"basic" words Flashcards

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1
Q

miser

A

somebody who doesn’t like to spend money because they are greedy

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2
Q

demure

A

modest and shy

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3
Q

screed

A

an abusive rant

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4
Q

insolvent

A

unable to pay bills; bankrupt

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5
Q

remiss

A

negligent in one’s duty

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6
Q

embroiled

A

involved in argument or contention

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7
Q

inundate

A

to flood or overwhelm

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8
Q

retiring

A

to be shy; inclined to retract from company

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9
Q

indignant

A

feeling anger over perceived injustice

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10
Q

sanguine

A

cheerful, optimistic

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11
Q

checkered

A

marked by unfortunate happenings

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12
Q

unconscionable

A

unreasonable, excessive

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13
Q

errant

A

wandering

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14
Q

stem

A

to hold back; limit the flow of

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15
Q

raft

A

a large number of

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16
Q

beatific

A

blissfully happy

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17
Q

pittance

A

a small amount (esp. of money)

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18
Q

contrite

A

remorseful

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19
Q

misanthrope

A

someone who hates people

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20
Q

aboveboard

A

open and honest

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21
Q

lassitude

A

extreme tiredness…mental or physical

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22
Q

pugnacious

A

eager to fight or argue; verbally combative

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23
Q

fleece

A

to deceive

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24
Q

exhort

A

strongly urge on; encourage

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25
Q

bellicose

A

warlike; inclined to fight

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26
Q

ascendancy

A

when one group has power over another

27
Q

endemic

A

originating where it is found; local

28
Q

appreciable

A

large enough to be noticed

29
Q

jocular

A

characterized by jokes and good humour

30
Q

boon

A

a desirable state; very close and convivial

31
Q

raffish

A

marked by a carefree unconventionality or disreputableness

32
Q

flounder

A

behave awkwardly; have difficulties

33
Q

derisive

A

abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule

34
Q

surly

A

inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace

35
Q

genteel

A

marked by refinement in taste and manners

36
Q

urbane

A

showing a high degree of refinement and the assurance that comes from wide social experience

37
Q

hamstrung

A

made ineffective or powerless

38
Q

buck

A

resist

39
Q

spurn

A

to reject with contempt

40
Q

genial

A

agreeable; conducive to comfort

41
Q

enmity

A

a state of deep-seated ill will

42
Q

goad

A

urge on with unpleasant comments

43
Q

squander

A

spend thoughtlessly; waste time, money, or an opportunity

44
Q

pastoral

A

relating to the countryside in a pleasant sense

45
Q

eke

A

live off meager resources; scrape by

46
Q

impregnable

A

immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with

47
Q

finagle

A

achieve something by trickery or devious means

48
Q

insipid

A

dull and uninteresting

49
Q

behoove

A

to be one’s duty or obligation

50
Q

rakish

A

marked by a carefree unconventionality and disreputableness

51
Q

buttress

A

make stronger or defensible

52
Q

irascible

A

quickly aroused to anger

53
Q

consecrate

A

to make holy or set apart for a high purpose

54
Q

redress

A

making something right

55
Q

fawn

A

try to gain favour by extreme flattery

56
Q

convivial

A

describing somewhere with a lovely atmosphere

57
Q

perquisite

A

a right reserved exclusively by a particular group

58
Q

carping

A

persistently petty & unjustified criticism

59
Q

balk

A

refuse to comply

60
Q

besiege

A

harass; cause to feel distressed

61
Q

staid

A

characterized by dignity and propriety

62
Q

sordid

A

involving ignoble motives and actions; arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul and run-down and repulsive

63
Q

decimation

A

destroying or killing a large part of the population

64
Q

miscreant

A

someone who breaks the law