Character Flashcards
hubristic
(adj.) excessively proud or over-confident
Eg:Pessimistic scenarios of the future become an infinitely hubristic way of reaffirming mankind
obsequious
(adj.) too eager to serve ppl and agree with them, flattering
Eg: Far from being obsequious, Merkel is firm with Greece.
metaphorical
(adj.) figurative, symbolic
onslaught
(n.) Attack, offensive, assault
Eg: There has been an onslaught of criticism against Mr Donald Trump
deference
(n.) respect
Eg: The world has great deference for Angela Merkel
belies
(v.) contradict, fail to fulfill
Eg: the quality of the music seems to belies the criticism
deranged
(adj. ) behaving in a crazy or dangerous way
eg: a person suffering from anxiety or depression is certainly not deranged
diffident
(adj. ) shy and unwilling to be noted, timid, reticent
eg: This can lead to young ppl becoming more diffident and anti-social
effeminate
(adj. ) a man who looks or behaves like a woman, unmanly
eg: His lips and his handshakes are effeminate.
enigma
(n. ) someone or sth that is strange, riddle, puzzle
eg: Everyone considers her as an enigma.
fantastical
(adj. ) strange and unreal, unusual
eg: These fantastical figurines have been restored to their former glory with fresh coats of pants.
fastidious
(adj. ) picky, fussy, very careful about small details in everything
eg: Many Chinese are fastidious when it comes to preparations for Chinese New Year.
finicky
(adj. ) fastidious, fussy, choosy
eg: She is very finicky about what she eats.
flair
(n. ) natural ability to do sth very well, elegance
eg: Most Singaporeans have a flair for language and are effectively bilingual.
flippant
(adj. ) not being serious about something that other people think you should be serious about; frivolous; superficial
eg: We cannot be flippant about the Chinese tea ceremony
bonhomie
(n. ) 溫和; affability
eg: He exuded good humour and bonhomie
sacrosanct
(adj.) too important to be interfered with
Eg: this is especially so for those whom national identity is sacrosanct
stoic
(n.) patient, tolerant, enduring
Eg: many Journalists remain stoic despite the risks involved in getting accurate frontline news
forthright
(adj.) direct, upfront, frank
Eg: the gov was forthright in stating that the aim of the policy is to Ensure that there is a balanced mix of the various ethnic communities in HDB towns
slovenly
(adj.) lazy and untidy, messy, dishevelled
Eg: she was criticised for her slovenly dressing
spectacle
(n.) an unusual thing or situation to be noticed
Eg: don’t make a spectacle of yourself in public
garrulous
(adj.) always talking a lot; talkative; chatty
Eg: while some students are garrulous, others are more withdrawn
tolerant
open minded
gregarious
(adj.) friendly
Eg: he was a popular and gregarious man
diffidence
(n. ) shyness
eg: I say this with some diffidence
ostentatious
(adj. ) showy
eg: a simple design that is glamorous and without being ostentatious
maverick
(n. ) an unorthodox or independent-minded person; nonconformist
eg: he’s the maverick of the senate
intransigence
(n. ) stubbornness
eg: in the face of government intransigence, he resigned in disgust.
irascible
(adj. ) having or showing a tendency to be easily angered
eg: an irascible and difficult man
irresolute
(adj. ) indecisive; hesitant
eg: she stood irresolute outside his door
resolution
(n. ) determination
eg: he handled the last British actions of the war with resoltuion
(n. ) a firm decison to do or not to do sth
eg: she kept her resultion not to see Anne any more
refractory
(adj. ) stubborn
eg: his refractory pony
reverent
(adj. ) respectful; worshipful
eg: a reverent silence
recluse
(n. ) a person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other ppl; hermit
eg: she has turned into a virtual recluse
