Chapter 14 Flashcards
felicitous
adj.
- Admirably suited; apt: a felicitous comparison.
- Exhibiting an agreeably appropriate manner or style: a felicitous writer.
- Marked by happiness or good fortune: a felicitous life.
ineffable
adj.
- Incapable of being expressed; indescribable or unutterable: ineffable joy.
- Not to be uttered; taboo: the ineffable name of God.
parochial
adj.
- Of, relating to, supported by, or located in a parish.
- Of or relating to parochial schools.
- Narrowly restricted in scope or outlook; provincial: parochial attitudes.
utilitarian
adj.
- Of, relating to, or in the interests of utility: utilitarian considerations in industrial design.
- Exhibiting or stressing utility over other values; practica; useful: plain, utilitarian kitchenware.
- Of, characterized by, or advocating utilitarianism.
apathetic
adj.
- Feeling or showing a lack of interest or concern; indifferent.
- Feeling or showing little or no emotion; unresponsive.
disapprobation
n.
Moral disapproval; condemnation.
martinet
n.
- A rigid military disciplinarian.
- One who demands absolute adherence to forms and rules; one who believes in strict discipline.
apocryphal
adj.
- Of questionable authorship or authenticity.
- Erroneous; fictitious
circumlocution
n.
- The use of unnecessarily wordy language, especially in being vague or evasive.
- A roundabout or evasive expression
masochism
n.
- The deriving of sexual gratification, or the tendency to derive sexual gratification, from being physically or emotionally abused.
- The deriving of pleasure, or the tendency to derive pleasure, from being humiliated or mistreated, either by another or by oneself.
- A willingness or tendency to subject oneself to unpleasant or trying experiences.
parry
v.
- To deflect or ward off (e.g. a fencing thrust).
- To deflect, evade, or avoid: He skillfully parried the question with a clever reply.
prolific
adj.
- Producing offspring or fruit in great abundance; fertile: a prolific variety of grape.
- Producing or characterized by abundant works or results: a prolific artist; a prolific period in a writer’s life.
sluggard
n.
A slothful person; an idler.
vacillate
v.
- To be unable to choose between different courses of action or opinions; waver; hesitate.
- To change between one state and another; fluctuate: The weather vacillated between sunny and rainy.
circumscribe
v.
1. To draw a line around; encircle.
2.
a. To form or mark the limits of; delineate: The hedge circumscribes the property.
b. To limit narrowly; restrict; limit: Their plans were circumscribed by a lack of money.
matriarchy
n.
1.
a. A social system in which the mother is head of the family.
b. A family, community, or society based on this system or governed by women.
2. The collection of women in positions of power, especially in such a social system or community. In all senses also called matriarchate.
parsimonious
adj.
Excessively sparing or frugal.
smelt
v.
To melt or fuse (ores) in order to separate the metallic constituents.
vacuous
adj.
1.
a. Lacking intelligence; stupid or empty-headed.
b. Devoid of substance or meaning; vapid or inane: a vacuous comment.
c. Devoid of expression; vacant; empty: a vacuous stare.
2. Lacking serious purpose or occupation; idle: vacuous day
circumspect
adj.
Heedful of circumstances and potential consequences; prudent; cautious.
fitful
adj.
Occurring in or characterized by intermittent bursts, as of activity; irregular: a fitful sleep.
inexorable
adj.
- Impossible to stop, alter, or resist; inevitable: an inexorable fate; an inexorable law of nature.
- Not capable of being persuaded by entreaty; relentless: an inexorable opponent.
maverick
n.
A person who shows independence of thought and action, especially by refusing to adhere to the policies of a group to which he or she belongs; a loner.
prosaic
adj.
1.
a. Consisting or characteristic of prose.
b. Matter-of-fact; straightforward.
2. Lacking in imagination and spirit; dull.
smorgasbord
n.
- A Swedish buffet meal featuring a varied number of cold dishes.
- A varied collection: a smorgasbord of fashionable paranormal beliefs
