Basic III Flashcards
inclement
inclement
adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy
After a week of inclement weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun.
adjective: used of persons or behavior; showing no mercy
Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was inclement to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently.
advocate
advocate
verb: speak, plead, or argue in favor of
While the senator privately approved of gay marriage, he was unwilling to advocate for the cause in a public venue.
noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
Martin Luther King Jr. was a tireless advocate for the rights of African-Americans in the United States.
This word has other definitions, but these are the most important ones to study
guffaw
guffaw
verb: laugh boisterously
Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth.
stolid
stolid
adjective: having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
Elephants may appear stolid to casual observers, but they actually have passionate emotional lives.
ingenuity
ingenuity
noun: the power of creative imagination
Daedalus was famous for his ingenuity; he was able to fashion his son Icarus with a pair of wings, using wax to hold them together.
patronize
patronize
verb: treat condescendingly
She says she genuinely wanted to help me, but instead she patronized me, constantly pointing out how I was inferior to her.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
impermeable
impermeable
adjective: does not allow fluids to pass through
The sand bags placed on the river formed an impermeable barrier, protecting the town from flooding.
transitory
transitory
adjective: lasting a very short time
If we lived forever and life was not transitory, do you think we would appreciate life less or more?
disheartened
disheartened
adjective: made less hopeful or enthusiastic
After the visiting team scored nine times, the home team’s fans were disheartened, some leaving the game early.
robust
robust
adjective: sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction
Chris preferred bland and mild beers, but Bhavin preferred a beer with more robust flavor.
snide
snide
adjective: expressive of contempt; derogatory or mocking in an indirect way
The chairman interpreted Taylor’s question about promotions as a snide remark, but in all innocence Taylor was trying to figure out the company’s process.
raffish
raffish
adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness
The men found him raffish, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.
respite
respite
noun: a pause from doing something (as work)
Every afternoon, the small company has a respite in which workers play foosball or board games.
jocular
jocular
adjective: characterized by jokes and good humor
My uncle was always in a jocular mood at family gatherings, messing up people’s hair and telling knock-knock jokes to anyone who would listen.
ascendancy
ascendancy
noun: the state that exists when one person or group has power over another
The ascendancy of the Carlsbad water polo team is clear—they have a decade of championships behind them.
malleable
malleable
adjective: capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out
The clay became malleable and easy to work with after a little water was added.
adjective: easily influenced
My little brother is so malleable that I can convince him to sneak cookies from the cupboard for me.
resolve
resolve
verb: reach a conclusion after a discussion or deliberation
After much thought, Ted resolved not to travel abroad this summer because he didn’t have much money in his bank account.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
boon
boon
noun: a desirable state
Modern technology has been a boon to the travel industry.
adjective: very close and convivial
He was a boon companion to many, and will be sadly missed.
obdurate
obdurate
adjective: unable to be persuaded or moved emotionally; stubborn; unyielding.
No number of pleas and bribes would get him to change his obdurate attitude.
incessant
incessant
adjective: uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
I don’t mind small children in brief doses, but I think the incessant exposure that their parents have to them would quickly wear me down.
morose
morose
adjective: ill-tempered and not inclined to talk; gloomy
After Stanley found out he was no longer able to go on vacation with his friends, he sat in his room morosely.
quandry
quandary
noun: state of uncertainty or perplexity especially as requiring a choice between equally unfavorable options
Steve certainly is in a quandary: if he doesn’t call Elaine, she will blame him for everything, but if he does call her, the evidence of where he currently is could cost him his job.
ornate
ornate
adjective: marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details
The ornate Victorian and Edwardian homes spread throughout San Francisco are my favorite part of the city.
impede
impede
verb: be a hindrance or obstacle to
Since the police sergeant had to train the pair of new hires, progress in his own case was impeded.
disenfranchise
disenfranchise
verb: deprive of voting rights
The U.S. Constitution disenfranchised women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote.
plodding
plodding
adjective: (of movement) slow and laborious
Charlie may seem to run at a plodding pace, but he is an ultramarathoner, meaning he runs distances of up to 100 miles, and can run for ten hours at a stretch.
archaic
archaic
adjective: so old as to appear to belong to a different period
Hoping to sound intelligent, Mary spoke in archaic English that was right out of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice–needless to say, she didn’t have many friends.
degrade
degrade
verb: reduce in worth or character, usually verbally
Jesse had mockingly pointed out all of Nancy’s faults in front of their friends, publicly degrading the poor girl.
entice
entice
verb: get someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises
Harold enticed his wife, Maude, to go on a vacation to Hawaii, with promises of luaus on the beach and all-you-can-eat seafood buffets.
meander
meander
verb: to wander aimlessly
A casual observer might have thought that Peter was meandering through the city, but that day he was actually seeking out those places where he and his long lost love had once visited.
discriminate
discriminate
verb: recognize or perceive the difference
Sarah couldn’t discriminate between a good wine and a bad wine, so she avoided wine tastings.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
renege
renege
verb: fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
We will no longer work with that vendor since it has reneged on nearly every agreement.
autonomosly
autonomously
adverb: Acting independently; self-governing (of a country)
Many of the factory workers are worried about being replaced by machines and computers that will work completely autonomously.
avid
avid
adjective: marked by active interest and enthusiasm
Martin is an avid birdwatcher, often taking long hikes into remote mountains to see some rare eagle.
deter
deter
verb: turn away from by persuasion
His mother tried to deter him from joining the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen.
verb: try to prevent; show opposition to
The government’s primary job should involve deterring paths to war, not finding ways to start them.
endemic
endemic
adjective: native; originating where it is found
Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but ironically, the potato is not endemic to Ireland.
consummate
consummate
adjective: having or revealing supreme mastery or skill
Tyler was the consummate musician: he was able to play the guitar, harmonica, and the drum at the same time.
verb: to make perfect and complete in every respect
The restoration of the ancient church was only consummated after a twenty years of labor.
This word has other definitions, but these are the most important ones to study
deter
deter
verb: turn away from by persuasion
His mother tried to deter him from joining the army, but he was too intoxicated with the idea of war to listen.
verb: try to prevent; show opposition to
The government’s primary job should involve deterring paths to war, not finding ways to start them.
fete
fete
verb: to celebrate a person
After World War II, war heroes were feted at first but quickly forgotten.
flounder
flounder
verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties
Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has to deal with taxes, she flounders.
dearth
dearth
noun: a lack or shortage
I am surprised by the dearth of fast food chains; this is America and I assumed they were on every street.
malady
malady
noun: a disease or sickness
The town was struck by a malady throughout the winter that left most people sick in bed for two weeks.
inclement
inclement
adjective: (of weather) unpleasant, stormy
After a week of inclement weather, we finally are able to go outside and enjoy the sun.
adjective: used of persons or behavior; showing no mercy
Marcus Aurelius, though a fair man, was inclement to Christians during his reign, persecuting them violently.
muted
muted
adjective: softened, subdued
Helen preferred muted earth colors, such as green and brown, to the bright pinks and red her sister liked.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
moot
moot
adjective: open to argument or debate; undecidable in a meaningless or irrelevant way
Since the Board just terminated Steve as the CEO, what the finance committee might have thought of his proposed marketing plan for next year is now a moot point.
proponent
proponent
noun: a person who pleads for a cause or propounds an idea
Ironically, the leading proponent of Flat-Earth Theory flies all over the world in an effort to win more adherents.
elusive
elusive
adjective: difficult to capture or difficult to remember
Many first time skydivers say that describing the act of falling from the sky is elusive.
fledgling
fledgling
adjective: young and inexperienced
noun: any new participant in some activity
Murray has years of experience in family practice, but he is just a fledgling in surgery.
appreciable
appreciable
adjective: large enough to be noticed (usu. refers to an amount)
There is an appreciable difference between those who say they can get the job done and those who actually get the job done.
pithy
pithy
adjective: concise and full of meaning
I enjoy reading the Daodejing for its pithy and insightful prose; it always gives me something to think about.
apprehension
apprehension
noun: fearful expectation
Test day can be one of pure apprehension, as many students worry about their test scores.
thwart
thwart
verb: hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
I wanted to spend a week in New York this autumn, but the high costs of travel and lodging thwarted my plans.
