Chapters 1 - 18 Flashcards
Arabesque
A complex, elaborate design of flowers or other figures
Adorn
To decorate; to enhance
Coruscate
To give off flashes of light; glitter; sparkle
Filigree
An intricate, delicate ornamentation
Fugacious
Passing away quickly; fleeting
Modest
Having humble opinion of ones values; free of showiness
Palpable
Easily noticed; obvious
Prescriptive
Set down by established custom or long use
Sacrosanct
Regarded as sacred or inviolable
Specter
A ghost; a haunting image
Apologist
A person who defends something
Axiomatic
Universally recognized as true
Corroborate
To confirm as true
Demur
To show disapproval; an objection
Dissuade
To discourage from an action
Fallacy
A false belief; a misconception
Extol
To urge strongly
Obsequious
Excessively willing to serve or obey
Postulate
To assume as true without proof
Ruminate
To think deeply; ponder
Abrogate
To abolish
Arrogate
To seize without right to do so
Derogatory
Expressing a low opinion
Interrogate
To ask questions of a person formally
Prerogative
An exclusive right belonging to a group
Presage
To warn of in advance
Prorogue
To delay; postpone
Sagacious
Showing perception; good judgement
Subrogate
To substitute one person/thing for another
Surrogate
One that takes another’s place; a substitute
Conventional
Following accepted custom or standards
Egalitarian
Characterized by belief in equal rights or all
Guise
Outward appearance or aspect
Impertinent
Showing lack of respect
Impetus
A stimulating force
Incensed
Extremely angry
Intrepid
Fearless
Obeisance
Gesture that shows respect
Partisan
Someone who supports a cause
Reputed
Supposed
Carping
Naggingly critical
Deferential
Showing respect
Lethargic
Sluggish, inactive
Patronizing
Characterized by superior manner
Phlegmatic
Difficult to rouse; apathetic
Sanctimonious
Pretending to be religious
Sanguine
Cheerful, hopeful
Scurrilous
Indecent, vulgar, abusive
Surly
Rude, uncivil
Truculent
Eager to fight; belligerent
Assent
To agree
Consensus
General agreement
Dissent
To disagree
Insensate
Without emotion
Presentiment
A feeling that something is going to happen
Resentment
Feeling if ill will as a result of a grievance
Sensibility
Ability to perceive, feel, respond
Sententious
Full of pompous moralizing
Sentimentality
Condition of being excessively emotional
Sentinels
A person who watches for danger; guard
Archaic
Old and outdated
Askew
Out of line
Chaotic
Full if confusion
Coherent
Logically organized
Controversy
Debate; dispute
Crux
Central point
Deplore
Despised
Dissolution
Disintegration; breaking up into parts
Engender
Produce; cause
Predicate
To base (an action or statement)
Anathema
Something that is intensely disliked
Chastised
Criticized or punished
Deprecated
Disapproved of
Disapprobation
Disapproval
Invective
Abusive language
Recriminated
Accused in return
Reproach
Criticize
Reproof
Disapproval
Trenchant
Cutting, sharp, effective
Vituperative
Verbally abusive
Cognizant
Fully aware; informed
Conscientious
Guided by ones conscience; honest
Omniscient
Knowing everything
Physiognomy
Facial features
Plebiscite
A direct vote by the people on a single issue
Precognition
(N) Knowledge of a future event
Prescient
(Adj) Having knowledge of events before they occur
Prognosis
A prediction or forecast
Prognosticate
To predict on the basis of present indications
Unconscionable
Not guided by conscience
Accoutrements
Items of equipment or furnishings
Fastidious
Exacting, showing attention to detail
Functional
Designed for a particular use
Patina
Change in appearance produced by long use
Preclude
Prevented
Prepossessing
Serving to impress
Prototype
An original form serving as a basis for others
Redolent
Fragrant, sweet-smelling; reminiscent
Romantic
Idealized
Rustic
Typical of country life
Alacrity
Eagerness
Celerity
Swiftness of action
Ennui
Boredom
Indolent
Reluctant to exert oneself
Languor
Sluggishness
Lissome
Limber; able to move with ease
Quiescent
Quiet and still
Sedulous
Diligent; hardworking
Somnolence
Drowsiness
Soporific
Inducing sleep
Affectation
An artificial behavior; show or pretense
Efficacy
Effectiveness
Facile
Done with skill or ease
Fictitious
Not natural or real; artificial
Feasible
Capable of being done
Officious
Too eagerly offering unwanted servicesw
Proficient
Highly competent; skilled
Prolific
Producing many works; productive
Suffice
To be enough or adequate
Surfeit
An extensive amount
Elite
A group’s best members
Exhort
Urge strongly
Gothic
Architectural style using pointed arches and steep roofs
Impregnable
Unconquerable
Insularity
Isolation
Mystique
An air of mystery or power
Primal
Primitive
Reverence
Honor and respect
Rive
To break or crack
Sundry
Various
Bestial
Brutal
Canker
Source of spreading decay
Effete
Depleted of effectiveness
Heinous
Causing disgust and hatred
Odious
Arousing strong dislike or intense displeasure
Offal
Waste or rubbish
Perverse
Wicked; turned away from what is right or good
Predatory
Living by preying on other animals
Sordid
Wretched, miserable
Vitiation
Corruption
Egress
An exit
Genealogy
Record/study of family ancestry
Genus
Classification of plants and animals; a group
Germinal
In the early stages if development
Ingress
An entrance
Progenitor
An ancestor
Regress
To revert back to an earlier state
Retrogression
The act or returning to a worse or earlier state
Tacit
Not spoken; implied
Taciturn
Not talkative, quiet
Apocryphal
Of doubtable authenticity
Behemoth
Something enormous
Brevity
Shortness
Dally
Wasting time
Depreciate
Lessen the value of
Paraphrase
Restate more clearly
Reinforce
Made stronger
Relatively
Comparatively
Respite
Period of rest
Svelt
Slender of graceful
Adjudged
Determined by legal procedure
Berate
To scold angrily and at length
Castigate
Severely punish
Chide
To scold mildly
Disparage
To belittle
Insinuation
Slyly indirect suggestion
Philippic
Bitter condemnation
Strictures
Restrictions
Supercilious
Haughty
Tirade
Long, angry speech
Affidavit
A sworn written statement
Credence
Acceptance as true or real
Credibility
The quality to inspire belief; a capacity for belief
Credulous
Tending to believe or trust too readily
Diffident
Lacking self-confidence; shy
Fealty
Loyalty; faithfulness
Fiduciary
Relating to the management if one person’s assets by another
Miscreant
A wicked person; villian
Perfidious
Treacherous, disloyal
Recreant
Cowardly; disloyal, unfaithful