Box2_4 Flashcards
incandescent
shining
convoluted
intricate; complicated
delectable
very pleasing; delightful, esp. to the taste
pejorative
downgrading
coerce
to force by threat or intimidation
plaintive
expressing sorrow
dissemble
to deceive or conceal
tenuous
weak; thin
formidable
inspiring fear or dread
compunction
a feeling of uneasiness caused by a sense of guilt
demure
coy; modest; reserved
influx
a mass arrival or incoming
pale
to decrease in relative importance
immaterial
not significant or relevant
verve
energy in movement
chastise
to punish by beating
dispense
to administer; to distribute
preeminent
superior in status or fame to all others, esp. as a generally recognized quality
jaundice
prejudice; bias
prone
tending or likely to do something
relent
to become less severe; to give in
kindred
related or similar in origin or nature
gourmet
a connoisseur of food and drink
pontificate
to speak pompously and at length
foolhardy
reckless; bold without judgement
hidebound
narrow-minded
jeremiad
an elaborate and lengthy tale of sadness
graze
to feed on grasses
patrimony
inherited property, esp. from a father or other male ancestor
precipice
a cliff
maxim
a short saying expressing a general principle
cudgel
a heavy, usually short, stick or club; to hit with such a stick or club
fume
to be in a state of anger
maverick
one who rebels; a nonconformist; an individualist
civic
pertaining to a city or citizen
hefty
heavy; big and strong, muscular
libel
a false written statement that damages a person’s reputation
intemperate
lacking in moderation; excessive
dregs
the worst part; the sediment in a liquid
lacerate
to rip, cut, or tear; to cause deep emotional pain
epicure
one with refined tastes, esp. in food and wine
onus
an unpleasant task or duty; a burden or obligation
effect
to bring about
fete
lavish entertainment; a festival
ample
enough, or more than enough; plentiful
concerted
planned or accomplished together
decimate
to destroy or kill a large part of (a group)
laconic
brief in speech
perplex
to puzzle, confuse, or bewilder
sentiment
a feeling or opinion, esp. based on emotion instead of reason
deem
to have as an opinion; to consider
demean
to disrespect; to lower; to degrade; to ridicule
knack
a specific talent for doing something, esp. one that is difficult to teach
incriminate
to make appear guilty of a crime or fault
harbor
to give shelter; to entertain or nourish
convalesce
to recover from illness; to recuperate
predilection
a special liking for something
pernicious
very harmful or destructive
averse
opposed, reluctant
heady
intoxicating; exhilarating
tourniquet
a device, usually an encircling bandage, used to cut off flow of blood
incense
to make angry
concoct
to invent
incognito
in disguise
conjecture
an inference or conclusion based on incomplete evidence
contentious
always ready to argue; quarrelsome
exuberant
lively, happy and full of good spirits
regal
kingly
endemic
native to a particular country
intransigent
refusing to compromise or agree
abate
to lessen in amount, intensity or strength
imperative
urgently necessary
umbrage
offense or resentment (used with “take”)
exalt
to raise in status or character; to increase the effect or intensity of
implausible
difficult to believe
lout
an awkward, stupid person
guise
external appearance, esp. a false one
contingent
dependent on conditions or circumstances
errant
wandering outside of established limits; straying
perjury
lying under oath
chagrin
feeling of embarrassment because of failure or disappointment
frail
easily broken
fulminate
to issue a strong verbal attack
ravage
to cause great destruction to
incipient
beginning to appear or be noticed
propriety
good manner; proper behavior
hectic
characterized by intense activity
immaculate
perfectly clean
ramshackle
about to fall apart or fall down
maneuver
to direct through a series of movements; to manipulate into a desired position
scoff
to make fun of; to ridicule
resuscitate
to revive, esp. from apparent death or inconsciousness
harbinger
someone or something that indicates what is to come
quarantine
enforced isolation to prevent the spread of disease; to isolate for such purpose
defame
to attack a person’s reputation
pristine
remaining in a pure state
tributary
a stream flowing into a larger river; making additions or producing supplies
staple
a basic or principal item, esp. of food; principal
bellow
to yell very loudly; to shout
internecine
pertaining to conflict within a group
pandemic
general, widespread; a very widespread disease
assiduous
diligent; hard-working; constant
inoculate
to inject something, esp. a medicine, into in order to create immunity
ledger
a book for keeping financial records
wreak
to inflict; to cause (something bad)
discrete
individually distinct or separate
retrospect
the consideration of past events
meager
lacking in quantity or vigor; scanty
recalcitrant
marked by stubborn defiance of authority or guidance
presumptuous
excessively forward or overconfident
pretext
an excuse; a strategy intended to conceal something
admonish
to warn so a fault can be corrected or a danger avoided
gambit
a calculated, risky opening move
imposing
impressive by virtue of size, power, or manner
grovel
to beg; to lower oneself to please another
endorse
to give approval or support to
fidelity
strict faithfulness to vows or promises
jetsam
cargo or equipment thrown overboard to lighten a ship in distress
prevaricate
to speak or write evasively in order to avoid telling the truth
calamity
an event causing extreme trouble and misery
ingenuous
innocent; naive
rout
an overwhelming defeat; to defeat overwhelmingly
obsolescent
becoming out-of-date
gaudy
characterized by tasteless or showy colors
leviathan
something enormous and powerful; a sea monster
deign
to stoop to a level considered beneath one’s dignity
sleuth
detective
ruminate
to ponder at length
bolster
to support or strengthen
humbug
something done to trick or deceive
metamorphosis
a transformation, as by magic; a marked change in appearance of function
prognosis
the anticipated progress of recovery
obscene
offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty
accolade
an award or honor; a sign of great respect
