Beyond Hit Parade 1 & 2 Flashcards
1
Q
alloy
A
“iron alloys well with impure metals”
to commingle, to debase by mixing with something inferior
2
Q
unalloyed
A
“the unalloyed happiness that marriage has brought them was pure and simple”
pure
3
Q
arrest/arresting
A
“The drugs can’t arrest the disease’s progress, but they can slow it down considerably”
to suspend, to engage, holding one’s attention, as in arrested adolescence, an arresting portrait
4
Q
august
A
“We visited their august mansion and expansive grounds.”
majestic, venerable
5
Q
bent
A
“was bent on going”
leaning, inclination, proclivity, tendency
6
Q
broach
A
“the new subject was broached before the members”
to bring up, to announce, to begin to talk about
7
Q
brook
A
“I will not brook insults from my own employees. Insults will be punished”
to tolerate, to endure, to countenance
8
Q
cardinal
A
“the cardinal principles of news reporting is the main one”
major, as in cardinal sin
9
Q
chauvinist
A
“their ingrained chauvinism has blinded them to their country’s faults”
a blindly devoted patriot
10
Q
color
A
“his story has the color of truth, it was not true”
to change as if by dyeing, to distort, gloss, or affect (usually the first)
11
Q
consequential
A
“There have been several consequential innovations in their computer software which have changed everything”
pompous, self-important, logically following
12
Q
countenance (verb)
A
“I don’t countenance such behavior in children of any age.”
to extend approval or toleration to : sanction
13
Q
damp (2)
A
(1) “refused to let the setbacks damp his drive for success”
to diminish the intensity
(2) check the vibration of a sound
14
Q
die
A
“the die was used to mold the statue”
a tool used for shaping, as in a tool-and-die shop
15
Q
essay
A
“he had been in gymnastics for some time before he even considered essaying that move”
to test or try, to attempt, to experiment
16
Q
exact
A
“from them has been exacted the ultimate sacrifice — D. D. Eisenhower”
to demand, to call for, to require, to take
17
Q
fell (verb)
A
“using an ax to fell a tree”
to cause to fall by striking
18
Q
fell (adj.)
A
“planning in the event that the enemy resorted to biological warfare and released some fell virus on the civilian population”
inhumanly cruel
19
Q
flag
A
“flagging stock prices dropped rapidly”
to sag or droop, to become spiritless, to decline
20
Q
flip
A
“made some flip comment about the marriage between the old man and the considerably younger woman”
sarcastic, impertinent, as in flippant, a flip remark
21
Q
ford
A
“they are going to ford the river”
to wade across the shallow part of a river or stream
22
Q
grouse
A
“Fans have groused that the higher prices are unfair.”
to complain or grumble
23
Q
guy/guyed/guying/guyline
A
“the guy was keeping the tower from falling over”
a rope, cord, or cable attached to something as a brace or guide, to steady or reinforce using a guy
24
Q
intimate
A
“trying to intimate that there was more going on than anyone knew”
to imply, suggest, or insinuate
25
list
"the waves caused the boat to list"
| to tilt or lean to one side
26
lumber
"he lumbered the lumber very slowly and awkwardly"
| to move heavily and clumsily
27
meet
"in this case, splitting the winnings of the contested lottery ticket seems like a meet solution"
fitting, proper
28
milk
"he is milking his disability"
| to exploit, to squeeze every last ounce of
29
mince (2)
(1)"he minced my arrival very clearly and cautiously"
to pronounce to speak affectedly, to euphemize, to speak too carefully
(2)"he minced his way to the kitchen"
to take tine steps, to tiptoe
30
nice
"a nice code of honor that has no errors in it"
| exacting, fastidious, extremely precise
31
obtain
"These ideas no longer obtain for our generation."
| to be established, accepted, or customary
32
occult
"occulted their house from prying eyes by planting large trees around it"
hidden, concealed
(2) "his occult powers were to powerful for anyone to match"
beyond comprehension
33
pedestrian
"He lived a pedestrian life, working at the boring paper mill and living in a plain trailer."
commonplace, trite, unremarkable, quotidian
34
quotidian
"not content with the quotidian quarrels that other couples have every day, they had rows that shook the entire neighborhood"
occurring everyday
35
pied
"although the mother's was pure black, the foal's colorful coat was pied"
multicolored, usually in blotches
36
pine (2)
(1)"his discouraged heart pined after years of fighting evil pine trees in his backyard "
to lose vigor (as through grief)
(2)"they still pined for their lost wealth"
to yearn
37
plastic
"there's usually a plastic cordiality at these corporate events - anything goes"
moldable, pliable, not rigid
38
pluck
"It takes pluck to do that brae thing she did."
| courage, spunk, fortitude
39
prize
(1)"he prized the lever to stop the train"
to pry, to press or force with a leer,
(2) "he was ready to correct his prize after the battle"
something taken by force, spoils
40
rail
"he railed all day long about the evils of chemicals"
| to complain about bitterly
41
rent/rend
"the opening was made by rending the roof"
| torn, an opening or tear caused by such
42
quail
"He was scared of her and quailed at the thought of seeing her again"
to lose courage, to turn frightened
43
qualify
"I'd like to qualify my criticisms of the school's failings , by adding that it's a very happy place ."
to limit
44
sap (verb)
"Depression can sap the energy and self-esteem from an individual ."
to enervate or weaken the vitality of
45
sap (noun)
"he is such a sap, he'll believe anything"
| to fool or nitwit
46
scurvy
"after winning the lottery, she was beset by a whole scurvy swarm of con artists, ne'er-do-wells, and hangers-on"
contemptible, despicable
47
singular
"He had a singular appearance. He looked odd."
| exceptional, unusual, odd
48
stand
"a stand of pine trees are grouped together behind the house"
a group of trees
49
steep
"Steep the tea for three minutes"
| to saturate or completely soak, as in to let a tea bag steep
50
strut
"the strut was used to support the bird's wing while it strutted about"
the supporting structural cross-part of a wing
51
table
```
"The committee tabled the issue until the next meeting"
to remove (as a parliamentary motion) from consideration
```
52
tender
"tendered my resignation to him as a peace offering"
| to proffer or offer
53
proffer
"he proffered advice on how best to proceed."
| to offer or give (something) to someone
54
waffle
"she waffled when asked what she thought of her sister's new boyfriend; saying he was both nice and a jerk"
to equivocate, to change one's position
55
wag
"the little wag is always playing tricks on people"
| wit, joker
56
countenance (noun)
"a pleasant countenance that puts visitors at ease"
| calm expression or mental composure
57
abjure
"abjured some long-held beliefs when she converted to another religion"
to renounce or reject solemnly, to recant, to avoid
58
adumbrate
"the strife in Bloody Kansas in the 1850s adumbrated the civil war that would follow"
to foreshadow vaguely or intimate, to suggest or outline sketchily, to obscure or overshadow
59
anathema
"a liberal politician who is anathema to conservatives"
| a solemn or ecclesiastical (religious) curse, accursed or thoroughly loathed person or thing
60
anodyne
"the otherwise anodyne comments sounded quite irritating when taken out of context>"
soothing, something that assuages or allays pain or comforts
61
apogee
"shag carpeting reached the apogee of its popularity in the 1970s but is now considered outdated"
farthest or highest point, culmination, zenith
62
apostate
"an apostate from communism, he later became one of its harshest critics"
one who abandons long-held religious or political convictions
63
apotheosis
"the apotheosis of the preacher made him the most sought after teacher"
deification, glorification to godliness, an exalted example, a model of excellence or perfection
64
asperity
"she responded with such asperity that we knew she was deeply offended by the question"
severity, rigor, roughness, harshness, acrimony, irritability
65
asseverate
"he always asseverated that he did not know — G. K. Chesterton"
to aver, allege, or assert
66
aver
"He averred that he was innocent."
| to verify or prove to be true in pleading a cause: to allege or assert in pleading
67
augury
"some people believe that a broken mirror is an augury of seven years' bad luck"
omen, portent
68
bellicose
"bellicose hockey players who always seem to spend more time fighting than playing"
belligerent, pugnacious, warlike
69
calumniate/calumny
"the short-lived Sedition Act of 1798 made it illegal to calumniate the President of the United States"
to slander, to make a false accusation
70
captious
"a captious question confused everyone"
| disposed to point out trivial faults, calculated to confuse or entrap in argument
71
cavil
"A customer caviled about the price."
| to find fault without good reason
72
celerity
"a journalist who writes his well-crafted stories with remarkable celerity"
speed, alacrity
73
chimera
"Economic stability in that country is a chimera."
| an illusion, originally, an imaginary fire-breathing she-monster
74
contumacious/contumely
"the judge threatened to charge the contumacious witness with contempt of court"
insubordinate, rebellious, mean insult, scorn, aspersion
75
debacle
"his latest debacle created a huge mess for everyone"
| route, fiasco, complete failure
76
denouement
"the denouement of the play was unpredictable"
| an outcome or solution, the unraveling of a plot
77
descry
"we couldn't descry the reasons for his sudden departure"
| to discriminate or discern
78
desuetude
"despite the long years of desuetude, the old manual typewriter seemed to work just fine"
disuse, discontinuous of use
79
desultory
"a desultory search for something of interest on TV"
| random, aimless, marked by a lack of plan or purpose
80
diaphanous
"the bride wore a diaphanous veil where you could see her face"
transparent, gauzy
81
diffident
"the diffident student"
| reserved, shy, unassuming, lacking in self-confidence
82
dirge
"bagpipes played a haunting dirge at the funeral for the fallen leader"
a song of grief or lamentation
83
encomium
"the encomiums bestowed on a teacher at her retirement ceremonies were flattering"
glowing and enthusiastic praise, panegyric, tribute, eulogy
84
eschew
"a psychologist who eschews the traditional methods of psychotherapy avoids them in his therapy"
to shun or avoid
85
excoriate
"The candidates have publicly excoriated each other throughout the campaign; bashing each other every chance they get"
to censure scathingly, to upbraid
86
execrate
```
"She came to execrate the hypocritical values of her upper-class upbringing."
to denounce, to feel loathing for, to curse, to declare to be evil
```
87
exegesis
"the exegesis of Scripture is the close examination of context"
critical examination, explication
88
expiate
"Yom Kippur is the holy day on which Jews are expected to expiate sins committed during the past year."
to atone or make amends for
89
extirpate
"the triumph of modern medicine in extirpating certain diseases"
to destroy, to exterminate, to cut out, to exscind
90
exscinde/excision
to cut off or out
91
fatuous
"the fatuous questions that the audience members asked after the lecture suggested to the oceanographer that they had understood little"
silly, inanely foolish
92
fractious
"the fractious crowd grew violent."
| quarrelsome, rebellious, unruly, refractory, irritable
93
gainsay
"it can't be gainsaid that most people wish they had more time and money"
to deny, to dispute, to contradict, to oppose
94
heterodox
"a Christian clergyman with a very heterodox opinion on the divinity of Jesus"
unorthodox, heretical, iconoclastic
95
imbroglio
"an imbroglio involving some big names in the New York literary scene was embarrassing for everyone"
embarrassing or difficult situation
96
indefatigable
"an indefatigable laborer who can work from sunrise to sunset"
not easily exhaustible, tireless, dogged
97
ineluctable
"the ineluctable approach of winter had many worried about the cost of heating their homes"
certain, inevitable
98
inimitable
"no one can play like the inimitable performer of violin solos"
one of a kind, peerless
99
insouciant
wandered into the meeting with complete insouciance to the fact that she was late""
unconcerned, carefree, heedless
100
inveterate
"his inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious happens over and over again"
deep rooted, ingrained, habitual
101
jejune
"She made jejune remarks about life and art that no one took serious."
vapid, uninteresting, nugatory, childish, immature, puerile
102
lubricious
"back in the days when lubricious employers could, with impunity, take advantage of naive factory girls"
lewd, wanton, greasy, slipper
103
mendicant
"those wretched mendicants on the streets of Calcutta"
| a beggar, supplicant
104
meretricious
"scholarly names to provide fig-leaves of respectability for meretricious but stylish books"
cheap, gaudy, tawdry, flashy, showy, attracting by false show
105
minatory
"the minatory Minotaur threatened the whole village "
| menacing, threatening
106
nugatory
"the congressional resolution has symbolic value only, as it relates to a matter governed by the states and is thus nugatory"
of little or no consequence : trifling, inconsequential; having no force
107
vapid
"Waiting rooms, as I'm sure you know, are small rooms with plenty of chairs for waiting, as well as piles of old, dull magazines to read and some vapid paintings … "
not lively or interesting : dull or boring
108
puerile
"told the juvenile that such puerile behavior would not be tolerated during the ceremony"
silly or childish especially in a way that shows a lack of seriousness or good judgment
109
wanton
"Vandals were guilty of the wanton destruction of the school property."
showing no thought or care for the rights, feelings, or safety of others: not limited or controlled
110
nadir
"the discussion really reached its nadir when people resorted to name-calling"
low point, perigee
111
nonplussed
"I was nonplussed by his openly expressed admiration of me since I'm not a person to be looked up to"
baffled, bewildered, at a loss for what to do or think
112
obstreperous
"the obstreperous child defied his parents and disturbed the whole flight"
noisily and stubbornly defiant, aggressively boisterous
113
ossified (2)
(1) "The cartilage will ossify, becoming bone."
(2) "His opinion ossified as he grew older and he would not change it"
tending to become more rigid, conventional, sterile, reactionary with age, literally, turned into bone
114
palliate
"don't try to palliate your constant lying by claiming that everybody lies"
to make something seem less serious, to gloss over, to make less severe or intense
115
panegyric/panegyrical
"wrote a panegyric on the centennial of the Nobel laureate's birth"
formal praise, eulogy, encomium, expressing elaborate praise
116
parsimonious
"a parsimonious woman who insists that charity begins—and ends—at home"
cheap, miserly
117
pellucid
"her poetry has a pellucid simplicity that betrays none of the sweat that went into writing it"
transparent, easy to understand, limpid
118
peroration
"We sat through a lengthy peroration on the evils of the government's policies."
the concluding part of a speech, flowery, rhetorical speech
119
plangent
"plangent, haunting song about a long-ago love"
| pounding, thundering, resounding
120
prolix/prolixity
"a person known for habitually transforming brief anecdotes into prolix sagas that exhaust their listeners"
long-winded, verbose, verbosity
121
propitiate/propitious
"the temple was once the site of sacrifices—both to honor the gods in times of plenty and to propitiate them in times of trouble"
to appease, to conciliate, auspicious, favorable
122
pusillanimous
"pusillanimous politicians who vote according to whichever way the political wind is blowing"
cowardly, craven
123
remonstrate
"He got angry when I politely remonstrated with him about littering."
to protest, to object
124
sagacious
"the winner is praised for his sagacious grasp of the hopes and anxieties of the public, the loser is excoriated for the many and obvious blunders that derailed his candidacy"
having sound judgement, perceptive, wise, like a sage
125
salacious
"a song with salacious lyrics turned her on"
| lustful, lascivious, bawdy
126
salutary
"the low interest rates should have a salutary effect on business"
remedial, wholesome, causing improvement
127
sanguine
"He has been strangely sanguine about this, blandly ignoring the mounting evidence that dissident elements in the police are stirring trouble"
cheerful, confident, optimistic
128
saturnine
"He is always sad and saturnine in temperament."
| dark, gloomy, sullen, morose
129
limpid
"the limpid waters of the stream are so clear"
| perfectly clear: clear and simple in style
130
puissance/puissant
"the president pledged to put the full puissance of the nation into the war effort"
power, strength, powerful, strong
131
sententious
"a sententious crank who has written countless letters to the editor about the decline in family values"
aphoristic or moralistic, epigrammatic, tending to moralize excessively
132
aphoristic/aphorism
"When decorating, remember the familiar aphorism, “less is more.”"
a short phrase that expresses a true or wise idea
133
epigrammatic/epigram
"Oscar Wilde's epigrammatic observation, “In America the young are always ready to give to those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience”."
a concise poem dealing pointedly and often satirically with a single thought or event and often ending with an ingenious turn of thought: a terse, sage, or witty and often paradoxical saying
134
stentorian
"the professor's stentorian voice was enough to keep even the drowsiest student awake"
extremely loud and powerful
135
stygian
"lost in the stygian reaches of the deep forest"
| gloomy, dark
136
sycophant
"when her career was riding high, the self-deluded actress often mistook sycophants for true friends"
toady, servile, self-seeking flatterer, parasite
137
tendentious
"He made some extremely tendentious remarks that sparked a debate"
biased, showing marked tendencies
138
timorous
"Timmy is a shy and timorous teenager"
| timid, fearful, diffident
139
tyro
"he's a good musician, but at 14, he's still a tyro and has a lot to learn"
novice, greenhorn, rank amateur
140
vitiate
"The impact of the great film was vitiated by poor acting."
| corrupt, to debase, to spoil, to make ineffective
141
voluble
"my voluble wife knows four different languages"
| fluent, verbal, having easy use of spoken language
