Box2_3 Flashcards
progeny
children or descendants
echelon
a level within an organization
renege
to fail to carry out a promise
infer
to reason or conclude from evidence
lurid
causing shock or horror
threadbare
old and worn out
fecund
producing offspring; fruitfull
visceral
instinctive; relating to the internal organs
bestow
to present or give (used with “on”)
mutilate
to disfigure by damaging irreparably
insouciant
calm and untroubled
proscribe
to prohibit or forbid
prodigal
exceedingly or recklessly wasteful
obituary
a newspaper account of a person’s death, usually including biographical information
farce
a comedy based on crudely humorous, unlikely situations
chasten
to correct by punishment or criticism
coup
a clever, sudden act or maneuver; a trimuph
proficient
very skillful, esp. through training
marquee
a sign over the entrance to a public building
affront
an open insult, usually intentional
onerous
burdensome, hard to bear
adhere
to stick to; to be a firm follower
foreboding
a sense of impending evil, esp. one without definite cause
precursor
someone or something that comes before another and announces or suggests what is to come
mendacious
lying; false, esp. habitually
spontaneous
occurring naturally or without forethought
manifold
of many kinds
acclimate
to make comfortable in a new environment
bellwether
something that serves as an indicator or leader of future trends
cumbersome
clumsy or difficult to manage
replicate
to copy, reproduce, or repeat
interloper
one who interferes with the affairs of others
flaunt
to display ostentatiously; to show off; to boast
curb
to restrain or control
matriarch
a woman who rules a family or clan
anecdote
a brief story, often humorous
elated
in high spirits; joyful
deploy
a station or assemble troops or forces in position
capitulate
to surrender under specific conditions
reflective
thoughtful
conflate
to bring together; to merge into a composite whole
cursory
superficially done
patrician
a person of refined manners or background
modest
limited in amount, extent, etc.
flaccid
lacking firmness
suave
effortlessly smooth and courteous in social situations
savor
to taste or smell, esp. with pleasure; the taste or smell
gross
total, entire
offhand
without preparation or forethought
pilfer
to steal a small amount
harangue
a long pompous speech
counter
to offer in response
profligate
immorally wasteful
relief
a distinction or prominence due to contrast
attain
to reach, get, or accomplish
veneer
an attractive, ultimately misleading outward show
mannerism
a distinctive behavioral trait
quaff
to drink quickly or with enthusiam
furrow
a trench in the earth made by a plow
adept
very skilled, esp. natural talent improved by practice
recidivist
one who returns to criminal habits
limber
bending easily; flexible
undaunted
not faltering or hesitating because of fear or discouragement
lofty
very high; noble
provocative
tending to stimulate by making one interested or angry
equanimity
evenness of temper, esp. as a characteristic state
impervious
completely resistant to penetration
vehement
forceful; furious
veer
to change direction
tenable
able to be maintained in argument; defensible
levity
lack of seriousness, esp. when improper
defray
provide for the payment of
reprieve
to postpone or cancel punishment
rapture
the experience of great joy; ecstasy
skew
to place at an angle; to cause bias in or distort
discern
to perceive and understand so as to make distinctions
consternation
a sudden feeling of anxiety, shock, or confusion
decoy
a thing or person used to lure or tempt into a trap
iniquity
extreme immorality or injustice
ponder
to think over with great care
modulate
to adjust or regulate
gingerly
very carefully
saturate
to soak or fill to capacity
commute
to change a punishment to one less severe
delegate
to entrust to another person
malicious
spiteful
refuse
garbage
impregnable
invincible; unconquerable
acquiesce
to agree without protest
stalwart
firm and resolute
vigorous
energetic; strong and healthy
abet
to encourage, assist, or support, usually in wrongdoing
obscure
lacking light; dim; dark
polemic
a controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion
inert
unable to move or respond
fallacy
a false notion, esp. one based on incorrect reasoning
nadir
the lowest point
mausoleum
a huge tomb
inveterate
established for a long time
mystical
having a spiritual sense or importance beyond human understanding
verbiage
excessive wordiness
harrowing
very distressing; painful
vagrant
a person who wanders from place to place, esp. one who lives on the streets and constitutes a public nuisance
hue
a shade of color
opaque
not letting in light
indisposed
slightly ill; unwilling
husband
to use sparingly; to converse
recruit
to restore or renew the health or vitality of
sublime
of high spiritual or moral worth
paradigm
an example
felon
one who has committed a serious crime
juncture
a point of time
appraise
to officially estimate the worth of
ramification
a development or consequence resulting from a course of action
juxtapose
to put side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast
inherent
included as an essential part; intrinsic
maintain
to provide support
dissent
to disagree
sediment
a residue that settles in the bottom of something
destitution
the lack of any means of subsistence
beleaguered
harassed; besieged
displace
to take the place of
effusive
overflowing
itinerary
a route or proposed route for a journey
accost
to approach and speak to, usually aggressively
mortal
subject to death
idiom
a style or manner of expression peculiar to an individual or group
hoggepodge
mixture; combination
megalomania
a condition marked by delusional fantasies of power, wealth, or omnipotence
grudge
to be reluctant to give or admit
implore
to ask for urgently; to beg
kudos
glory; fame
luminescent
emitting light not derived from heat, e.g., through chemical reaction
expanse
a large amount of something spread out
rhapsody
a state of great happiness
concurrent
happening at the same time
pariah
a social outcast
postulate
to assume as true, esp. as a precondition in a chain of reasoning
polymath
one who knows a great deal about several different fields
mammoth
very large
eloquent
articulate; convincing and effective in speech
impetuous
characterized by sudden emotion, energy, etc.
extraneous
not an essential part of
predatory
characterized by robbing or exploiting others
penitent
feeling regret
revel
to delight, to enjoy (used with “in”)
