Circles and Rectangles Flashcards
ironic (adj.)
resulting in an unexpected and contrary outcome
It is ironic that his success came when he last wanted it.
irreproachable (adj.)
blameless; impeccable
Homer’s conduct at the office party was irreproachable; even Marge didn’t have anything bad to say about how he behaved.
jocular (adj.)
said or done in jest
Although Bill knew he the boss hated jokes. he couldn’t resist making one jocular remark.
labyrinth (n.)
maze
Hiding from Indian Joe, Tom and Becky soon lost themselves in the labyrinth of secret underground caves.
laconic (adj.)
brief and to the point
Many of the characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood are laconic types: strong men of few words.
laggard (adj.)
slow; sluggish
The sailor had been taught not to be laggard in carrying out orders.
lament (v.)
to grieve; to express sorrow
Even advocates of the war lamented the loss of so many lives in combat.
lampoon (v.)
to ridicule
This article lampoons the pretensions of some movie moguls.
lassitude (n.)
languor (=state of tiredness); weariness
After a massage and a long soak in the hot tub, I gave in to my growing lassitude and lay down for a nap.
laud (v.)
to praise
The NFL lauded Boomer Esiason’s efforts to raise money to combat cystic fibrosis.
lavish (adj.)
generous; openhanded; wasteful
Her wealthy suitors wooed her with lavish gifts.
lethargic (adj.)
drowsy; dull
The stuffy room made her lethargic: she felt as if she was about to nod off.
levity (n.)
lack of seriousness; lightness
Stop giggling and wriggling around in the pew; such levity is improper in church
levy (v.)
to impose (a fine); to collect (a payment)
Crying “No taxation without representation,” the colonists demonstrated against England’s power to levy taxes.
lewd (adj.)
lustful
The found his lewd stories objectionable.
lexicographer (n.)
compiler of a dictionary
The new dictionary is the work of many lexicographers who spent years compelling and editing the work.
lexicon (n.)
dictionary
I cannot find this word in any lexicon in the library.
listless (adj.)
lacking in spirit or energy
We had expected him to be full of enthusiasm and were surprised by his listless attitude.
sublime (adj.)
elevated or lofty in thought or language; impressing the mind with a grandeur of power
pernicious (adj.)
causing insidious harm or ruin
plight (n.)
a dangerous, difficult, or unfortunate situation
prospectus (n.)
a printed document that advertises or describes a school, commercial enterprise, a forthcoming book, etc.
tenet (n.)
a principle or belief, especially one of a religious philosophy
pluralistic (n.)
theory that reality consists of two or more independent elements
baneful (adj.)
destructive; pernicious
indispensable (adj.)
absolutely necessary; essential
supercilious (adj.)
haughtily disdainful and contemptuous
sagacious (adj.)
shrewd
penitent (adj.)
feeling or expressing sorrow for wrongdoing
perspicacious (adj.)
having keen mental perception and understanding
apologetic (adj.)
containing an apology or excuse for a fault; defending speech or writing
potentate (n.)
a person who possesses great power, such as a monarch or ruler
ascetic (n.)
a person who practices self-denial
maverick (n.)
an unorthodox or independent-minded person
prosaic (adj.)
commonplace; unromantic
regimented (adj.)
very strictly organized
jaded (adj.)
tired, bored, lacking in enthusiasm
stymie (v.)
prevent of hinder the progress of
sierra (n.)
long, jagged mountain chain
archipelago (n.)
group of islands
flotilla (n.)
fleet of boats or ships
folly (n.)
lack of good sense; foolishness
obsequious (adj.)
obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree
bombast (n.)
high-sounding language with little meaning, usually to impress people
subterfuge (n.)
deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal
panache (n.)
flamboyant confidence or style or manner
dislodge (v.)
to kick out of position
apportion (v.)
to divide and allocate
usurp (v.)
to take illegally by force
expropriate (v.)
to take away from its owner
reparation (n.)
the making of amends for a wrong
insinuate (v.)
to suggest or hint slyly; to instill or infuse subtly or artfully
conviction (n.)
a fixed or firm belief
decrepit (adj.)
weakened by old age; feeble; infirm
underscore (v.)
to emphasize
stint (v.)
to be frugal
eminent (adj.)
high in position
emblem (n.)
an object symbolizing a quality, state, or class
defunct (adj.)
no longer in effect or use
prodigious (adj.)
extraordinary in size, degree, or extent
petulant (adj.)
childishly sulky or bad-tempered
vindictive (adj.)
vengeful
amnesia (n.)
partial or total loss of memory
penchant (n.)
strong inclination or taste
miser (n.)
a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible
ingenue (n.)
an innocent or unsophisticated young woman
quiescent (adj.)
in a state or period of inactivity or dormancy
surreptitious (adj.)
kept secret, especially because it would not be approved of
transnational (adj.)
extending or operating across national boundaries
mendacious (adj.)
lying
cosmopolitan (adj.)
familiar and at ease in many different countries or cultures
singularly (adverb.)
in an remarkable or noticeable way
inapt (adj.)
not suitable or appropriate in the circumstances
recount (v.)
to tell someone about something; to give an account of an event or experience
scrupulous (adj.)
conscientious (=wishing to do what’s right); extremely thorough
scrutinize (v.)
to examine closely and critically
seclusion (n.)
isolation; solitude
sedentary (adj.)
requiring sitting
sage (n.)
a person celebrated for wisdom
sanction (v.)
to approve; to ratify
satirical (adj.)
mocking
sature (v.)
to soak thoroughly
savory (adj.)
tasty
scanty (adj.)
meager; insufficient
buttress (v.)
to suppoty; to prop up
cacophonous (adj.)
discordant; inharmonious
calculated (adj.)
deliberately planned; likely
bequeath (v.)
to leave someone by a will; to hand down
bleak (adj.)
cold or cheerless; unlikely to be favorable
blighted (adj.)
suffering from a disease; destroyed
braggart (n.)
boaster
beguile (v.)
to mislead or delude; to pass time
belie (v.)
to contradict; to give a false impression
avarice (n.)
greediness for wealth
aversion (n.)
firm dislike
assiduous (adj.)
diligent
assuage (v.)
to ease or lessen (pain); to satisfy (hunger); to soothe (anger)
atrophy (v.)
to waste away
attribute (v.)
to ascribe; to explain
augment (v.)
to increase; to add to
austere (adj.)
forbiddingly stern; severely simple and unornamented
arable (adj.)
fit for growing crops
arbitrary (adj.)
capricious (=given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior); randomly chose; tyrannical (=exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way)
whimsical (adj.)
playfully quaint (=attractively unusual or old-fashioned) or fanciful, especially in an appealing and amusing way; acting or behaving in a capricious manner
