Chapters 8-14 English vocab Flashcards
aristrocracy
government by the best individuals or by a small privileged/upper class
geometry
a branch of mathematics that deals with the measurements, properties, and relationships of points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids
sophistic
plausible but fallacious (sounding correct but is actually false)
psychic
relating to nonphysical or supernatural understanding or perception
chronometer
a very accurate timepiece
philosophic
of or relating to the study of basic ideas about knowledge, right and wrong, reasoning, and the value of things; showing wisdom and calm when faced with misfortune
microcosm
a little world or community that is an epitome of a larger unity
cosmic
characterized greatness in extent or intensity, OR relating to the universe
cosmetic
superficial; done or made for the sake of appearance
cosmos
order, harmony
telemetry
the process of using equipment to take measurements of something and transmitting the results by radio to a distant station
chronological
arranged in the order of time
ailurophobia
fear of cats
brontophobia
fear of thunder
nyctophobia
fear of night
autocracy
rule by a single person with unlimited authority
epigrammatic
marked by the use of epigrams (a terse, sage, or witty saying/poem)
helicoid
forming or arranged in a spiral
eponymous
being the person/thing for whom/which something is named
anonymity
the quality or state of not being named or identified
eulogy
high praise; a commendatory oration or writing, esp. in honour of one deceased
apathetic
having or showing little or no feeling or emotion
pathos
an emotion of sympathetic pity
psychopath
a mentally ill or unstable perso
telepathy
communication from one mind to another by extrasensory means
aphonia
loss of voice
symphony
consonance or harmony of sound or colour
euphonious
pleasing to the ear
phosphorescence
an enduring luminescence caused by the absorption of radiation
photophobia
intolerance to light
theocratic
relating to a form of government in which a country is ruled by religious leaders
monotheistic
relating to the doctrine/belief that there is one God
pantheon
a group of illustrious or notable persons or things
Pantheon
a temple dedicated to all the gods
toxophilite
a lover or archery
symbiosis
a cooperative relationship; the living together in more or less intimate association or close union of two dissimilar organisms
antibiotic
a drug that is used to kill harmful bacteria
skepticism
an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity
grammatical
conforming to the rules of grammar (a system of inflections & syntax in a language)
gynandromorph
an individual exhibiting characteristics of both sexes
gynecocracy
political supremacy of women
pseudoscience
a system of theories, assumptions, and methods erroneously regarded as scientific
pseudosophisticate
a person who feigns sophistication (being complex, cultured, knowledgeable)
endemic
peculiar to or native to a particular people, country, or region
synchronous
happening at exactly the same time
agraphia
the pathological loss of the ability to write
atheism
the doctrine that there is no deity
Apocrypha
biblical or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture
apocryphal stories
stories that are well-known but of doubtful authenticity; spurious
euphoria
a feeling of well-being or elation
epidemiology
the study of the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population
pandemic
occurring over a wide geographical area
metaphor
a figure of speech in which a word/phrase literally denoting one kind of object/idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them
apotheosis
elevation to divine status; the perfect example
graphology
the study of handwriting, esp. for the purpose of character analysis
toxicosis
a pathological condition caused by the action of a poison or toxin
acropolis
the upper fortified part of an ancient Greek city (Athens)
panoply
a magnificent or impressive array
cacophony
harsh or discordant sound
encrypt
to change information from one form to another, esp. to hide its meaning
decrypt
decode
cryptogram
a message written in cipher or code
crypt
a chamber underground
archaic
having characteristics of the past or an earlier time
archaeology
the study of remains of past cultures
archaism
an old word or expression that is no longer used
asteroid
a small rocky celestial body
archaeoastronomy
the study of how people in the past have understood the phenomena in the sky, and what role the sky played in their cultures
anachronism
a person or thing that seems to belong in the past and not to fit in the present
anomaly
deviation from the common rule; something abnormal
orthodox
conventional; accepting and closely following the traditional beliefs and customs of a religion
paradoxical
having seemingly contradictory qualities
Neolithic
relating to the last period of the Stone Age
Paleolithic
relating to the earliest period of the Stone Age
monolithic rule
exhibiting or characterized by often rigidly fixed uniformity
monolith
a single great stone, often in the form of an obelisk or column
anthropomorphic
described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes
autonomy
the quality of being self-governing
periodontist
branch of dentistry dealing with diseases of the supporting structures of the teeth
orthodontia
treatment used on teeth to make them grow straight
thermography
a technique for detecting and measuring variations in the heat emitted by various regions of the body
hypothermia
subnormal temperature of the body
thermal (n.)
a rising body of warm air
diathermy
the generation of heat in tissue by electrical currents for medical or surgical purposes
topography
the features in an area of land
toponym
a place name
topical
designed for or involving local application and action (as on the body)
parameter
a rule or limit that controls what something is or how something should be done
neologism
a new word, usage, or expression
endodontics
dental specialty concerned w/ the study and treatment of the dental pulp
paleography
the study of ancient and historical handwriting
metamorphosis
a change of physical form, structure, or substance
orthograde walking
upright walking
exodontia
branch of dentistry dealing with the extraction of teeth
perigee of an orbiting satellite
the point in its orbit tat is nearest to the center of the earth
apogee of an orbiting satellite
the point in its orbit that is the greatest distance from the center of the earth
metonymy
a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is called not by its own name but rather by the name of something associated w/ that thing or concept, e.g. “Hollywood” is a metonym the U.S. film industry
anesthetize
to produce loss of sensation
esthetic
relating to the beautiful or that which is pleasing in appearance
hyperbole
an extravagant exaggeration
parley
to discuss terms with an enemy
agnostic
a person who does not have a definite belief about whether God exists or not
diagnosis
the act of identifying a disease, illness, or problem by examining someone or something
prognosis
a judgement about the prospect of recovery or about what is going to happen in the future
Mesolithic
relating to a transitional period of the Stone Age between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic
Mesozoic
the era of geological history marked by the presence of dinosaurs, marine and flying reptiles, the appearance of mammals and birds, etc.
plastic
capable of being modeled
prototype
an original model of a new design
apostasy
renunciation of a religious faith; defection or abandonment of a previous loyalty
Apostate
someone whose beliefs have changed and who no longer belongs to a religious or political group
static
showing little change; characterized by lack of progression
antithetical
being in direct opposition
antithesis
the direct opposite
epizootic
an outbreak of a disease affecting many animals of one kind at the same time
protozoology
the study of protozoans (tiny single-celled organisms)
hyperplasia
abnormal increase in # of cells
syndrome
a group of things (e.g. signs & symptoms) that occur together and characterize a particular condition or pattern
anathema
something strongly loathed or accursed
ecstatic
marked by extreme delight
metathesis
transposition of two phonemes in a word
typical
combining or exhibiting the essential characteristics of a group
catalyst
an agent that provokes or speeds up significant change or action
esthete
one having or affecting sensitivity to the beautiful especially in art
hippodrome
stadium for horse & chariot races
paleozoology
the study of animal remains from geological contexts (i.e. fossils)
hemolysin
lipid or protein that causes lysis of red blood cells
parable
a short story that illustrates a moral attitude or religious principle
stereotype
a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgement
hypothetical
imagined as an example
diabolic
extremely evil; devilish
parlance
manner or mode of speech
zoophyte
an invertebrate animal resembling a plant, e.g. coral or sponge
palimpsest
writing material used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased
epenthesis
the insertion of an extra vowel in a word
automaton
individual who acts in a mechanical fashion
pedagogical
relating to teachers or education
demagogue
a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
agonizing
very mentally or physically painful
hierarchy
a system in which people or things are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status
anarchy
absence of government or established order
archetype
a perfect example, or an original model
monarchy
absolute sovereignty by a single person
hebdomadal
weekly
hologram
a 3D picture produced by a laser
holograph
a document wholly in the handwriting of its author
catholic
universal; broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests
dyslexia
a learning disability that makes it hard for a person to read, write, and spell
eclectic
composed of elements drawn from various sources
lexicographer
an editor of a dictionary
lexicon
dictionary; the vocabulary of a language
antipodes
the parts of the earth diametrically opposite
antipodal
entirely opposed
analogous
similar in some way
analogy
a comparison of two things based on their being alike in some way
analogue
something that is similar to something else in design, origin, use, etc.
ex cathedra
from the chair
holistic
relating to complete systems rather than with the analysis of parts
ennead
a group of nine deities in Egyptian mythology
genesis
the origin or coming of being into something
psychogenic
originating in the mind
eugenic
relating to the production of good offspring
icon
an object of uncritical devotion; idol
euthanasia
the act of killing or permitting the death of sick individuals in a painless way for reasons of mercy
maniacal
suggestive of madness
manic
very excited, energetic, or emotional
mnemonic
something that helps people remember something
syntactic
relating to the rules of syntax (the way in which words are put together to form phrases)
epiphany
an appearance or manifestation
diaphanous
characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit seeing through
taxonomy
the science of classification of things or concepts
iconoclast
a destroyer of images used in religious worship; a person who attacks cherished beliefs/institutions
iconolatry
the worship of icons
dipsomania
a person with an insatiable craving for alcoholic drinks
kleptomaniac
a person who has an irresistible urge to drink
fantasy
the activity of imagining things, esp. things that are impossible or improbable
taxidermy
the act of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animals
idiosyncrasy
a distinctive or peculiar feature/characteristic of a place or thing
amnesty
an official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses
idiom
an expression that has a meaning not deductible from its individual words
idiomatic
containing or using expressions that are natural to a native speaker
ataxia
the loss of full control over bodily movements
labyrinthine
intricate and confusing; irregular and twisting
procrustean
enforcing uniformity or conformity without regard to natural variation or individuality
protean
displaying great diversity or variety; versatile
hematozoon
a parasitic animal that lives in the blood
analgesia
inability to feel pain
anodyne
a medicine that relives distress or pain
acromegaly
abnormal growth of hands, feet, and face
lithotripsy
a treatment that uses shock waves to break up stones in kidney, bladder, and ureter
aneurysm
a localized enlargement of an artery
thrombosis
local coagulation or clotting of the blood in the circulatory system
symptom
a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient,reflecting the presence of a disease or abnormal state
prodromal symptom
early symptoms, before the full development of specific symptoms
