Chapter 1: Core Vocabulary I Flashcards
AMBIVALENT
Having mixed or opposing feelings at the same time
ANOMALY
Deviation from the norm or what is expected;
ANOMALOUS
ATYPICAL, full of ANOMALIES
SARCASTIC, SARDONIC, SNIDE
Mocking, derisive, taunting, and 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
DIFFIDENT, SELF-EFFACING
Hesitant due to a lack of self-confidence; unassertive
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
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 of adornment
ALTRUISM
Unselfish concern for the welfare of others
AMBIGUITY
The quality or state of having more than one possible meaning
AMBIGUOUS
Unclear; uncertain; open to more than one interpretation; not definitive
UPBRAID, REPROACH, CASTIGATE
To express disapproval; scold; rebuke;
CENSURE
NOSTALGIA
A WISTFUL, sentimental longing for a place or time in the past
CONJECTURE
An inference based upon guesswork; a SUPPOSITION
OBSOLETE, ARCHAIC, ANTIQUATED
No longer in use; outmoded in design or
style
AUSPICIOUS, PROPITIOUS
Very favorable
MOROSE
Very depressed; DESPONDENT; mournful
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 misrepresent; to prove to be false
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 or exact opposite; extreme contrast; ANTIPODE
ANTITHETICAL
Exactly opposite; ANTIPODAL
PROTOTYPE
An original model; an initial design
ALOOF
Detached; distant physically or emotionally; reserved; standing near but apart
TRITE, HACKNEYED, BANAL, PLATITUDINOUS, INSIPID
Unoriginal; commonplace; overused; CLICHÉD
ANTECEDENT
A preceding event; a FORERUNNER; a PRECURSOR
PLAUSIBLE
Believable; credible
IMPLAUSIBLE
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 a truth
ENIGMATIC, INSCRUTABLE
Mysterious; puzzling; unfathomable; baffling
ACQUIESCE
To comply; agree; give in
NAÏVE, GULLIBLE
Unaffectedly simple; lacking worldly expertise; overly
CREDULOUS; unsophisticated
AUTONOMY
Independent; not controlled by others; self-governing
AUTONOMOUS
Acting independently, or having the freedom to do so
FUTILE
Completely useless; doomed to failure
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
