Chapter 1: Core Vocabulary I Flashcards
Anomaly
Deviation from the norm or what is expected
Ambivalent
Having mixed or opposing ideas at the same time
Sarcastic, Sardonic, Snide
Mocking; derisive; taunting; stinging
Dearth, Paucity
A scarcity or shortage of something
Prattle
To speak in a foolish manner; to babble incessantly
Wry, Droll
Dry; humorous with a clever twist and a touch of irony
Unconventional, Unorthodox
Not ordinary or typical; characterized by avoiding customary conventions and behaviors
Meticulous, Painstaking, Fastidious
Extremely careful; very EXACTING
Audacious
Fearlessly, often recklessly daring; very bold
Indifferent, Apathetic
Marked by a lack of interest or concern; NONCHALANT
Diffident, Self-effacing
Hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence; unassertive; shy; retiring
Pragmatic
Practical; sensible; NOT idealistic or romantic
Evocation
An imaginative re-creation of something; a calling forth
Presumptuous
Taking liberties; brashly overstepping one’s place; impertinently bold; displaying EFFRONTERY
Recalcitrant
Stubbornly resistance and defiant; OBSTINATE; OBDURATE; REFRACTORY; disobedient
Boon
A timely benefit; blessing
Bane
A source of harm and ruin
Clandestine, Surreptitious
Secret; covert; not open; NOT ABOVEBOARD
Affable, Amiable, Genial, Gregarious
Agreeable; marked by a pleasing personality; warm and friendly
Austere
Having no adornment or ornamentation; bare; not ORNATE
Austerity
Great self-denial, economy, discipline; lack or adornment
Altrusim
Unselfish concern for the welfare of others
Ambiguity
The quality or state of having more than one possible meaning; doubtful; EQUIVOCAL
Upbraid, Reproach, Castigate
To express disaproval; to scold; to rebuke; to CENSURE
Nostalgia
A WISTFUL, sentimental longing for a place of time in the past
Conjecture
An inference based upon guesswork; a SUPPOSITION
Obsolete, Archaic, Antiquated
No longer in used outmoded in design or style
Auspicious, Propitious
Very favorable
Gaffe
A blunder; a faux pas; a clumsy social or diplomatic error
Impasse
A deadlock; stalemate; failure to reach an agreement
Anachronism
The false assignment of an event, person, scene, or language to a time when the event, person, scene, or word did not exist
Belie
To contradict; to prove false, used of appearances that are misrepresentative
Mitigate, Mollify, Assuage, Alleviate
To relieve; to lessen; to ease
Covet
To strongly desire; to crave
Covetous
Grasping, greedy, eager to obtain something; AVARICIOUS
Antithesis
The direct of exact opposite; extreme contrast; ANTIPODE
Anthithetical
Exactly opposite; ANTIPODAL
Prototype
An original model; an initial design
Aloof
Detached; distance physically or emotionally; reserved; standing near but apart
Trite, Hackneyed, Banal, Platitudinous, Insipid
Unoriginal; commonplace; overused; CLICHED
Antecedent
A preceding event; a FORERUNNER; a PRECURSOR
Plausible
Believable; credible
Implausbile
Unbelievable; incredible
Prudent
Careful; cautious; sensible
Aesthetic
Relating to the nature of beauty, art, and taste; having a sense of what is beautiful, attractive, or pleasing
Paradox
A seemingly contradictory statement that nonetheless expresses the truth
Enigmatic, Inscrutable
Mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling
Acquiesce
To comply; to agree; to give in
Naive, Gullible
Unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly CREDULOUS; unsophisticated; immature; inexperienced; INGENUOUS
Autonomy
Independence; self-governance
Autonomous
Acting independently, or having the freedom to do so; not controlled by others; self-governing
Futile
Completely useless; doomed to failure; in vain
Indigenous, Endemic
Native to an area
Ubiquitous, Prevalent
Characterized by being everywhere; omnipresent; widespread; PERVASIVE
Pandemic
An epidemic that is geographically widespread and affects a large proportion of the population
Fortitude
Strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage
