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K Magoosh Cards > Basic III > Flashcards

Basic III Flashcards

1
Q

inclement

A

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.

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2
Q

advocate

A

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

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3
Q

guffaw

A

guffaw
verb: laugh boisterously

Whenever the jester fell to the ground in mock pain, the king guffawed, exposing his yellow, fang-like teeth.

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4
Q

stolid

A

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.

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5
Q

ingenuity

A

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.

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6
Q

patronize

A

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

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7
Q

impermeable

A

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.

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8
Q

transitory

A

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?

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9
Q

disheartened

A

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.

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10
Q

robust

A

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.

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11
Q

snide

A

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.

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12
Q

raffish

A

raffish
adjective: marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness

The men found him raffish, but the women adored his smart clothes and casual attitude.

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13
Q

respite

A

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.

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14
Q

jocular

A

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.

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15
Q

ascendancy

A

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.

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16
Q

malleable

A

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.

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17
Q

resolve

A

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

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18
Q

boon

A

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.

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19
Q

obdurate

A

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.

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20
Q

incessant

A

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.

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21
Q

morose

A

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.

22
Q

quandry

A

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.

23
Q

ornate

A

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.

24
Q

impede

A

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.

25
Q

disenfranchise

A

disenfranchise
verb: deprive of voting rights

The U.S. Constitution disenfranchised women until 1920 when they were given the right to vote.

26
Q

plodding

A

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.

27
Q

archaic

A

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.

28
Q

degrade

A

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.

29
Q

entice

A

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.

30
Q

meander

A

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.

31
Q

discriminate

A

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

32
Q

renege

A

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.

33
Q

autonomosly

A

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.

34
Q

avid

A

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.

35
Q

deter

A

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.

36
Q

endemic

A

endemic
adjective: native; originating where it is found

Irish cuisine makes great use of potatoes, but ironically, the potato is not endemic to Ireland.

37
Q

consummate

A

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

38
Q

deter

A

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.

39
Q

fete

A

fete
verb: to celebrate a person

After World War II, war heroes were feted at first but quickly forgotten.

40
Q

flounder

A

flounder
verb: behave awkwardly; have difficulties

Sylvia has excelled at advanced calculus, but ironically, when she has to deal with taxes, she flounders.

41
Q

dearth

A

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.

42
Q

malady

A

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.

43
Q

inclement

A

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.

44
Q

muted

A

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

45
Q

moot

A

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.

46
Q

proponent

A

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.

47
Q

elusive

A

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.

48
Q

fledgling

A

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.

49
Q

appreciable

A

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.

50
Q

pithy

A

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.

51
Q

apprehension

A

apprehension
noun: fearful expectation

Test day can be one of pure apprehension, as many students worry about their test scores.

52
Q

thwart

A

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.

K Magoosh Cards (26 decks)

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