Basic IV Flashcards
altruisum
altruism
noun: the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
Albert Schweitzer spent most of his life doing missionary work as a doctor in Africa, seeking no reward, apparently motivated only by altruism.
commendable
commendable
adjective: worthy of high praise
The efforts of the firefighters running into the burning building were commendable.
derisive
derisive
adjective: abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule
I was surprised by her derisive tone; usually, she is sweet, soft spoken, and congenial.
spurn
spurn
verb: reject with contempt
She spurned all his flattery and proposals, and so he walked off embarrassed and sad.
lucid
lucid
adjective: (of language) transparently clear; easily understandable
Though Walters writes about physics and time travel, his writing is always lucid, so readers with little scientific training can understand difficult concepts.
credence
credence
noun: belief in something
He placed no credence in psychics, claiming that they offered no special powers beyond the ability to make people part with their money.
urbane
urbane
adjective: showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience
Because of his service as an intelligence officer and his refined tastes, W. Somerset Maugham became the inspiration for the urbane and sophisticate spy James Bond.
martial
martial
adjective: suggesting war or military life
Americans tend to remember Abraham Lincoln as kindly and wise, not at all martial, despite the fact that he was involved in the fiercest war America has even fought.
grovel
grovel
verb: show submission or fear
Every time Susan comes to the office, Frank grovels as if she were about to fire him.
conductive
conducive
adjective: making a situation or outcome more likely to happen
Studying in a quiet room is conducive to learning; studying in a noisy environment makes learning more difficult.
pristine
pristine
adjective: Unspoiled, untouched (usu. of nature)
The glacial lake was pristine and we filled our canteens to drink deeply.
adjective: Immaculately clean and unused
Drill sergeants are known for demanding pristine cabinets, uniforms, and beds, and often make new recruits clean and clean and clean until they meet the expected high standards.
whimsical
whimsical
adjective: determined by impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason
Adults look to kids and envy their whimsical nature at times, wishing that they could act without reason and play without limitation.
euphoria
euphoria
noun: a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation
The euphoria of winning her first gold medal in the 100 meter dash overwhelmed Shelly-Ann Fraser and she wept tears of immense joy.
genial
genial
adjective: agreeable, conducive to comfort
Betty is a genial young woman: everyone she meets is put at ease by her elegance and grace.
vacucous
vacuous
adjective: devoid of intelligence, matter, or significance
To the journalist’s pointed question, the senator gave a vacuous response, mixing a few of his overall campaign slogans with platitudes and completely avoiding the controversial subject of the question.
pertinent
pertinent
adjective: having precise or logical relevance to the matter at hand
While the salaries of the players might draw attention in the media, such monetary figures are not pertinent to the question of who plays the best on the field.
facetious
facetious
adjective: cleverly amusing in tone
Facetious behavior will not be tolerated during sex education class; it’s time for all of you to treat these matters like mature adults.
benign
benign
adjective: kind
I remember my grandfather’s face was wrinkled, benign, and calm.
adjective: (medicine) not dangerous to health; not recurrent or progressive
The tumor located in your ear lobe seems to be benign and should not cause you any trouble.
hamstrung
hamstrung
verb: made ineffective or powerless
The FBI has made so many restrictions on the local police that they are absolutely hamstrung, unable to accomplish anything.
banish
banish
verb: expel from a community, residence, or location; drive away
The most difficult part of the fast was banishing thoughts of food.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
egotistic
egotist
noun: a conceited and self-centered person
An egotist, Natasha had few friends because of her inability to talk about anything except her dream of becoming the next American Idol.
irresolute
irresolute
adjective: uncertain how to act or proceed
He stood irresolute at the split in the trail, not sure which route would lead back to the camp.
jargon
jargon
noun: a characteristic language of a particular group
To those with little training in medicine, the jargon of doctors can be very difficult to understand.
sentimental
sentimental
adjective: effusively or insincerely emotional, especially in art, music, and literature
I don’t like romanticism for the same reason I don’t like melodramatic acting and soap operas—overly sentimental.
detrimental
detrimental
adjective: (sometimes followed by “to”) causing harm or injury
Many know that smoking is detrimental to your health, but processed sugar in large quantities is equally bad.
assuage
assuage
verb: make something intense less severe
Her fear that the new college would be filled with unknown faces was assuaged when she recognized her childhood friend standing in line.
illicit
illicit
adjective: contrary to or forbidden by law
Though Al Capone was engaged in many illicit activities, he was finally arrested for income tax evasion, a relatively minor offence.
cornucopia
cornucopia
noun: an abundant supply of something good
The International Food Expo was a cornucopia of culinary delights: gourmet foods from every continent were under one roof.
uncompromising
uncompromising
adjective: not making concessions
The relationship between Bart and Hilda ultimately failed because they were both so uncompromising, never wanting to change their opinions.
impeccable
impeccable
adjective: without fault or error
He was impeccably dressed in the latest fashion without a single crease or stain.
tumult
tumult
noun: a state of chaos, noise and confusion
Riots broke out just in front of our apartment building, and the tumult continued late into the night.
debase
debase
verb: reduce the quality or value of something
The third-rate script so debased the film that not even the flawless acting could save it from being a flop.
perennial
perennial
adjective: lasting an indefinitely long time; eternal; everlasting
Even at the old-timers games, Stan Musial would get the loudest cheer: he was a perennial favorite of the fans there.
This word has other definitions but this is the most important one to study
perpetuate
perpetuate
verb: cause to continue
If you do not let him do things for himself, you are merely perpetuating bad habits that will be even harder to break in the future.
assail
assail
verb: attack in speech or writing
In the weekly paper, the editor assailed the governor for wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars in public projects that quickly failed.
unruly
unruly
adjective: (of persons) noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline; unwilling to submit to authority
Walk in to any preschool and I am sure that you will find an unruly and chaotic scene—unless it’s nap time.
inadvertent
inadvertent
adjective: happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally
Although Prohibition was rooted in noble ideals, the inadvertent and costly consequences of making alcohol illegal in the U.S. led to its repeal.
fickle
fickle
adjective: liable to sudden unpredictable change, esp. in affections or attachments
She was so fickle in her politics, it was hard to pinpoint her beliefs; one week she would embrace a side, and the next week she would denounce it.
contemptuous
contemptuous
adjective: scornful, looking down at others with a sneering attitude
Always on the forefront of fashion, Vanessa looked contemptuously at anyone wearing dated clothing.
elaborate
elaborate
adjective: marked by complexity and richness of detail
Thomas, on returning from Morocco, replaced his dirty gray carpet with an elaborate one he’d brought back with him.
verb: explain in more detail
Most high school physics teachers find themselves elaborating the same point over and over again, since many concepts confuse students.
glib
glib
adjective: (of a person) speaking with ease but without sincerity
I have found that the more glib the salesman, the worse the product.
augment
augment
verb: enlarge or increase; improve
Ideally, the restaurant’s augmented menu will expand its clientele and increase its profits.
precedent
precedent
noun: an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time
The principal explained that even though one student had done modelling work outside of school, the outfits that student wore in those photographs in no way established a precedent for what could be worn at school dances.
tawdry
tawdry
adjective: tastelessly showy; cheap and shoddy
Carol expected to find New York City magical, the way so many movies had portrayed it, but she was surprised how often tawdry displays took the place of genuine elegance.
rankle
rankle
verb: gnaw into; make resentful or angry
His constant whistling would rankle her, sometimes causing her to leave in a huff.
empathetic
empathetic
adjective: showing understanding and ready comprehension of other peoples’ states and emotions
Most discrimination and hatred is based on a lack of empathetic awareness of people that have the same aspirations and fears.
buck
buck
verb: resist
The profits at our firm bucked the general downturn that affected the real estate industry.
genteel
genteel
adjective: marked by refinement in taste and manners
A live string quartet would provide a more genteel air to the wedding than would a folk singer.
surly
surly
adjective: inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace
Every morning, Bhavin was a surly, unhappy person, but once he ate breakfast, he became loving, laughing, and a joy to be around.
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