly 1.5 million Syrians have fled their country hoping to escape the tribulations of a civil war tearing their country to pieces.
docile
Easily handled or managed; Willing to be taught or led or supervised or directed.
Barnyard animals are considerable more docile than the wild animals.
evenhanded
Without partiality; Equitable; Fair.
Teachers often have trouble being evenhanded to all of their varied students.
irascible
Quickly aroused to anger.
If Arthur’s dog is not fed adequately, he becomes highly irascible, even growling at his own shadow.
conundrum
A difficult problem.
Computers have helped solve some of the mathematical conundrums which have puzzled man for many centuries.
besmirch
Damage the good name and reputation of someone.
The prince’s distasteful choice of words besmirched not only his own name but also the reputation of the entire royal family.
eccentric
Highly unconventional or unusual (usually a person).
Mozart was well-known for his eccentricities, often speaking words backward to confuse those around him.
emulate
Strive to equal or match, especially by imitating; Compete with successfully.
To really become fluent in a new language, emulate the speech patterns of people who speak the language.
buttress
Make stronger or defensible.
China’s economy has been buttressed by a global demand for the electronic parts the country manufactures.
rile
Cause annoyance in; Disturb, especially by minor irritations.
Dan is usually calm and balanced, but it takes only one intense glare from Sabrina to rile him.
ascribe
Attribute or credit to.
History ascribes The Odyssey and The Iliad to Homer, but scholars now debate whether he was a historical figure or a fictitious name.
implicate
Convey a meaning; Imply; Indicate in wrongdoing, usually a crime.
By saying that some of the guests were uncomfortable, the manager implicated to the hotel staff that it needed to be more diligent; The crime boss was implicated for a long list of crimes, ranging from murder to disturbing the peace.
cohesive
Well integrated, forming a united whole.
A well-written, cohesive essay will keep on topic at all times, never losing sight of the main argument.
humdrum
Dull and lacking excitement.
Having grown up in a humdrum suburb, Jacob relished life in New York City after moving.
piquant
Having an agreeably pungent taste; Spiced.
The chef, with a mere flick of the salt shaker, turned the bland tomato soup into a piquant meal.
antedate
Precede in time.
Harry was so unknowledgeable that he was unaware the Egyptian pharaohs antedated the American Revolution.
foolhardy
Marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences.
The police regularly face dangerous situations, so for a police officer not to wear his bullet-proof vest is foolhardy.
preempt
Take the place of or have precedence over.
A governmental warning about an imminent terrorist attack would preempt ordinary network programming on television.
cavalier
Given to haughty disregard of others; Offhand.
Percy dismissed the issue with a cavalier wave of his hand.
redress
An act of making something right.
Barry’s redress for forgetting his wife’s birthday two years in a row was surprising her with a trip to Tahiti.
melancholy
Deep, long-lasting sadness.
hamlet is a figure of tremendous melancholy: he doesn’t have a truly cheerful scene throughout the entire play.
lethargic
Lacking energy.
Nothing can make a person more lethargic than a big turkey dinner.
profusion
The property of being extremely abundant.
When Maria reported that she had been visited by Jesus Christ and had proof, a profusion of reporters and journalists descended on the town.
fawn
Try to gain favor by extreme flattery.
The media fawned over the handsome new CEO, praising his impeccable sense of style instead of asking more pointed questions
insipid
Dull and uninteresting.
The movie director was known for hiring beautiful actors in order to deflect attention away from the insipid scripts he would typically use.
belittle
Lessen the importance, dignity, or reputation of.
A good teacher will never belittle his students, but will instead empower them.
delegate
Give an assignment to.
Since the senior manager had to go on many international business trips, she was forced to delegate many of her responsibilities to two lower-level managers.
intermittent
Stopping and starting at irregular intervals.
The intermittent thunder continued and the night was punctuated by cracks of lightning.- a surreal sleepless night.
presumptuous
Excessively forward.
Many felt that Barney was presumptuous in moving into the large office before the management even made any official announcement of his promotion.
precarious
Fraught with danger.
People smoke to relax and forget their cares, but ironically, in terms of health risks, smoking is far more precarious than either mountain-climbing or skydiving.
finagle
Achieve something by means of trickery or devious methods.
Steven was able to finagle one of the last seats on the train by convincing the conductor that his torn stub was actually a valid ticket.
coalesce
Fuse or cause to grow together.
Over time, the various tribes coalesced into a single common culture with one universal language.
veneer
Covering consisting of a thin superficial layer that hides the underlying substance.
Mark Twain referred to the Victorian Period in America as the “Gilded Age,” implying the ample moral corruption that lay beneath a mere veneer of respectability.
avert
Turn away; Ward off or prevent.
Afraid to see the aftermath of the car crash, i averted my eyes as we drove by; The struggling video game company put all of its finances into one final, desperate project to avert bankruptcy.
deride
Treat or speak of with contempt; Ridicule.
The nun derided the students for trying to sneak insects and worms into the classroom.
uncanny
Suggesting the operation of supernatural influences; Surpassing the ordinary or normal; Supernatural.
Reggie has an uncanny ability to connect with animals: feral cats will readily approach hm, and sometimes even wild birds will land on his finger.
begrudge
To envy someone for possessing or enjoying something; To give reluctantly.
Sitting all alone in his room, Harvey begrudged the happiness of the other children playing outside his window; We never begrudge money spent on ourselves.
