Box3-1 Flashcards
coax
to persuade or obtain by pleading or flattery
abide
to tolerate
invoke
to call upon; to appeal to, as tor comfirmation
lummox
a clumsy person
fermont
excitement; agitation
nuance
variation of meaning
allegory
a literary work in which the characters represent abstract ideas; a symbolic representation
cavil
to argue in a petty fashion; to make trifling objections
tract
an area of land or water; a brief written work, usually on a religious or political topic
emphatic
done or expressed with force
indifferent
uncaring; showing no bias or preference
primordial
living or existing at the very biginning
sanguine
optimistic, cheerful
moratorium
suspension of activity; authorized delay
squander
to spend wastefully
implicit
not plainly stated
antipathy
a feeling of strong repulsion or aversion
bondage
slavery; servitude
camaraderie
loyalty; a warm, friendly feeling among members of a group
choleric
easily angered
quarry
a hunted bird or animal; prey
aural
perceived by the ear
tout
to solicit customers; to praise or recommend highly
rural
relating to the country or farming
assail
to attack; to assault
congenial
suited to one’s needs or nature; friendly; sympathetic
mangle
to mutilate; to disfigure something by cutting or crushing
lugubrious
sad or mournful, esp. in a way that seems exaggerated or ridiculous
rebuke
to criticize sharply
terse
without unnecessary words
gangly
awkwardly tall
impoverished
without money
reprehensible
deserving to be severely criticized
precarious
dangerously insecure or unstable
extricate
to remove from an entanglement or difficulty
mayhem
deliberate injury of someone, esp. maiming; a state of violent chaos
acoustics
science of sound
fluke
an accidental stroke of good luck
ascertain
to discover with certainty, as through examination
contrite
feeling sorry for what one has done
doctrine
a set of principles
jilt
to reject or cast off
downtrodden
badly and unfairly treated
arable
suitable for growing crops (of land)
forensic
related to the law or debate
diffident
lacking self-confidence
tandem
a relationship between two people or things involving cooperative action
acrimony
bitter, sharp hostility in speech or behavior
moribund
approaching death; nearly obsolete
hubris
excessive pride
allege
to assert to be true, esp. without or before proof
reticence
the quality or state of being silent or uncommunicative
dote
to show excessive love or fondness
explicit
fully revealed or made clear
banish
to drive away
repose
relaxation; a state of rest
abrade
to wear down a surface by or as if by scraping
scour
to wash by scrubbing vigorously
disconsolate
extremely unhappy
grimace
a facial expression that shows disapproval or pain; to make a such an expression
unkempt
sloppy; messy
quintessence
a pure substance or essence of something
ubiquitous
present everywhere
fawn
to exhibit affection like a dog
emulate
to copy someone
sinecure
a paid position that requires little or no work
palpable
capable of being handled, touched, or felt
mar
to damage
sullen
showing silent anger and unwillingness to be pleasant to people
redress
to set right; to remedy
berate
to scold severely and at length
wary
cautious
notorious
having a bad reputation
provenance
place or source of origin
equivocal
capable of multiple interpretations; unclear
germane
fitting and appropriate
opportunist
one who takes advantages of every opportunity, whether or not it is moral to do so
solicitous
showing great concern for or attention to another
panacea
a cure-all or an all-purpose solution
blight
a plant disease; something that impairs growth, progress, or prospeerity
affluence
wealth
succumb
to give in or yield
mnemonic
pertaining to or assisting the memory
austere
stern or severe in appearance; without luxury
halcyon
calm; peaceful
crevice
a crack or narrow fissure
burgeon
to sprout or grow rapidly
robust
strong and full of health
catharsis
purging of the emotions
sully
to dirty or tarnish, esp. by disgracing
apogee
the highest point
inordinate
excessive, unrestrained
premonition
a sense of a future event; a warning in advance
recede
to go back; to withdraw
elaborate
detailed; carefully thorough; to develop with care or at greater length
collateral
parallel; serving to support; of a secondary nature
defer
to delay
xenophobia
fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners
respite
temporary relief
insatiable
incapable of being satisfied
haggard
appearing tired and thin, as from anxiety, disease, hunger, etc
sedate
calm; quiet
docile
easy to teach
dismay
to destroy courage or resolution; to cause to lose enthusiasm, to disillusion
assimilate
to take in as one’s own; to absorb; to adapt or adjust to the customs, etc. of a group
transient
passing with time; remaining only briefly
abdicate
to willingly give up the position of king, queen, etc.
epitome
a representative example of a type
magnanimous
generous; noble in mind
posterity
future generations
inculcate
to teach or impress by frequent repetition
ensue
to happen subesquently
ulterior
lying beyond what is evident, revealed, or claimed
phlegmatic
having a calm, sluggish temperament; unemotional
dogmatic
arrogantly asserting unproved principles
advocate
to speak in support of something
rectituce
conduct according to moral principles
pandemonium
a situation of great confusion, esp. because of fear or anger
etymology
the study of origins of words
predominant
surpassing all others; most common
