Chapter 11: The Toughest Words II Flashcards

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1
Q

IDIOSYNCRASY

A

A trait or mannerism that is peculiar to an individual

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2
Q

CENSORIOUS, CAPTIOUS

A

Highly critical; fault-finding

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3
Q

CONSTERNATION

A

A state of great dismay and confusion

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4
Q

DIDACTIC

A

Tending to give instruction or advice; inclined to teach or lecture others too
much; containing a political or moral lesson

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5
Q

ELUCIDATE

A

To make clear or plain, especially by explanation

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6
Q

EFFUSIVE

A

Expressing excessive emotion in an unrestrained manner; gushing

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7
Q

PROLIFIC

A

Very productive

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8
Q

FUROR

A

A general commotion; an uproar

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9
Q

PARANOIA

A

A tendency toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness; irrational fear;
delusions of persecution

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10
Q

MARGINAL, PERIPHERAL

A

Of secondary importance; NOT central; on the perimeter

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11
Q

OBFUSCATE

A

To deliberately confuse; to make something so confusing that it is hard
to understand

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12
Q

FLUMMOX

A

To confuse; to perplex

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13
Q

SPATE

A

A large number or amount

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14
Q

INEFFABLE

A

Too overwhelming to be put into words; indescribable; inexpressible

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15
Q

HISTRIONIC, OVERWROUGHT

A

Excessively dramatic or MELODRAMATIC;

theatrical; overacted

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16
Q

PLACATE

A

To soothe or calm; to appease

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17
Q

ESCHEW

A

To avoid; to shun; to stay clear of

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18
Q

STOPGAP

A

A temporary solution designed to meet an urgent need

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19
Q

FLOTSAM

A

The floating wreckage of a ship; debris

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20
Q

CHURLISH, SULLEN, SURLY

A

Ill-tempered; rude; lacking civility

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21
Q

RESTITUTION

A

The act of making good or compensating for a loss, damage, or injury

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22
Q

DISQUIETING

A

Disturbing; upsetting; vexing; causing unease; worrisome

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23
Q

ORNATE

A

Characterized by elaborate and expensive decorations; LAVISH

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24
Q

EXECRABLE, ODIOUS, REPUGNANT

A

Detestable; repulsive; extremely bad

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25
Q

PERSPICACIOUS, PRESCIENT, DISCERNING

A

Insightful, perceptive

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26
Q

ECLECTIC

A

Choosing or using a variety of sources

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27
Q

HIATUS

A

An interruption in time or continuity; a break

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28
Q

VERTIGINOUS

A

Characterized by or suffering from dizziness; having VERTIGO

29
Q

ESOTERIC, ARCANE

A

haracterized by knowledge that is known only to a small

group of specialists; obscure; RECONDITE

30
Q

SUPERCILIOUS

A

Showing haughty disdain or arrogant superiority

31
Q

BLITHE

A

Joyous; sprightly; mirthful; light; vivacious

32
Q

UNDERWRITE

A

To assume financial responsibility for

33
Q

DISCOMFITED

A

Uneasy; in a state of embarrassment

34
Q

TACITURN

A

Habitually quiet; uncommunicative

35
Q

SINECURE

A

An office or position that provides an income for little or no work

36
Q

COSMOPOLITAN

A

Worldly; sophisticated; open-minded and aware of the big picture;

37
Q

PROVINCIAL, PAROCHIAL, INSULAR

A

Limited in perspective; narrow; restricted in scope

and outlook

38
Q

LUGUBRIOUS

A

Sad, mournful, MELANCHOLIC

39
Q

FECUND

A

Intellectually productive or inventive, fertile

40
Q

OSTENTATIOUS

A

Showy; intended to attract notice; pretentious

41
Q

GUILE

A

Treacherous cunning; skillful deceit

42
Q

SANGUINE

A

Cheerfully confident; optimistic

43
Q

SCINTILLATING

A

Sparkling; shining; brilliantly clever

44
Q

PRISTINE

A

Remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted by civilization

45
Q

RAMPANT

A

Unrestrained; unchecked

46
Q

PERNICIOUS

A

Highly injurious; destructive; deadly

47
Q

OBLIVIOUS

A

Lacking conscious awareness; unmindful; unaware

48
Q

REFRACTORY

A

Obstinately resistant to authority or control

49
Q

GARRULOUS, VERBOSE, LOQUACIOUS

A

Annoyingly talkative; VOLUBLE

50
Q

CONVIVIAL

A

Sociable; fond of feasting, drinking, and good company

51
Q

BRUSQUE, CURT

A

Abrupt in manner or speech; discourteously blunt

52
Q

TEPID

A

Lukewarm; mild; half-hearted

53
Q

PROTEAN

A

Readily taking on varied forms and meanings

54
Q

SOLICITOUS

A

Showing great care and concern; attentive

55
Q

DISINGENUOUS

A

Insincere; Not straightforward; NOT CANDID

56
Q

VENERATE, REVERE

A

To regard with great respect; to hold in high esteem

57
Q

CONTENTIOUS

A

Quarrelsome; argumentative; likely to provoke a controversy;

DISPUTATIOUS

58
Q

PRECLUDE

A

To make impossible; to rule out; to prevent

59
Q

COMPUNCTION, CONTRITION, REMORSE, PENITENCE

A

Feelings of sincere and

deep regret

60
Q

DEMOGRAPHY

A

The study of the characteristics of human populations

61
Q

APHORISM, AXIOM

A

A statement universally accepted as true; a MAXIM

62
Q

JUXTAPOSE

A

To place side by side or in close PROXIMITY

63
Q

JUXTAPOSITION

A

The position of being close together or side by side

64
Q

BOMBASTIC

A

POMPOUS or PRETENTIOUS in speech or writing;

OSTENTATIOUSLY lofty in style

65
Q

FORBEARANCE

A

Abstaining from the enforcement of a right; the act of refraining from
acting on a desire or impulse

66
Q

UNFETTERED

A

Freed from restraint of any kind; liberated

67
Q

PRESCRIBE

A

To require; to order; to direct

68
Q

PROSCRIBE

A

To forbid; to prohibit; to

outlaw