Book22 Flashcards
staccato
played in an abrupt manner; marked by abrupt sharp sound; Ex. staccato applause
legato
(of music) played smoothly
stagnant
(of water) not flowing (often bad-smelling); motionless; stale; not developing; inactive; dull; Ex. stagnant industrial output
staid
serious and sedate; sober; Ex. staid during the funeral ceremony
stalemate
deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
stalwart
physically strong; brawny; steadfast; strong in mind or determination; Ex. stalwart supporter; N: stalwart follower
stamina
power of endurance; strength; staying power
stanch
stop or check flow of blood; Ex. stanch the gushing wound
stanza
division of a poem (composed of two or more lines)
static
having no motion; unchanging; lacking development; N. stasis: stable state
statute
law enacted by the legislature
statutory
created by statute or legislative action; regulated by statute; Ex. statutory age limit
steadfast
steadily loyal; unswerving; steady
stealth
action of moving secretly or unseen; slyness; sneakiness; secretiveness; ADJ. stealthy
steep
soak; saturate; Ex. steep the fabric in the dye bath; ADJ: precipitous
stellar
pertaining to the stars; of a star performer; outstanding; Ex. stellar attraction of the entire performance
stem
stop or check (the flow of); Ex. stem the bleeding from the slashed artery; N: main axis of a plant; stalk
stem_from
arise from; originate from
stentorian
(of the voice) extremely loud; CF. Stentor: a loud herald in the Iliad
stereotype
one regarded as embodying a set image or type; fixed and unvarying representation; standardized mental picture often reflecting prejudice; Ex. stereotype of the happy slave; V: make a stereotype of; represent by a stereotype; Ex. It is wrong to stereotype people; Ex. stereotyped answer
stickler
perfectionist; person who insists things be exactly right
stifle
suppress; extinguish; inhibit; smother or suffocate
smother
kill from lack of air; suppress; cover thickly; Ex. smothered in little stickers
suffocate
die or kill from lack of air; suppress
stigma
token of disgrace; brand; V. stigmatize: mark with a stigma; characterize as disgraceful
stilted
bombastic; stiffly pompous; Ex. stilted rhetoric; CF. stiff: formal
stint
set limits in amount or number; be thrifty; ADJ. stinting, unstinting; CF. stint:savings
stint
supply; allotted amount of work; assigned portion of work; limitation; Ex. two-year stint in the army; Ex. without stint
stipend
pay for services
stipple
paint or draw with dots or short strokes
stipulate
state as a necessary condition (of an agreement); make express conditions; specify; Ex. He stipulated payment in advance
stock
standard; kept regularly in stock or supply; typical; routine; common; Ex. stock sizes of paper; Ex. stock excuse/character; N: goods for sale in a shop; OP. unique
stockade
wooden enclosure or pen; fixed line of posts used as defensive barrier
pen
fenced enclosure for animals; confining space; Ex. sheep pen; V: confine in a pen; enclose
stodgy
dull; stuffy; boringly conservative; Ex. stodgy book
stoic
stoical; impassive; unmoved by joy or grief; N. CF. stoicism
stoke
stir up a fire or furnace; feed plentifully
stolid
dull; impassive; showing little emotion when strong feelings are expected
stratagem
deceptive scheme; clever trick
stratified
divided into classes; arranged into strata; V. stratify
stratum
layer of earth’s surface; layer of society; PL. strata
strew
spread randomly; sprinkle; scatter; Ex. flower girl strewing rose petals
striated
marked with parallel bands; striped; grooved; Ex. striated rocks; V. striate; N. stria: thin groove or line
stricture
severe and adverse criticism; critical comments; limit or restriction
strident
loud and harsh; insistent; N. stridency
stringent
(of rules) binding; rigid; marked by scarcity of money; Ex. stringent economic conditions
strut
pompous walk; V: walk in a self-important manner
strut
supporting bar; CF. airplane wing, building support
studied
carefully contrived; calculated; unspontaneous; deliberate; thoughtful; Ex. studied remark
stultify
make stupid in mind; cause to appear or become stupid or inconsistent; suppress; frustrate or hinder; Ex. stultifying effect of uninteresting work; Ex. stultify free expression
stupefy
stun; make numb (as with a drug); amaze
stupor
state of being stupefied; state of apathy; daze; lack of awareness
stun
make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
daze
stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.
stygian
unpleasantly dark; gloomy; hellish; deathly; CF. Styx: the chief river in the subterranean land of the dead
stymie
thwart; present an obstacle; stump
stump
base of a tree trunk left after the rest has been cut down; V: walk in a heavy manner; baffle; puzzle
suavity
urbanity; polish; ADJ. suave: smooth and courteous
subaltern
subordinate
subdue
less intense; quieter; Ex. subdued lighting; Ex. subdue: conquer; make less intense; quiet; Ex. subdue one’s anger
subjective
influenced by personal feelings; occurring or taking place within the mind; unreal; Ex. subjective sensation of the ghostly presence
subjugate
conquer; bring under control
sublimate
refine; purify; replace (natural urges) with socially acceptable activities; change between a solid state and a gaseous state
sublime
causing deep feelings of wonder, joy, respect, etc.; exalted; noble and uplifting; utter
subliminal
below the threshold of conscious perception; Ex. subliminal advertisement
submissive
willing to obey orders; yielding; timid
subordinate
occupying a lower rank; inferior; submissive; N. V: put in a lower rank or class
suborn
persuade to act unlawfully (especially to commit perjury); N. subornation
subpoena
writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena
subsequent
following in time or order; later
subservient
behaving like a slave; servile; obsequious; subordinate; N. subservience
subside
sink to a lower level; settle down; sink to the bottom (as a sediment); descend; grow quiet; become less; moderate; abate
subsidiary
serving to assist; subordinate; secondary; of a subsidy; N.
subsidy
direct financial aid by government, etc.; V. subsidize: assist with a subsidy
subsistence
existence; means of subsisting; means of support; livelihood; V. subsist: exist; maintain life (at a meager level)
substantial
of substance; material; solid; essential or fundamental; ample; considerable; well-to-do; wealthy
substantiate
support (a claim) with evidence; establish with evidence; verify
substantive
substantial; essential; pertaining to the substance; substantial; considerable; Ex. substantive issues
subsume
include (as a member of a group); encompass
subterfuge
stratagem(deceptive scheme); pretense; evasion; Ex. resort to a harmless subterfuge
subtlety
perceptiveness; ingenuity; delicacy; ADJ. subtle: delicate; so slight as to be difficult to detect; able to make fine distinctions; clever; Ex. subtle mind/differences in meaning
subversive
tending to overthrow or ruin; V. subvert: overthrow completely (an established system); destroy completely; CF. undermine ?
succor
assist (someone in difficulty); aid; comfort; N.
succulent
juicy; full of juice or sap; full of richness; N: succulent plant such as a cactus
succumb
yield (to something overwhelming); give in; die; Ex. succumb to the illness
suffragist
advocate of the extension of voting rights (for women); CF. suffrage
suffuse
spread through or over (with a color or liquid); charge; Ex. A blush suffused her cheeks.
sully
defile; soil; tarnish; Ex. sully one’s hands in menial labor
tarnish
make or become dull or discolored; N.
sultry
(of weather) hot; sweltering; sensual; voluptuous
summation
act of finding the total; summing-up; summary (esp. one given by the judge at the end of a trial)
sumptuous
grand suggesting great expense; lavish; rich; Ex. sumptuous feast
sunder
separate; part; CF. asunder
sundry
miscellaneous; various; several; N. sundries: small miscellaneous items
superannuated
retired or disqualified because of age; outmoded; obsolete
supercilious
haughty; arrogant; condescending; patronizing; CF. eyebrow, cilium
supererogatory
superfluous; more than needed or demanded
superficial
of the surface; not deep; shallow; not thorough; trivial; Ex. superficial analysis/knowledge
superfluous
excessive; overabundant; unnecessary; N. superfluity
superimpose
place over something else
supernumerary
person or thing excess of what is necessary; extra; ADJ: additional to the usual or necessary number
supersede
replace; cause to be set aside; make obsolete; N. supersession
supine
lying on back; passive; inactive; Ex. The defeated pugilist lay supine; Ex. supine acceptance of the decision
supplant
take the place of unfairly; usurp; replace
supple
flexible; limber; pliant
suppliant
entreating; beseeching; N.
supplicate
petition humbly; pray to grant a favor
supplicant
one who supplicates; ADJ.
supposition
assumption; hypothesis; surmise; V. suppose
supposititious
assumed; counterfeit; hypothetical
suppress
put an end to forcibly; subdue; stifle; overwhelm; inhibit the expression of; check; prevent from being published or made public; Ex. suppress a smile; Ex. suppress the magazine/truth
surfeit
satiate; feed or supply to excess; stuff; indulge to excess in anything; N: surfeiting; excessive amount; Ex. surfeit of food
surly
bad-tempered; rude; cross
cross
bad-tempered; showing ill-humor; angry
surmise
guess; N.
surmount
overcome
surpass
exceed
surreptitious
done secretly; secret; furtive; sneaky; hidden
surrogate
substitute; person or thing used in place of another; Ex. surrogate mother; ADJ.
surveillance
close observation of a person (esp. one under suspicion); watching; guarding
susceptible
impressionable; easily influenced; sensitive; having little resistance as to a disease; likely to suffer; receptive to; capable of accepting; Ex. susceptible to persuasion/colds; Ex. The agreement is not susceptible of alteration; N. susceptibility
sustain
suffer (harm or loss); experience; support; prop; maintain; keep in existence; nourish (to maintain life); Ex. sustain the family/the trapped miners
sustenance
sustaining; means of livelihood, support, food, nourishment; something that maintains life; food
suture
stitches sewn to hold the cut edges of a wound or incision; material used in sewing; V: sew together a wound
swarthy
(of a skin or complexion) dark; dusky; Ex. swarthy Italian ?
swathe
swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one’s head swathed in bandages
swelter
(of a person) suffer from oppressive heat; be oppressed by heat
swerve
deviate; turn aside sharply from a straight course; Ex. swerve from the principle; Ex. The car swerved to the right.
swill
drink greedily
swindler
cheater
sybarite
lover of luxury; person devoted to pleasure and luxury; CF. Sybaris: an ancient Greek city in Italy
sycophant
servile flatterer; bootlicker; yes man; ADJ. sycophantic
syllogism
logical formula consisting of a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion; deceptive or specious argument
sylvan
pertaining to the woods or the country
symbiosis
interdependent relationship (between groups, species) often mutually beneficial; ADJ. symbiotic; CF. together + life
symmetry
arrangement of parts so that balance is obtained; congruity; ADJ. symmetrical
lopsided
heavier or larger on one side than the other; Ex. lopsided way of walking
synchronous
similarly timed; simultaneous with; occurring at the same time; V. synchronize
synoptic
providing a general overview; summary; N. synopsis
synthesis
combining parts or separate things into a whole; the whole so formed; PL. syntheses; V. synthesize
synthetic
not natural; artificial; resulting from synthesis; Ex. synthetic fiber; N.
tacit
understood (without actually being expressed); not put into words; Ex. tacit agreement
taciturn
habitually silent; talking little
tactile
pertaining to the organs or sense of touch
tact
skill or sensitivity in dealing with people without causing offence
taint
contaminate; cause to lose purity; modify with a trace of something bad; Ex. tainted reputation; N: stain; touch of decay or bad influence; CF. touch
talisman
charm; object believed to give supernatural powers to or protect its bearer
talon
claw of bird
tangential
only slightly connected; not central; peripheral; digressing; showing divergence; CF. tangent
tangible
able to be touched; real; concrete; palpable; possible to realize or understand; Ex. tangible proof
tanner
person who turns animal hides into leather
tan
convert (hide) into leather; make brown by exposure to the sun
tantalize
tease; excite by exposing something desirable while keeping it out of reach; torture with disappointment; CF. Tantalus: Greek mythological figure
tantamount
equivalent in effect or value; Ex. This invasion is tantamount to a declaration of war; CF. amount
tantrum
fit of bad temper; fit of petulance; caprice; Ex. The child went into tantrums.
taper
very thin candle; gradual decrease in the width of a long object; V. make or become gradually narrower toward one end
tarantula
venomous spider
tarry
linger; delay in starting or going; dawdle
taut
tight; strained; tense; ready; OP. slack
tautological
needlessly repetitious; Ex. ``It was visible to the eye’’; N. tautology: needless repetition of the same sense; statement that is always true
tawdry
cheap and gaudy; Ex. tawdry jewelry
taxonomist
specialist in classifying (animals, etc.); CF. taxonomy: science of classification
tedium
boredom; weariness; ADJ. tedious
teetotalism
practice of abstaining totally from alcoholic drinks; N. teetotaler;; ADJ. teetotal; CF. T + total
temerity
boldness; nerve; rashness; Ex. temerity to ask for a pay increase after only three day’s work
temper
moderate; make less severe; tone down or restrain; toughen (steel) as by alternate heating and cooling
temperament
characteristic frame of mind; disposition; emotional excess; ADJ. temperamental: of temperament; having frequent changes of temper; Ex. temperamental dislike of sports; Ex. temperamental actress
temperate
moderate; restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature; CF. temperance: moderation and self-restraint; abstinence of alcoholic drinks; Ex. temperance society
tempestuous
stormy; violent; impassioned; N. tempest: violent storm
tempo
speed of music
temporal
of time; not lasting forever; limited by time; temporary; secular; worldly
temporize
gain time as by postponing an action; avoid committing oneself
tenacious
holding fast (as to a belief); persistent
tenacity
firmness; persistence
tendentious
promoting a particular point of view; biased; having an aim; designed to further a cause; Ex. tendentious rather than truth-seeking; CF. tend: move in a certain direction
tender
offer formally; extend; Ex. tender one’s resignation/the exact fare; N: formal offer; money; Ex. legal tender; ADJ: young and vulnerable; sensitive to the touch; sore; soft; delicate; Ex. child of tender years; Ex. tender wound
tenet
doctrine; dogma
tensile
capable of being stretched; of tension; Ex. tensile rubber
tension
stretching; condition of being stretched; mental strain; strained relationship between groups or people
tentative
not fully worked out or developed; provisional; experimental; uncertain; hesitant; not definite or positive; Ex. tentative agreement/reply
tenuous
thin; slim; rare
tenure
holding of an office or real estate; time during which such an office is held
tepid
lukewarm; slightly warm; ¹ÌÃö±ÙÇÒ; half-hearted; not eager; Ex. tepid reaction to the new film; Ex. tepid supporter
termination
end; V. terminate
terminology
terms used in a science or art; study of nomenclature
terminus
last stop of railroad; end
terminal
part that forms the end; railroad or bus station; ADJ. forming an end; ending in death; fatal; Ex. terminal cancer
terrestrial
on or relating to the earth
terse
concise; abrupt; pithy
tertiary
third in order or rank
tessellated
mosaic; inlaid; Ex. tessellated pattern
testator
maker of a will; CF. testatrix
testy
irritable; impatient and bad-tempered; short-tempered; N. testiness
tether
tie (an animal) with a rope or tether; N: rope or chain to which an animal is tied; limit of one’s endurance; Ex. the end of one’s tether
thematic
of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea
theocracy
government run by religious leaders
theoretical
based on theory; not practical or applied; hypothetical
therapeutic
curative; N. therapy
thermal
pertaining to heat; producing heat; warm; Ex. thermal bath; N: rising current of warm air
thespian
pertaining to drama; N: actor or actress
